Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-12
"GhoSt in Watson's Closet"
LaiG Bare by Georgia Con-
gresham From Inc Eighth
District

NY RALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON. D. C.. April Sine
ghost that has been hidden In Thomas
f. watson's political closet is snatched
forth and displayed in all of its hideous-
ness in an open letter to Mr.. watson
which was given out here today by Con-
gresham William NJ Howard. OF the
Eighth district. whom the ex-PopulisI
recently attacked I'm his weekly paper
the Jeffersonian. The letter teens with
tart talk that is calculated 10 can from
MIR Watson a bristling rejoinoer AT 10
remote date. IL is regarded mere -
those who have seen IL. as the beginning
OF = warm controversy, that may or may
not have an important bearing on the
political situation in Georgia
Mr. Howard not only holds the nov
erinz specter up TO the gaze OF the pup
lie he rattIes the bones OF the ghost
ana gives to his readers the heneht OF
the disclosures OF bygone days bearing
upou the record OF Mr. Watson he calis
upon the shades OF Ephriam White ana
Parson Doyle, negro politicians. VINO
we're once closely associated with MI
Watson and whom many Georgians VIII
remember. to shrive the Thomsonite
WATSON THE AGREssoR.
Mr.. Watson precipitated the contro-
versy BY charging in his paper. the JeI-
fersonian. that Congressman Howard
influence really accounted for the reten-
ton in Office OF Henry A Rucker, the ne
gro internal revenue collector at Atiah-
"a. He claimed that Mr.. Howard want
cd Rucker kept in Office, because Dr. VIII
lam King. the deputy collector. is Mr..
Howard-s father-tn-law. Fuckers in
terest was also DR.. Kings interest. in
sisted Mr.. Watson, in substance, and
Fuckers removal from ONCE would mean
the discharge, also, OF "Bilr' Howard
family relation Nothing was said In this
statement. or in the subsequent state
ment OF DR.. King having entered the
revenue service under President CIeVe-
land and OF his being a civil service en-
pIoye-
The charge. as originally made. was a
reflection upon the entire Georgia dele
tgation in congress. including the sena-
tors. also. The implication was that MI
Towards influence with the Georgia
congressman and senator's kept them
from action In concert in opposition TO
the continuance OF Rucker In office.
There was also the implication that, IL
not his actual influence. difference, or
respect to the feelings Of Mr.. Howard.
on account OF his relationship TO DR..
King, caused the Georgians to refrain
from moving against the negro collector.
CONGRESSMAN Howard resented the
statement He wrote TO Mr.. Watson, de-
nouncing the charge as mean, false and
malicious" He demanded that his letter
OF denial be published and that Mr.. Wat
son make the retraction common de-
cency demanded"
HOwARD's DEMAND.
Your charge that because Of a fam
lily relationship 1 have used my official
position to constrain both senators and
my colleagues from doing what you as
sumo they could and would otherwise
have done as a public duty, is mean, false
and malicious, and I demand that you
publish this letter Of denial and make
the retraction common decency de-
mands," wrote Mr.. Howard to Mr.. Wat
son.
Until this letter was written. Mr.. Wat
son had had the field all to himself. and
with characteristic vigor he had crit
icised freely and severely most Of the
members OF the Georgia delegation He
published Mr.. Towards letter, but did
not make direct retraction OF his orig
inal statement. He published an edi-
tOriaI reply OF 1850 or 3oo0 words. in
which he took Mr.. Howard to task. prin-
cipally. for his vote on the rules row at
the extra session OF the present con-
sTess.
Relative to the original matter-Rucker
Mr.. Watson contented himself with de-
mauding to know why the negro had been
allowed TO continue in Office for Is years.
II not because Of DR.. Kings employment
in the office.
This insolent black rascal has staid
Up there for Is long years" ETC. etc.
said Mr.. Watson. How else can you ex-
plain IL. save my explanation-that How
Ill - N,..e
he wanted things to remain as they
were?'' he asked.
Then Mr.. Watson declared that the
congressman ought to be ashamed of
himself He has been getting $1,000 per
year for 10. these many years, for an
average OF nine months work" he said.
WHAT WATSON SAID.
Continuing. Mr. Watson charged that
1Ir. Howard had deserted the Democratic
party and gone over TO the Republicans
at a critical time. and that his action
was partly responsible for the passage
OF the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. which
Is burdening the people at this time. He
was referring to Mr.. Towards vote on
the amendments to the rules at the ex-
d. ira session. just before congress began
the consideration Of tariff legislation.
~. Howard and p other Democrats vot-
Cd for an amendment offered by Con-
FRESHMAN Fitzgerald of Brooklyn. a
Democrat. VINO has since been elected
BY the house to be a member Of the rules
committee
Bill. where were you when Senator
Lodge sReaked through congress the
mandate that the secretary OF war buy
two old dry-docked vessels OF that Bos-
ton firm at the price OF 100000?
Why didn't you fight that terrible Dick
b.n. which makes our militia a part of
the United States army?
Bill. didn't you vote to exempt the