The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-11
WATSON SAYS VICTORY
DUE TO FIGHT ON LEAGUE

Thomson, Ga. Sept, 1l,--Ponting out
/ that he had conducted his campaign
| for the United States senate on a plat
form advocating unconditional rejec-
| ton OF the league OF nations and I'M
| conditional maintenance OF American
principles" Thomas H. Watson, In a
statement to tho Associated press yes
terday. said his victory In Wednesdays
| democratic primary proved the stand
OF the majority of Georgia voters on
tho issue. Mr.. Watson declared his
overwhelming victory was won
against the attempted diotation of ofii-
GERS OF the American Legion, and for
the great English principles of free
speech, free press. free assemblage and
complete separation of church and
state"
Mr.. Wntson's statement follows:
GOV Hugh Dorsey, In the recent
primary for United States senator rep
resented the Palmer administration del
eeates, who were seated at the national
democratic convention. "Senutor Smith
represented compromise on Il league
OF nations, 1 stood as 1 had done I'M
APRIL Tor an unconditional rejection of
inc legue OF nations and unconditional
maintenance or American principles, as
expressed In the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence, constitution OF the United
sthtes aud the great state papers of
washington. Jefferson. Madison and
Monroe, In other words, my race was
run on the platform adopted by the
regular democratic state convention
held In May and which elected the del
egates TO San Francisco, who were un
seated by tho national committee inl
violation OF the United States Constitu-
. u9n, OF statute law OF Georgia and two
thirds popular vote of the peoples,
Senator Hoke Smith, representing
hlmson mainly, made IL much poorer
showing In this election than he did In |
that last April. Gov, Dorsey, who was
au,y stamped as the White House cam
dldate, did not prove nearly so strong
as Atty, Gen, Palmer had done.
The fact that the state gave approy-
nj To my position against the league, |
ana against compulsory milltarytrafning
against embroiling ourselves any fur.
ther In foreign affairs, simply proved
now rapidly tho sentiment against the
league has grown, because Il must he
obvious that personally | could not he
stronger I'm september than | had been
II April Between April and Sept. s.
the day OF our primary-~my vote nrac-
tically doubled itself, That OF the other
candidates shrank; In fact, Senator
Smith almost disappeared from the
race, and had the contest continued
another month, II Is highly probable
that he would not have carried single
"Thc strength OF the opposition to tho
league and compulsory military train
Ing Is very impressively demonstrated
by the fact that I carried Fulton coun-
". capital OF the state and the home
Of both Gov. Dorsey and Senator Smith.
W the counties which are known as the
big six, l carried none In April. on
the Sth OF this month | carried four OF
them,
III any money was spent In my cam
paign, | do not know OF H. or course,
paid my own travelling expenses andl
Tor circulation OF extra copies OF my
paper, and OF the Atlanta Georgian tho
only daily paper on my side, and whose
voluntary aid contributed greatly to the
victory won against the
attempted dictation OF the officers of
Tho American Legion. and for the great
English principles OF free speech, free
press, free RSsemhlage and complete
separation OF church aud state"