Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-07-30
WATSON ANNOUNCES
CHALLENGE OF SMITH


TENNILLE, July 80. = With a
Observation-Disclosures statement
tnat ne had challenged Hoke Smith
70 a series of joint debates, and
Wnether he accepted it or not he ex-
pected to teach Smith something
aoout his record that he didn't know
nimsef before he got through with
MIN, Thomas E. Watson opened his
campaign for United States senator
mere yesterday before an audience of
so'oOO people, many of them COM
ing from adjoining counties in the
Ienth and Twelfth districts
With the direct statement to Smith
referred to, Mr.. Watson dismissed ali
other candidates, real and nrosnec-
tive. He waded straight into dis
cusslon OF national and international
issues from his well known view
points, dealing with them, however.
with Keen directness and not with
an evaslveness that is prophetic of
a Iack OF conviction. He denounced
tne League of Nations in line
with his published discussion
denounced the administration ~
Woodrow Wilson, referring to him
as the monster of the Wbite Houaa nm
ana severely indicted the government
lol us pollcles u the conduct of the
war and particularly in the train
ing camps. ~ 'i"in-
AFTER leaving these subjects unon
Whlch his platform of antagoniqws vs
- Duilt' the speaker began a learnad
Iudlclal discussion of treason, sad;-
.,Gn ana espionage, and severely ar
idighed the department of Justice for
its interpretations of these Iaws and
Ior us alleged system of snies bo;no
particularly severe in his rafepe,ese .s
70 Cne expectation of aliens ord :,
defense of Russia. anu !"
lii III atson spoke with great de-
liberation, with temperate manner
anu at times, with a forcefuI lie
play OF vigorous eloquence H;s
voice carried to the far corners nS
lne Dig grove in which he smoke and
30 poilShed, indeed, were portions Of
nls ADDRESS, and so rhetoricaIlv briI-
liahI, ehat someone suggested his ad-
uLess sounded more like chautauoua
address before an assembly of hioh-
proWs, or a baccalaureate before a
BODY of college students. tban
] rough and tumble political sneacb 70
gaCher1ng of wool-hat boys in Geor-
ga But they not only understood
put appreciated, and it was clearly
eYlueht that fully half of the audi
ehce were in sympathy with the
speaker, The other half remained
quiet and appeared to be listening
from curiosity or amusement, or both
II any person journeyed to Ten
hIne, however, expecting any YER
pa fireworks or a scathing denun-
cation Of any Georgia men or fac
tlons of conditions, they were mis-
taken. He made onlv a passing ref
efence to the delegations to the San.
FRANCISCO convention, made no ref
erence whatever to the Democratic
hatlonal ticket or platform nor did
ne refer even inferentially to any
Georgian who opposed him in the
April primaries. He made no refer
ence to the press of Georgia that is
i opposing him, handling his subject
IN his characteristic spirit of vigorous
antagonisms, but without his usual
: crushing satire or violent vindictiye.
ness. His tribute to the constitution
OF the fathers was masterfuI in elo.
quence.
Mr.. Watson was preceded by SAM
l.. Olive, of Augusta, who spoke in
: onposition to Vinson for congress
and assailed his opponent in a
scathing manner. Grover Edmond
son followed Mr.. Watson with a
short address.