Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-21
DUCKWORTH PAYS
RESPECTS TO WATSON
Writes Friend He Would Not
Countenance Support of
Thomson Editor

II. F. Duckworth. of Union City. Ga.
former president of the National Farm
ers' Union and who is being persistent
ly and prominently mentioned as a pros
pective candidate for governor of Geor-
gia, has sent The Journal the following
correspondence with the request that IL
be published:
Union City, Ga. April IS, 1916.
Editor Atlanta Journai:
please find enclosed copy Of a letter
written by ]. L. Lee. a former president
Of the Farmers Union, Georgia div
sion, also my reply. which 1 would be
pleased to have you publish.
Respectfully.
''R. +. DUCKwoRTH."
LEE TO DUCKwoRTH.
stone Mountain. Ga. April II. 1915
Dear Duckworth-It is being rumor-
ed that you will shortly enter the race
for governor and that Thomas f. Wat
son will actively support you. In fact.
one would come to that conclusion from
reading Watson's paper.
Other than Hardman and Harris who
are already in the race, only two men
have been prominently mentioned as
candidates-yOurself and Hugh Dorsey
Watson has been sticking the saber in
Hardman and Harris on account Of
their not standing for anything, and in
this weeks paper he seems to be get
ting ready to jump on Hugh Dorsey on
account OF Dorseyis connection with the
l. * y. railroad. Now, this leaves only
one OF the four for Watson to support
that one being r. F. Duckworth. You
have already announced a red hot plat
form, and IL seems that Watson is al
ready warming up to the man with a
platform
You know that am your friend. and
believe that you would make the best
governor OF any man in the state but
hope and trust that you are not going
to think il best to let Watson line Up
with you because your experience with
this man should certainly convince you
that he will knife you at the first op-
pOrtunity.
Il am, your friend,
81. L. LEE"
DUcKwoRTH TO LEE.
Union City, Ga, April is, 1915.
Mr.. ]. L. Lee,
stone Mountain, Ga.
Dear Lee: Replying to your letter
Of the 18th. have not solicited. 1 will
not solicit, and 1 will not contenance
the support Of Thomas e. Watson.
Watson was permitted to entwine
himself with the Farmers union and
its enterprises when they were being
organized in this state, and then be-
cause we would not permit the Watson
Dan Sully combination to swallow the
warehouse system, Watson stuck his
poisonous fangs into the organization,
the enterprises. and the officials. 1 am
certainly aware Of the fact that this
20
stab an enemy or betray a friend
Furthermore, Watson IS not a Demo-
crct. Ee should have no influence
whatever with the Democratic voters
OF this state, neither should Democratic
voters support any man who permits
Watson to line up with him. Watson
ISLANDERS the Democratic party at every
opportunity. OF the men in Georgia
politics who have permitted Watson to
support them, 1 do not recall a single
instance where Watson has failed to
knife them al the first opportunity.
Watson has always claimed to be
a great friend of the farmers, but he
was caught red-handed laying plans
with Dan Sully, the cotton gambler, TO
grab southern warehouses. With Dan
operating the cotton warehouses, the
southern farmers would have been at
the mercy Of the cotton gamblers. Aft
er this Scneme or watson ana Daniel
was exposed, Sully went back to New
York. and Watson, after unsuccessful
efforts to explain. decided he had bet
ter discuss something farther from
home-so he drove his fangs into
Chinese missionary.
ct have no confidence in the honesty
or sincerity of purpose of Thomas Z.
Watson. believe him sneaking and
treacherous, a defamer of character, a
cOrrupter OF public morals, and a dis
grace to the state and nation. He is
as wise as the serpent and as mean as
the devil.
"If this man is trying to crawl up
TO the man with a platform" as soon
as he shows his head 1 will put boot
on IT,
with many good wishes to you, am,
Your friend,
"R. f. DUCKWORTH
'P S.-As I do not read Watson's
papers and do not know what he has
had to say in connection with lining up
with me, 1 am sending both your let
ter and my reply to the press of the
e Frfa