Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-22
WILSON MUST NOT Be
ENDORSED At MACON.
TOM WATSON ORDERS
Notice Served on Governor
Elect That Condemnation of
President Is Desired, If Pos
SibIe

viii the state Democratic convention,
which meets at Macon next Tuesday
adopt resolutions indorsing President
Wilson and the Democratic administra-
tion. or will the convention bow to the
dictation of Tom Watson and either
remain silent or pass resolutions criti-
cising and condemning Wilson and the
administration?
This is a question which is being ask
ed by Democrats on every hand and it
is prompted by the fact that In this
weeks issue of his paper Watson has
demanded that 10 Endorsement be given
the Wilson administration and mas fur
Their plainly intimated that he would
like resolutions of condemnation passed.
1t is reported on perfectly reliable
authority that several days ago, fol-
lowing the primary, Watson called Hugh
NJ Dorsey. the gubernatorial nominee,
over the long distance telephone and no.
titled him that the convention must not
indorse Wilson. He is also said 10 have
informed Mr.. Dorsey that if il were
impossible TO get through condemnatory
resolutions the convention must at least
remain silent on the subject and that
he would not be satisfied with less than
this.
DORSEY OUT OF CITY.
Just what attitude Mr.. Dorsey will
assume in the face of such demands
l. not known. An effort was made by
The Journal Wednesday to get a state
ment from him, but at his office il was
said that he is absent from the city
and will be away for eight days. The
young lady answering the inquiry said
she did not know where Mr.. Dorsey is
at present.
Mr.. Dorsey, if he follows the usual
custom, will name the chairman of the
resolutions committee as well as the
other officers of the convention and the
resolutions 20 be presented will be sub
mitted to him I'm advance for his APP
prevail.
Some OF the Democratic friends of
9lr. Dorsey are emphatic in expressing
the opinion that he will not accede to
this demand of Watson. They say that
he will undoubtedly recognize the fact
that the convention is Democratic af-
fair and that il is in duty bound to
indorss Wilson and the Democratic ad-
mInistration, especially so at this time,
when the presidential campaign is in
progress ana the Wilson administration
is being viciously attacked by the Re-
publicans and other enemies of the par
ty. Now. Of all times, they say, the party
in the state should come forward with
strong Endorsement.
SMITH TO BE CHAIRMAN.
1t has been generally expected that
J. r. Smith, of Atlanta, would be desig
mated by Mr.. Dorsey for chairman of
the resolutions committee. Mr.. Smith
was an active supporter of Mr.. Dorsey
and he is widely known as a strong sup
porter OF President Wilson. Therefore,
L is ASSUMED that if he Is named chair
man of the resolutions committee he
viii insist on the adoption of resolutions
approving and indorsing the Wilson adj
This weeks issue of watson's paper
Is filled with attacks on President Will
son and the Democratic party. In one
Of his editorials opposing the endorse
ment of President Wilson he has this
to say:
THE approaching convention is a
strictly non-partisan state affair, and
nobody should stir up strife by thrust
ing national politics into it.
The election on the 18th was not a
Democratic primary. but a peoples pri-
mary.
Voting for Dorsey were Socialists,
Republicans, Prohibitionists and Pro-
gressives.
Ten thousand anti-WilsOn men
worked hard for Dorsey; and therefore
it would be uEgrateful, indecent, and
even brutal, TO slap those men in the
face with a Wilson endorsement. which
has no business in this convention"
With this somewhat pre-emptory de-
mand staring them in the face the
question which is embarrassing Mr..
Dorseys friends is whether he will
permit a state Democratic convention
&c be dictated to by Tom Watson. the
,f n.
cratic organization, or whether he will
risk a break with Watson by insisting
that the convention do what a Demo-
cratic convention should naturally be
expected to do. and pass resolutions Of
endorsement.