The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-05-25

1861 to 1929. The victory was
won onlv after a hard fought bat
tie. in which Palmer leaders sought
every chance to put the convention
on record on various objections they
raised to the passage of the resolu-
ton. The final resolution, as pre-
pared by the committee, was adopted
and a resolution approving the dem
ocratic administration offered by Hoi-
/ Inns Randolph was rejected.
In the final hours of the conven-
ton Palmer leaders put the conven..
ton on record on the question OF
electing delegates to the national
convention composed of friends OF
Thomas E. Watson and Hoke Smith
Albert Howell claimed that under
rule 10 of the democratic state eX-
ecutive committee the convention
should name Palmer delegates to the
convention. and made a point OF or
der that the resolution naming dele
gates to the convention - contained
only the names of Smith and Wat
son men.
Howell is Displaced.
Chairman Sam Olive ruled on the
point of order and said the conVen-
ton is a sovereign body and had su-
preme authority to select its own del
egates to the national convention.
He then put the point of order rals-
ed bv Mr.. Howell before the cOnven-
ton and the chair was sustained IN
his ruling by vote of 232 to lao.
The convention then voted on the
two sets of delegates offered IN nom
ination before the convention. One
set was named at caucuses of Smith
and Watson men from the several
congressional districts and the other
set was placed in nomination by ".
'ffYf. ~. Fleming of Richmond, Palmer
floor leader. The vote was taken on
the two delegations, one being known
as ''the original and the other as
'the substitute" The final vote on
the delegates was 234 for the Smith
Watson ticket and 142 for the Pal
mer ticket.
Offer is Refused.
The election of q Smith Watson
delegation to San Francisco came
only after Judge A. W. Cozart of
Muscogee, Smith floor leader, had
made an offer to the Palmer men
to frame the delegation in three
parts, one-third to be composed of
Palmer men, one-third of Smith men
and one-third Watson men. Mr..
Fleming objected to this proposal and
said the Palmer men were ready to
be sacrificed" He said his side was
standing for a principle" and would
accept no concession. The question
was then placed before the conven-
ton and a Smith and Watson dele
cation, composed about equally from
both groups, was elected and given
instructions to vote for no man in
the San Francisco convention who
did not oppose the league of nations
treaty.
Smith-Watson Harmony.
There was complete harmony be-
tween the Smith and Watson forces
in almost every point raised. The
Smith forces were led by Judge A. w.
Cozart of Muscogee, Vance Peacock
and Tom Hudson, while the Watson
leadership rested on the shoulders of
Mr.. Watson himself, assisted by
Grover C. Edmundson and John l.
Kelley.
A feature of the convention, how
ever, was the work Of Thomas w
former senator, who SEEM
ed to work with the full confidence
of the Smith and Watson groups. The
Palmer men were led by Albert How
eli, Hollins Randolph and William H.
Fleming.
The only "break" between the
Smith and Watson forces came in the
when the credentials COM
mittee submitted a report unseatlng
the Chatham delegation because of
charges brought by Mr.. Watson that
his name had been removed from the
ballot in that county. The report was
placed before the convention and
when the roll was called it was APP
parent early in the reading that
Smith voters were not inclined to
sustain the credentials committee
The Chatham forces remained seated
by narrow margin.
Line-Up Restored.
The convention then took up the
rest of the credential committees re-
port, which provided that Smith del
egates should supplant Palmer dele
gates in Murray and Atkinson coun-
ty and that the Palmer delegation
named in Wilkinson county should
be unseated. On this vote the old
lineup was restored. The Watson
men showed no resentment of the