The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-12-03
WATsON's AcoUITTAL.


s TON Watson should never have
been nut on trial for alleged sending
of obscene matter through the mails
Such prosecution could have little
effect and it is surprising that 1t
should occupy the time of the United
States court as it did. He may be
taught a lesson on this special thing
90. and will likely not dive into alleged
Catholic rituals again for matter with
which to fight that religion, for the
accepted and accredited Catholic rit-
ual of the Catholic church is not oD-
scene or improper. Let's not get
frightened at this statement If Wat
son had used only accepted Catholic
doctrines and quoted from them, he
might not have this federal ACCUSE
ton chalked against him.
1t was his grabbing at anything
for sensation, salacious and question
able conduct, taken from the enc
mics of the Catholic church that
brought him his fight. Ordinarily
the courts have no business trying to
tie up free speech or the liberty OF
the press This is right guaranteed
in the foundations of government ana
it does not matter whether we agree
with Watson or not, no court, no mat
ter how great it's power and authority
has a shadow of right to attack his
opinions and newspaper policies, so
long as he stays within other limits
as prescribed.
But if Tom Watson retains his
present Unsuitable desire for salacious
and dirty ACQUISITION and falsehood'
for his tendencies toward anarchy and
lawlessness and mob rule, he is going
to run aground somewhere. That's a
gate too speedy for the best of them.
Watsons pungency, his wide scholar
ship, his skill in plain English, have
made him name that has gone
around the world. 1t is matter of
regret that ought to penetrate to the
lived in Georgia. Not one but all his
Watson employs such methods as he
does to spread the publications I'M
der his name.
We honestly believe that he wants
TO retain his influence,-that he is in
saneiy jealous of his power and be-
lieves he cannot retain it unless he
spreads on" in his publications. His
is but one way of maintaining a read
ing patronage through yellow meth
ods--only his methods are more dan
gerous than those employed by the
yellow journals They simply write
news. and distort it to suit their idea
of sensation and millions of readers
gulp it down.
Watson appeals to the passions of
a people. He knows the gateway He
has kindled the fires more than one
time He never stops to reckon as
to where they will burn out and new
er appears to care what these fires
consume. He worships notoriety and
lives days and days on a single bit
of information which leads him to be-
lieve he has struck a popular feeling
in his writing
But he is competent He is one OF
the ablest men with the pen that ever
lived in Georgia. Not one but all his
friends ought to tell him that he can
friends ougt to tell him that he can
succeed just as we'll with construc-
tive policies as he can with destruc-
tive. Here is a powerful horse al
ways pulling down hill, He can do
better on the up grade,-and win the
plaudits OF millions of people.
The United States court had no
business trying to convict him for
Sending obscene matter through the
mails He got an acQuittal and we
are glad of it.
They say that gun muaales point
TO his home out OF the dark when
night falls,Zthat he has to keep
guards on duty TO preserve his safe
ty and liberty We want him tt
change his editorial policies, not
merely to suit US, but to suit all tho
world so that letters;iT.and flower