The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-12-06
What's the Matter
With Tom Watson?

his publication through blackmail and
Further, that the people of Georgia
who wish for harmony, for uplift, for
temperance and for social decency,
should once and for all give the man
the merits in their estimate of him,
whether that be as a pitiable lunatic
or scoundrel who is attempting to
live by blackmail and depraved lying.
Personally, my past acquaintance
and knowledge of Mr.. Watson make
me believe that the latter can not be
true. F. L. SEELY.
Charges Groundless.
Reviewing the matter, Mr.. Seely
says:
On Saturday, November IL, the
! Georgian printed the facts in refer
ence to the charges made against
Governor-elect Hoke Smith by Thorn
as E. Watson.
We acted in good faith, and had per-
mitted Mr.. Watson personally to d.
rect us as to the witnesses who could
substantiate his most unusual charge.
We not only were unable, through
our own Investigations, to find any
evidence whatsoever of any founda-
ton for the charges, but, upon appeal
ing to the specific witnesses whose
names Mr.. Watson gave us in re-
| Spouse to our request to supply his
proofs, we were unable to get any
proof of guilt, and were given most
bitter denials in the form of sworn
affidavits.
Watson Gets Mad.
This task was undertaken in good
faith. The facts were printed just as
we found them.
In answer to all of this, Mr.. Wat
son came out in the next issue of his
publication with abuse and ridicule be-
cause, it would seem, The Georgian
had not proved his charges.
We did not take hold of the matter
to invent evidence that did not exist,
as seems to be Mr.. Watson's custom.
If we had wished to defend and clear
Hoke Smith, whether he was innocent
or not, we never would have given Mr..
Watson every aid, and acted upon his
suggestion and directions as we did.
We followed his directions to the
letter We secured affidavits from
those to whom he had directed us,
and from whom he had tried to get
them, but had failed And now, of
course, Mr.. Watson turns his venom
upon his former friends because they,
in the pursuit of fair play and hon
esty, were unable to back up his base
less charges.
Acquitted Smith.
| In Mr.. Watson's response as to who
could substantiate his charges, he
gave us four names. All of these per-
sons we saw personally, or had them
seen by our representatives or attor
neys.
We printed the precise result and
then stated:
"The Georgian is compelled to say
however, that not the first suggestion
of foundation in fact has been OBJ
tainable, and that, after the employ
ment of the best talent, detective
legal and otherwise, even giving hi
political enemies every opportunity t.
supply facts or evidence, we must say
unequivocally, in the interest of
square deal, that Hoke Smith is a
innocent of misconduct, moral or 9th
erwise, as any man in Georgia.
least, since the years of his publi
life-and we doubt If there is man il
the state who is interested beyon,
that at this time"
Dug Up Old Case.
In the desperately shameful position
in which this exposure of Mr.. Wat
sons villainy left him, he graspe,
like drowning man at the last ser
tence printed above, and consumed hi
thought and space in his publication
in trying to show that The Georgian
purposely avoided going into case O
what he claimed to be the KIDNAPPING
of woman named Vavasour, becaus
we knew it was true.
In the last issue of his publication
Mr.. Watson, after fioundering insane
ly through the most childish attempt
to get to his feet, reprints an articl
J from a Denver newspaper of Feb
ruary, 1882.
This article contains statements g.
l. r. - Il