Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-31
Thomas E.. Waty0n Opposes
League, Elpfonage Lag0 and
Other Policies in Platform

Thomas E. Watson's platform a
candidate for the United States SEN
ate was made public Friday in his
newspaper, the Columbia Sentinel. :
The platform consists of four main
planks:
l. Opposition to. the espionage law.
2. Opposition to and denunciation
of Woodrow Wilson.
g.. Opposition to the League of Ma
lions, root and branch, with or
without reservations"
4. Opposition to universal military
service, which. he. denounces as a
training school for future wars.
Mr.. Watson makes, no attack in
his platform upon other candidates
for the senate. either announced or
prospective. He mentions Senator
Smith briefly and in passing, with
criticism of his support of the
League Of Nations with reservations.
Text OF Platform
The text of. Mr.. Watson's platform
is as follows: ....... -......
Subject to the Democratic primary,
hereby announce myself Il candidate for the
! senate of the United States on the plat
form following: ~ ~..s
~ The immedia tie repeal of all laws
authorizing. United States officers and spies
to invade the states. breaking into priv tc
| rooms and dwellings, without search ,wdr-
rants. arrcstng persons without crimina
warrant custing these persons into dun
geons, refusing such persons IL public and
speedy trial, refusing to present their cases
to grand, juries, refusing them their constl
tutional right to trial by jury, but trying
fIAr,n To- hnfn t1,n
called department of justice refusing them
the benefit Of counsel and of compulsory
process to bring their, own witnesses into
court, and conrictfng them without evil
dcnce, except that of Mitchell Palmer
paid spies. =. -, r.- ~
Unless these unconstitutional acts of CON
greas shall be repealed, no citizen of this
union will be safe from the spies, thugs,
eral government who announces the new doc
trine. that the accused must prove, his in
nOcence. f',.
The mental dementia of Woodrow Wilson
shows itself nowhere more Enthusiastically
than in his rage for rdeSpotic power, and
his craze for keeping us technically ut war.
when every sane American wants peace;
and knows lie could get it. were it not for
Wilson IS mulish obstiuacy. 1-.
(2) If elected. l will do my utmost to
have IA Jail delivery. of all citizens who
cratic intolerance of opinions different from
ms own. .... d..
President Wilson te!egraphed his con
graf ula lions to the French republic, on the
anniversary OF the destruction, By. the mob
of the French Bastillc. IN which arbitrary
b "bun y',inps inca rcitr;i .d inrprt ~ RICH
men, without warrant and without trial.
I.'.., l.,.,.:-s-. ,.en
bcr the yictimi-cd KusSeiiteS. the victim
lied conscientious DIRECTORS, and the. victim
lied Socialists, one OF whom, Eugene. Debs
is still in prison because he had the bravery
to tell the truth about the real causes OF
the great war. "... 49,. 49,
81 1 will do all in my power to repea
| those statutes which attempt to enlarge thl
law, of treason, as defined in the constltu
ton of the United States.
The attempts being insidiOusty made arr
| known as the alien sedition and espionage
laws; and they seek to make treasonable
peaGeabe asSemblage to- criticlse the gov
| crnInent. and all other. acts. of free mel
and women not in accord with the AOfiicia
views of tile White House. -..
The constitution of the United States has
| but definition for treason, and thai
definition cannot be changed, except by the
| will of the people, expressed through thell
| state legislatures. after two-thirds of tine
| senate and lower house of congress shall
have proposed the, amendment, and, three
| fomrths OF the state Legislatures shall hay'
| IA titled it, n.
| The law, of treason, as defined in the
/ constitution, requires that the traitor sinai
| have made war upon the United states, OF
| have given aid and comfort to their enc
| mes, inu the CONSTITUTION cApicSoIS soy
| that. unless the. accused makes confession
| of guilt in open court, lie shall not be con
vittcd, except by the testimony of two wit
| nesses, swearing to the same overt act
| c.Act, mind ,y0u.) A..
"a II YOU elect me your senator, l viii
| strive with all my might to return to yor
your personal liberties, which have. beer
| taken away from you by the dcspotic ADMIN
| iStrnton of Woodrow Wilson.
| Those rights are set forth by the supreme
| law of the land. made by the fathers, wh'
| won our liberties, by seven years OF terrible
struggle. a
In tile constitution itsalf you will rea,
| that no man Shall be punished for any crime
| involving moral turpitude until after tn
| following steps have been. taken against him
! An affida vii. made by icitizen, a warran
| issued by a mas istrate inside the state anC
| county where the alleged crime was com
mitted; the right to give bond. and Il bon'
! which shall not be. excessive; tile right to
| speedy trial, and ono which shall be public
| tho right to he tried by jury of his neigh
| bors and his equals. IN the vicinity in whfcl
the accused has lived and in which the Grim
| is alleged to have been committed; no un
usual punishment shall he inflicted upon tn
| accused. even after the trial jury shall hay
unanimously found him guilty.
! lie shall have the right to face his accus
crs. and to compulsory process to bring hi
| own witnesses. * e"
Justice, under. Mitchell Palmer, the presen
incompetent and tyrnnnical attorney general
have crowded the jails Of this country Wit
citizens, makes and females, and even lttl
children. under the alien act who were III
| rested without warrant released 'wlthOu
compensation or banished to, Russia.
go AS Is well known throughout. tn
/ country, / am opposed to the league of ma
| tions. root and branch, with. or without res
| ervati0nS.
4 woman cannot lose her innocence. an
reserve IL neither can n nation surrende
| It's independence and reserve" it.
There can be no conspiracy of presidents
/ prcmers kings. '-mika,fos, and autocracies
| which does not override and overrue ever
member of that league excepting majority
vote England. .r 3 80
in spitc,of all interpretations and reser
ratOnS (which, can be swept away by n SUI
prone council in Europe)+ such a league AM
such supreme council. will subordinate T.
over which it has been made supreme.
! England is safe and dominant becaus
she retains the ma jority vote.
Had the league been adopted when Wilso
first demanded it. or when it was first or
s:aniZcd in London, would he in
yolved in Britain's war against Russia, il
I the Italian war with Bulgaria, in the Gre
1 elan war against the Turkish empire, in tn
| English war against the Turkish empire
in the French war against Syria, in Eng
| lands war against the Arabs on the Re-
| sea and on the EuphrateS.
These 'leaguers," who are being hoodwinket
/ by the interna tional bankers and bondhold
| crS are even now clamOring for American
troops to help the British and French bea
he Russians back, when they hay edriveI
| the Poles from Russia, which country tn
Poles invaded at the instiga ton OF France
! England and President Wilson.
| The Poles were Supplied with guns, mu
ntions, clothing and food by England
/ Frlnce. and President Wilson.
Even now, the !. egomaniac Wilson