Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-08-09
SCORES WATSON,
FOLLOWING HIM
Minister Center of Ex-
citing Situation at Crit
fin Meeting
CONTINUED From Page l.


citation of the Legion and his state
ments relative to the officers Of the
army. He called Pershing coward,
and said that he was only at the front
one time, and that at that time his
own men shot holes through the top
if his car and he lief the front at 50
miles an hour.
When Thompson took the stand
after Watson had repeatedly plead
from free speech in his address, the
Watson supporters in the crowd at
tempted by every possible means 20
cry him down. He merely smiled at
them and coolly pulled out his watch
and announced that he was there to
stay until train time.
For a long time it looked as If the
minister would not be allowed to
speak, but finally, after several
songs were sung and appeals made to
the better element in the crowd by
various persons to allow free speech
to be really evidenced, he was permit
ted to make his address. Appeals for
a Square deal" not only come from
the supporters of the Legion, but one
fair-minded Watson man mounted
the stand, only to be hooted down.
During this time excitement ran
high, and the police were forced tor
arrest two Watson followers and re-
move them from the grounds on ac
count of disorderly conduct. Two
American flags were brought to the
platform and cheer after cheer rang
through the air. Cries of "HurrahI
for Woodrow Wilson" also, brought
forth tremendous applause.
Straight Talk.
Standing on the railing around
the speakers stand, Rev Mr.. Thomp
son talked straight from the shoulder
for more than thirty minutes, and theI
interest and applause was greater
than it had been during Watson'sI
speech.
"Why didn't Tom have the nerve
to stay and hear real speech?' one
man cried and the crowd laughed.
"Fellow citizens" began theI
speaker, 81 am glad that | live in al
country that believes in free speech.
/ am also glad that | listened tol
Thomas E. Watson in his address this
afternoon and will state now that II
have no abuse to offer other than tol
state that since hearing his address
cannot support man whose every ut-I
terance is one of criticism of some
one else. I never did like hound
dog who was always barking at otherl
dogs in the pack. 90.
"His statements relative TO Wood
row Wilson are statements to which
| must take exception, for I fully be-
lieve that Woodrow Wilson's name
will go down in history alongside that
of Washington, Lincoln and Roose
welt. No man can cast slur on the
name of the president of my country,
nor the boys who so valiantly fought
and died for it without hearing from
me.
''They say that. preacher should
not be mixed up in a thing Of this
kind, but | believe that a preacher
place is always on the side Of right
and | sincerely believe that my
place IS right to say word for
those things upon which our coun-
try was founded"
Time sitter time his speech was IN
terrupted by applause and 1t was very
evident that the crowd was greatly
enjoying his talk.
Referring to the fact that he was
in the Y. NJ. C. A. during the war,
he stated that never at any time dur
ing his service with that organiza-
ton had he done other than what was
right for the boys, and defed the aud
fence to prove otherwise.
''My father was a Confederate sold
Ter, and l am proud of him. He
fought for ideals, just as the boys
who died in France fought. l can
not believe that any of you would
stand for the SANDER to be cast
against your fathers that has been.