Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-08
PALMER MAKES
OPENING SPEECH
IN GAINESVILLE
by ED H. BRADLEY
(Staff Correspondent Of The JoilrnaI)

correspondent O1
GAINESVILLE, Ga, April 6.
Speaking to an audience of Hall
county citizens, Attorney General "A,
Mitchell Palmer today opened his
campaign in Georgia for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination. De-
spite the weather, which was not par
ticularly conducive to outdoor ora
tory, Mr.. Palmer elected to make his
address in the plaza in front of the
courthouse from a gaily decorated
platform erected for the purpose by
the Hall county committee in charge
of the Palmer campaign.
The attorney general devoted most
of his speech to an attack on the mo-
tives impelling Senator Hoke Smith
to enter the preferential primary
April 20. He attacked him on the
ground that the senior senator from
Georgia is and has been moved by a
desire to embarrass the Wilson ad-
ing hand in glove with those who
would discredit the administration
in the eyes of the American people.
Mr.. Palmer let it be plainly under
stood that he puts Senator Smith IN
the category of tne ''bitter enders'
who are against the League of Ma
tions. He characterized him as A
member of a "two-faced' faction In
the United States senate, who. ne,
said, claimed to be in favor OF the
league, but at the same time did their
best to stab it in the back with null
lifying reservations. He questioned
Senator Smiths sincerity in becom1ng
a candidate for the presidency in the
Georgia primary and charged that the
senator's campaign was part OIL
general program put on In all sec
tons of the country by the enemies
of the admin; stration to control the
San Francisco convention and re-
verse the policies inaugurated by the
Democratic party during the past
seven years.
Later on in his speech, the attor-
ney general turned his attention to
the constructive Legislation enacte9
during the Wilson administration and
gave comprehensive description OF
the various phases of activity car
ried on under the direction and sup
ervision of the. Democratic party.
The Crowd
Mr. Palmer had a good crowd. NOT
all of them were his supporters and,
in fact, a good percentage of his au-
ditors were dyed-in-the-Wool Hoke
Smith men. There was sprlnkllng
of Watson adherents in the crowd,
too. The meeting had been well ad-
Vertised by the Palmer campaign
committee, headed by H. II. Dean and
Edgar B. Dunlap. The wet weather
that has prevailed for the past sew
eral days made it impossible for the
farmers to work IN IIl6 uSIuSb d1iNi
many Of them made it sort Of holt
day to spend the day in town and
satisfy their appetite for political
oratory.
In the course of his remarks, Mr.,
Dunlap emphasized the fact that MT,
Palmer stands for the Endorsement OF
every phase" of the Wilson adj
ministration and that he Endorses
the League of Nations without res
ervations Of any kind Mr.. Dunlap
impressed this upon his audience
with much fervor.
It developed this morning that
rMessrs. Dean and Dunlap on Monday
circulated a petition among the pro-
prietors of business establishments
asking them to close up shop during
Mr.. Palmer's speech, Some of the
| business men agreed, but more than
thirty of them declined to sign the
| petition, t..,
1.-THE presidents of Brenau college
and Riverside academy were also
urged to dismiss their students SO
that they might attend the meeting
and, in accordance with the wishes
of Mr.. Dean, this was done, so that
the audience which greeted Mr.. Pal
mer contained many young mon and
women from these institutions. The
school teachers of Hall county gath
cred here today for their regular
conference, consequently the schools
enjoyed a holiday.