The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-08-31
The Meeting at Bowman.

POSSIBLY one or the greatest nom
partisan political meetings ever held
in the town of Bowman assembled
here on Saturday, the 10th. Some
three weeks ago a petition was signed
by three hundred citizens inviting the
Hon. -Thos. E. Watson to address the
people of Bowman and the surround
ing community on this occasion. The
invitation was accepted and the meet
ing was advertised by the local pa
pers and hand-bills. On the night
before the speaking, camp fires could
be seen by the roadside, kindled by
men who were vending their way to
the beautiful little city of Bowman
to hear Georgia's most gifted orator
discuss the live state and national is
sues of the day. BY the time the fair
aurora pushed back the purple cur
tains of the dawn and ushered in the
day, vehicles began pouring in from
all directions and by the speaking
hour, by actual count, more than
four thousand people were present
for the address.
On account of an automobile acct
dent, the speaker of the occasion was
some two hours late, but the crowd
was we'll entertained by the Royston
concert band and short speeches by
Messrs. J. Clyde Holbrooks of La
vonia, Joe Deadwyler of Elberton and
T. G. borough of Royston.
When Mr.. Watson arrived, there
was round of applause of which any
Georgian might feel justly proud. He
Immediately assembled the stand, and
without any introduction whatever,
proceeded, in mastery and eloquent
manner, to discuss the great state
and national questions that are STIR
ring the minds and hearts of our
Georgia people. Relative to state is
sues, Mr.. Watson expressed himself
as favoring free school books in our
public schools, proving conclusively
that our present methods worked
hardship upon the patrons. He paid
his respects to the Georgia legislature
for electing a man to the United
States Senate, whose partisan COM
mittee had refused the people of
Georgia the right to elect so impor-
tant ruler, when it has been an es-
tablished precedent for a number of
years for the people to do so, showing
that in so doing they had given us a
Senator who refuses to represent us
III ChC lcClOAdI oGudLG WHSu lmpOr-
tant matters are up for consideration
The applause which greeted these
utterances showed that Mr. Watson's
hearers heartily agreed with him. Mr..
Watson expressed the belief that
when the people had another chance
at the ballot-box, they would remem-
Der those in authority who had been
responsible for refusing the people
their rights.
He insisted that the people organ
1Ze Progressive Democratic Leagues
IN every Militia District in the state.
His utterances on this subject were
greeted by great applause.
On National issues, Mr.. Watson
was at his best. He paid a high COM
pliment to the Democratic Congress
for their efforts to bring about much
needed tariff reforms. His presen-
tation of the tariff situation was a
masterpiece of logic and diction, and
deserves to be ranked with the eff
forts of Randolph and Calhoun.
He discussed his political career,
showing his position all along on
great National questions and proving
the consistency of his course and that
he stands today for the same great
principles for which he has fought
throughout his political life.
He showed his position on the For
eign Missions question to be consis-
viii hot i