Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-17
UNDERWOOD MEN
BALK At WATSON
Democratic Leaders Refusing
To Be Lined Up for His Pro-
gram to Run Convention.

Disqueting rumors began reaching
Atlanta today to the effect that not a
few county chairmen in the state are
.having difficulty framing up Under
wood delegations to the state conven
ton, for the reason that numerous lead
ing and influential Underwood men are
refusing to serve as delegates
The reasons for these refusals run as
an approximate whole in one direction
the fear that the pugnacious and ag
gressive attitude of Thomas e. Watson,
with respect to the organization and
proceedings of the convention, likely
will lead to many embarrassing and
harrassing complications
Discussing this matter today one
prospective delegate. who will not now
agree to serve, said There has arisen
q serious question in my mind as to
whether the state convention is to meet
in the hall of the house of representa-
tives at noon on May % or in the Kim
ball house bail room on the evening of
May IS, under the superintendence of
Thomas E. Watson"
Not Party to Swallowing"
in a Populist convention-nor yet Il
Watson convention. If Mr.. Watson is
going TO gather his clans together on the
evening preceding the holding of the
convention, and then and there frame
up everything that is to happen next
day. and the convention next day is to
swallow it mecky and without protest
whether it likes IT or not. I am not
willing to be a party to the swallow
ing
4 admit the justice Of MI. Watson
plea for q place on the delegation to
Baltimore. If he displayed anything
like a desire to serve a useful purpose
on the delegation, all right but he is
frankly and avowedly out TO make mis-
chief He seems much more interested
in reading the riot act to somebody in
side the Democratic party than he docs
in overwhelming the Republican party
al the polls next November. He has
announced bis determination to take
hold of the entire show in Atlanta. and
to run it his way or break it up.
The very first thing he proposes i'm
Democratic state convention in which
he asks membership. and from which he
expects to go to Baltimore as ma
tionaI Democratic delegate. is that the
Democratic convention abrogate and
violate the results Of a rule solemnly
set IN bv n state Democratic COM
mittee. and under which the Democrats
OF Georgia already have held an cleo
ton
However i'll advised that rule may
have been it already has been acted
under. How can the organization Of
the convention in fairness or political
honesty now be changed TO plan eN-
pressly forbidden by the state Demo
cratic committee?
@To be perfectly frank about it, II
looks to me like Mr. Watson is seeking
10 fiji the forthcoming convention with
as many Wilson 'sorehcads' as possible
in order that he may have such allies as
he needs to work the party's enbarrass-
ment and chagrin eventually
Underwood Leaders Vexed
There is no longer any doubt what
ever that Alr Watsous attitude with
respect TO The State convention has
brought the Underwood leaders many
unhappy and anxious moments within
the past few days
When first he said he couldn't go to
Baltimore, and chen said ne would,
hastv and hearty protests were mace
that he should have what he wanted
Erstwhile Underwood leaders IT state
wide reputation stood for the justice Of
the Watson claims to recognition i'm the