Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-02
GREAT OVATION FOR
POTTLE At OPENING
CAMPAIGN SPEECH
Candidate for Governor Gets
Enthusiastic Welcome When
He Delivers Address at War;
rentOn, BoyhoOd Home
fsnecial Disratch to The Journal.l

Especial Dispatch to The Journal.)
WARRENTON, Ga. May 31.-Hun-
dreds who have known MIN since MS
boyhood today welcomed Joseph f. Pot
tie. when he delivered here his first
speech I'm his campaign for governor
of Georsia.
Warrenton was chosen for Mr.. Pottle' 5
first campaign speech because of the
fact that this is his boyhood home. HIS
popularity here was evidenced by the
enthusiastic ovation with which he was
greeted and the rapt attention given
during his address
Mr. Politics. address was delivered in
the Warren county court house at IL
o'clock and was heard by an audience
of more than a thousand, representing
several middle Georgia counties.
delegation of approximately $50 was
present from Baldwin, his home coun-
| ty, and there were many from Mil
| ledgeville, his present home. He was
presented by +. +. Davis, a prominent
| local attorney who paid him high
tribute
Mr.. Pottle took a very emphatic stand
on a number of vital subjects, placing
himself on record for the full develop
ment of Georgia's educational system
against the sale of spoliation of the
Western and Atlantic railroad; i'm favor
of prohibition; for absolute law enforce
ment; for good roads, and, among other
things, for the enactment of laws
against usury that will make the eli
mate of Georgia extremely uncomfOrta-
BILE for the money sharks"
At the outset of his address Mr.. Pot
tie took occasion to assert that he is
not the beneficiary of any fund furnish
ed by factions, or associations or inter
ests of one sort or another. He spoke
of his opponents in courteous terms and
asserted that mo mud will be slung by
my hand; no personal vilif1cation will
fall from my lips"
Mr. Politics. statement of his stand in
reference to the Western & Atlantic
railway was one of the most enthu-
siastically applauded portions of his
speech. When he spoke of his ambition
to serve his fellow men. Judge James
B. Park, judge of the Ocmulgee cir
cult in which Mr.. Pottle has served as
solicitor general for more than thirteen
years, openly vouched for the correct
ness of the statement.
FAVORS PROHIBITION.
The sentiment of the people of this
state has chrystallized in favor of the
rigid prohibition of the sale of liquor.
No man can defend its use, much less
it's sale. / am no recent convert to
this doctrine. The first vote ! ever cast
was for prOhibltlon nearly thirty years
ago, and since that time there has
never been a moment when | would not
have gladly voted for its further re-
striction. 1 do not wish to be misunder-
stood, and regardless of its effect on
my political future, l earnestly declare
that the present prohibition law meets
with my full approval, and that l will
not consent to it's alteration, except to
strengthen it, and that l will, if elected,
use the full power of the executive
for it's preservation, and for its en-
forcement That these are the matured
sentiments of my life is known by all
my friends, many of whom disagree
with me, but all of whom know the
sincerity of my convistion."
IN conclusion, Mr.. Pottle advocated
the enactment of laws against usury
that will make the climate of Geor-
gia extremely uncomfortable for the
money sharks" reiterated his strong
stand for the absolute enforcement of
the law; urged the development of good
roads: and paid an eloquent tribute to
Confederate veterans and the Southern
Confederacy, in which his father fought
as a colonel.