Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-19
SENATOR SMITH
CHALLENGES DORSEY
TO JOINT DEBATE
Continued from rage u

III JuINI DEBAIE
Continued from Page -
purpose to sink American vessels
and began executing their threat,
voted for war and voted for the
draft. .s..lN
Dorsey's Silence
governor Dorsey, having just
been elected by Thomas e. Wat
SON, who wrote his, platform,
never chirped once on the sub
ject of the draft. Mr.. Watson
was attacking it, all over Geor-
gia and was attacking President
Wilson vicious1y. Governor Dor
5ey, in close alliance with MIR.
watson, and depending On him
for support, was in conl1nuntca-
ton with him, was dining with
him, and SO far as the public
knew was giving support to his
assaults upon the draft"
The invitation by Senator Smith to
Governor Dorsey to meet him in joint
debate is the second one issued by
the senator since the campaign start
ed. Two weeks ago he accepted what
was reported in the newspapers as
an invitation by Mr.. Watson for a
joint debate, and appointed Felix
jackson and William Schley Howard
as a committee to arrange the de-
ldIlS' L Ills acceptance ny O6udLOr
Smith ELECTED from Mr. Watson the
assertion that he had never challeng-
ed the senator. Some days later SEN
ator Smith renewed his acceptance
and publicly invited Mr.. Watson to
meet him. That invitation remains
unanswered and unaccepted.
There is keen interest here, and
doubtless the same throughout the
state, to know what answer Cover
nor Dorsey will make to Senator
Smiths challenge for a joint debate
in the Atlanta auditorium.
Receives Ovation
Jumping from the wiregrass sec
ton to the mountains of north Geor-
gia, Senator Hoke Smith was given
an ovation by the people of Haber-
sham and adjoining counties here to-
day. The warmth and optimism OF
his friends in the mountains is not
one whit less than that of his fol-
lowers IN southwest Georgia, and
the same earnestness and zeal that
marked his visit to Terrell and Ram
doIph counties was apparent here to-
day in Habersham. ~a~-.@
Arriving this morning by wav of
Cornella, Senator Smith spent a cou-
pie of hours before the court recessed
renewing acquaintancest with old
friends and meeting new ones. On
the Southern railway train, coming
from Atlanta, the senator spent
much time in the smoking compart-
ment, where he was surrounded at
all times by Il. crowd of admiring
friends, with whom he discussed fea-
lures of the campaign. At Gaines
vile, Congressman Thomas M. Bell,
who is seeking reelection in the
Ninth district, boarded the train en-
route to Clayton. He was accom-
panied by his well-known brass band.
He and the senator chatted pleasant
ly as the train sped to Cornelia.
d. w. Aubrey, who organized the
band many years ago and who is still
it's leader, gave to Senator Smith a
most encouraging report concerning
his candidacy in this SECTION of the
state. He has visited every section
of the Ninth, district, and he declared
that the contest is between Senator
Smith and Thomas E.. Watson, and
that the chances favor victory for
the senator.
Citizens Who Heard Him
Among the well-known people who
were F. NJ. Reeves, cashier of the
Habersham bank; T.. L. Asbury, prom
inent merchant; o. B. Smith, real
estate; Judge J. A. Robinson, ordi-
nary of Habersham county; Colonel
Robert Mcmillan, attorney; J. A.
J. c. Grant, sheriff; e. P. Jones,
clerk of the court; w. R. Asbury,
J. q. Stewart, merchant; F. E.
Gabrells, eX-sheriff = and assistant
cashier Habersham bank; S. F. Wood,
merchant; G. w. Wheeler, farmer; G.
Y. Catheya, farmer; Rev. j. r. NC
Alpin, Presbyterian minister; B. A
Fry, merchant; Virgil E. McLain,
farmer: J. Y. Blair, farmer; r. K.
Martin, farmer; J. d. Lambert, farm
er; J. H. Asbury, merchant: j. A
Griggs, orchardist; John L. Hill
farmer; j. d. Hill, saWmiI operator
and many others.
Among the crowd were. many citi-
zens from Rabun and other adJoln-
ing counties.
The senator's speech was along the
lines he has followed heretofore IN
his discussions with the voters OF
Georgia, and, as elsewhere this week.
he paid his respects to the forces and
motives of the opposition to his re-
election.
The great legislative achievements
Of the Democratic administration, the
idential candidacy of Governor Cox
formed the chief burden of the
speech, and aroused unmistakable
evidences of Endorsement.
Here, as in southwest Georgia, the
people, more especially the, merr,
chants, are exercised over the col
lection by the state of the illegal to-
bacco tax and the payment to the col
lectors of a commission of 20 pc;
cent for eXacting from the merchants
money that was really not due the
state.
The defense of the collection of
this illegal tax, as offered by the
Atlanta Constitution, is far from sat
isfactory to many citizens, who pro-
TESS to see in the defense an attempt
OF relieve Governor. Dorsey of re-
sponsibility for the collection and the
employment of the collectors at such
q healthy compensation.
Senator Smith, in-:his Cordele
speech, admitted to having made
Observation-Disclosures that injured nc
one but himself" it was remarked
this morning. "He should be com
mended for his frankness. But when
Governor Dorsey is accused of blum
dering, the same influences that at
tack Senator Smiths frankness seek
to excuse the governor at the expense
of someone else"
The States Finances
In his speech today, Senator Smith
made only passing reference to the
collection of the Illegal tobacco tan
along with his comment. about the
finances of the state, concerning
which he said:
"The state institutions are about
to be closed for lack of funds to
..- .G&.r..