The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-12-10


in the past, 1 will say that it was
very distasteful to me. Being born
and raised in old Henry County, it
is but natural that I should love her
and all her people, and whatever 7
might say, or do, that might be dis
tasteful to any citizen of the county,
4 should consider it a solemn duty
and not a pleasure. Nothing per-
SOnal has ever entered my mind in
this matter, and I shall not allow it
tn do So For personally, I hold
Judge Reagan in the highest esteem,
and [ have always considered him
one Of Henry Countys best, and
most valued citizens. In all his ca
Teer, I don't know that | have ever
fought him. 1t was not until he, as
Chairman of the State Democratic
Committee, took as he evidently
viewed it, control Of the Democracy
of Georgia, and become so dictatorial
that I deemed it a solemn duty to
file a protest. Now, after ask
noWledging my right to criticise him
as public official, in very nearly
the next sentence he accuses me OF
bushWhacking. For what? Simply
for telling the truth, that's all. For
in the very next sentence he ack-
nowledged boiling Bryan in 1896.
Not only has my charge against him
been proven by facts in the case, but
take his own testimony, and he him
self bears me out. Now in 1896 I
was only a boy in my teens, and
could not vote, but I shall never
forget when my father came home
that night and told how Col. Reagan
had bolted the Bryan ticket that day,
and I will here remind the Judge
that it was he that gave me my first
lesson on boiling. If it had not
been for e. J. Reagan setting that
example before me, when I was
young and eager to learn, and easily
impressed like all boys, I might
possibly be today hide bound Dem
Ocrat like Judge Reagan, supporting
two of the most unprincipled men
in Georgia today. But he says he
was not present and had nothing to
do with Bryan's nomination. Why,
wasn't he a Democrat? Could he
not have been present? Was he not
one of the elect? Was he not
chronic office seeker about that time?
Why bless his poor benighted soul,
not a word of protest did we hear
from him. No doubt in my mind
at all, when the more active Demo
cratic were vending their way to the
county court room, the Judge was
basking in the warmth of the sun,
1iSht as it came twinkling down
through those water oaks that adorn
the court house yard. Oh my, that's
not it, it was because Watson was on
the ticket that caused him to bolt
1t was Watson and the Populist that
he hated and not Bryan, and he
hates them yet for no other reason
than his boss wants him to. He
says these charges were thoroughly
aired before the legislature and
were turned down. Why of course
It was an easy matter to white-wash
the Judge then Did not the ma
jority of that Legislature have the
same hatred for Watson and the
Populist then that Reagan had?
Why it was as easy as falling off a
log. But eX-Judge Reagan is try
ing to confuse the issue by a long
enumeration of his races for the
judgeship.
Now I'm not going to let him side
step or confuse in this matter. That's
not the issue. The people of Geor-
gia don't care a thrip about his
races for Judge. My charge was,
and I renew it now, that he bolted
Bryan in 1896, and I am going to
stand by my guns. Now, we admit
that he Rad a Derfect right to do SO