Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-10
HOKE SMITH SWAPS
GREAT AUDIENCE IN
H|SATLANTA SPEECH
introduced by William Schley
Howard, Senator Gives
Mastery Presentation Of
His Position
BY ROGERS WINTER

the greatest triumphs Of his public
career at the Atlanta Auditorium
Thursday night. His magnificent adj
dress on the League Of Nations and
other issues in the campaign for the
Democratic presidential nomination
was heard by an audience probably
larger than any in Atlanta since the
memorable throng that heard him
speak from the same rostrum in his
campaign for governor in 1910. Esti-
1000 to 5000. In spite Of the I'm
comfortable GOODNESS OF the audito-
rum, which cannot be heated while
the stage is being rebuilt, almost the
whole audience stayed throughout
his speech. 1t was the best he has
yet delivered in his campaign and
one of the best he ever delivered be-
fore any audience. Its complete sue
cess was a repetition on a larger
scale of the other successes he has
scored everywhere he has spoken
since he launched his campaign ten
days ago.
Colonel Walter P. Andrews, pres-
dent Of the Young Mems Democratic.
League Of Fulton County, and one of
the senator's warmest supporters,
presided over the meeting. William
Schley Howard, former congressman
from the Fifth district, who was
thrown in direct personal contact
with Senator Smith in their respec
tive lines Of work in Washington
for several years, delivered the
speech Of Introduction, winning high
praise for his eloquent tribute 10
Senator Smiths record in public life
for more than quarter. of q cen
fury. Senator Smith spoke for near
ly two hours and covered the whole
range Of issues in the present cam.
paign.
Splendid Attention
The audience gave him splendid
attention all the way through and he
held their interest completely. Speo&.
ing in the auditorium is always din
ficult for any speaker, owing 20 tn
great size of the building and lt9
| noisy floors, which magnify l@s&
slightest Shutting of feet, Senatar
Smith not only Aeld the attention !"
his audience but Smade himself ne.,ri
on the. farthest rows Of seats. ,sf h;
| remarkable carrying power Of ss.irA
voice wasknever better. He spus
with cold draft Of wind blow.!?
on his back through the open etsa ~
but warmed to his subject in feiv
minutes after starting, and did ao
seem to be conscious Of the discor!-
fort.
Some members Of the auiienc1
were less fortunate, and the cola
drove them out, but none seemed u
be leaving for the purpose Of en-
barrasslng the speaker, as some
times men do at a political meeting,
They left at appropriate pauses t.
the senator's speech, where he bad
completed one Point and was start
ing another. Out of the total au-
dience Of 1000 to 5000 people, there
were probably 300 who took their
departure, and all of them did not
stay out, but returned to the hall
AZ the close of the senator's speech
the audience seemed as large, l3okir2
it over from a good vantage potnt
near the stage, as it was when BE
started.
Numerous friendly Interruptions
punctuated the speech. All Of them
could not be heard distinctly by Sen
ator Smith or by the audience. 4
man on a seat in the dress circle
would yell out something by way OF
emphasizing his approval Of a point
the senator was making. He would
stop and ask the man to repeat the
remark. Sometimes it would be re-
peated. and the audience would laugh
and the senator would smile. Some
times the man on the PARKWAY sea
would not attempt to make the SEN
ator hear him distinctly. but would
answer by telling him "to go ahead
and pour it in 'em," or something to
that effect, and the audience would
laugh and the senator would proceed.
The Rival Attractions
Numerous rival attractions kept
hundreds away who wished to hear
the senator's speech. The Shriners
gave a circus at Ponce de Leon park
that took away many. Several re-
viva1 meetings were in progress In
various churches and kept away
many. Among the late arrivals at
the auditorium were observed nu
merous Sl1riners wearing the red fez,
and citizens who had been detained
with other engagements were drop
ping into the auditorium all the way
through the speech, almost up to the
last.
At o'clock, which was the hour
announced for the meeting to begin,
several thousand people were in The
auditorium, and a stream was flow
ing through the doors. About 8:15
Senator Smith appeared at the main
entrance, accompanied by Judge
George Hillyer, H. H. Cabaniss, j. r.
Smith, Carlos H. Mason. James 3.
Nevin, Colonel Walter p. Andrews,
William Sch1ey Howard and JACK
Patterson, editor Of the CovingtcN
News. His appearance was the sig
nal for an outburst of applause which
continued as the party walked down
the aisle. Senator Smith waved a
greeting to many f,iends in the au
Gience and stopped to shake hands
with many who were seated near
the aisle.
A small rostrum erected in front
of the regular stage, which is being
rebuilt with a fire wall In prepare
ton for opera, seated the senator
and the party Colonel Andrews
waited few minutes for the lat
TO get seats. Then he open