Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-06

for governor on a platform embodying
that plan I would swing 10000 Of my fol-
lowers to his support. Immediately Sid
ney Tapp came TO me, from my good
friend Pope Brown, for a conference
suggesting that Brown was the man, and
Pope Brown did announce for governor,
with that plank in his platform. with the
promise OF my support. Then something
happened, though 1 didn't exactly know
how II happened at the time. The first
thing I knew Pope Brown had retired
from the race and this certain Atlanta
politician had taken his place and was
running on that platform. 1t was not
until months later that / learned from
this good man (meaning Pope Brown)
that the certain politician (meaning
Hoke Smith, had told him that 1 wanted
him CBrown) to retire from the race for
governor, and that Brown had done so
supposing it was my wish. A more out
rageous falsehood was never told.
"Blt any way 1 did my part. but the
contract was to put the negro out of
politics"
Here the speaker was interrupted by
shouts OF Yes, and he did 1t, too! Hur-
rlh for Hoke!"
ATTACKS REGISTRATION LAW.
At this Mr.. Watson launched into a
terrific denunciation Of the present reg
istrat ton law.
why, negroes were voted at this very
primary election he declared, money
was used, liquor was used to debauch
the ballot of the Georgia people. That
infamous registration law disfranchised
more than 10000 white voters OF this
state. and it enfranchised at least 1900
negroes, and these negroes will hold the
balance OF power"
Again the Interruptions became tu-
mulIuous. with cries of mo! No" and
shouts Of disapproval.
Then said Watson, Your mothers are
white women, your sisters are white wo-
men, YOU are white men. This internal
registration law was cooked up by Boy
kin Wright for the purpose of disfran-
chising white men in elections. You are
not hurting me tonight. you are hurt
ing the people of Georgia. The tyranny
OF your convention has destroyed half of
your chances and your infamous treat
ment Of me tonight has wrecked the
balance Believe me, l will make this
insult ring from Rabun to Tybee and
from the Savannah to the Chattahoo-
chez"
During these utterances. there were
long periods OF silence, in which the au-
d;ence tried to catch what Mr.. Wat
son was saying, and If he had had the
all over the house. he unsht have finish
eel his speech. IL he had entered into
SUCH q general denunciation of political
affairs in Georgia, but just as quiet was
[ cling restored he would utter some other
statement arousing the resentment or his
hearers, and before he ended the meeting
became one tumultuous uproar.
AFTER THE SPEAKING.
ASie1 Mr.. Watson was hurried in his
auto from the auditorium-armoryt to the
Kimbau house, he Immediately retired
20 his room No. Sill, where he held an
informal reception for his friends.
Il am sorry the people OF Atlanta
would not hear me develop my line of
thought" he said, and then explained
briefly his objections to the present reg
istration law and his proposed remedy.
He argued that the present disfranchise-
ment law was merely an incentive to the
negro to qualify for voting by learning
TO read and write, thus rendering the
law Ineffective in course of time. He
was in favor OF disreg-arding entirely the
fifteenth amendment TO the United
States constitution. which he believed
was illegal. and passing a new state law
dfsfranchising the negro without any
qualifications at all. educational or otn-
erwise. He believed II could be proven
in the United States supreme court that
the amendment was illegal.