The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-11-02


cratic convention. Now, after three
decades, he is a delegate for the sec
ond time to a similar convention.
| On the first occasion he was not
quite twenty-four years old. That was
| in 1880, when he was delegate from
McDufie county in behalf of the can
didacy of Rufus (. Lester, OF Savan-
nah, for governor. Then, no trumpet
had sounded out his national fame as
orator and historian, party leader and
presidential candidate. He had not at
that time given to the world his beau
| tiful STORY of France" nor enthrllled
mutitudes with the magic OF his elo-
quence. He was tall, thin, red-head-
| ed, freckled-face youth.
Today at the age OF sixty-tour he
appears at his second gubernator1al
convention as democratic delegate to
! help nominate Thomas w. Hardwick
as a standard bearer of democracy.
| His hair is covered with the dust gath
cred from the roads Of life, his face
| bears the signs of the lightning and
I the gale" his once spare frame IS 1ull
and large.
But the melody of his voice has not
| lost its power to WOO and persuade,
| nor mas his tongue III SOtISH iiiiP10
stoned and electrical speech. His ora
! tory is musical and magnetic, intense
and stirring.
Wreathed With Senatorial Laurel.
/ In 1886, as a Lester delegate, fame
had not heard Watson's call. In 1920,
as a HardWick delegate, the senator
| ial laurel is wreathed around his brow.
| The people of Georgia have awarded
to him the most glittering prize with
in their power to bestow There have
been times when he scared to the
shining heights of ambition i'll quest
of the nations most brilliant robe,
and only grasped a frozen shroud But
today he is here wearing the brightest
diadem with which ardent admirers
and loyal friends i'll his native COM
monwealth can crown him. He was
! the target of hostile hre-the object
OF hot and bitter crusade-but his
faithful and tenacious phalanX could
not be broken, and he emerged out of
the thrilling conflict the victor OF
crushing and sweeping triumph.
The Knight of McDufie.
| do not recall that senatorial NOM
inee was ever before a delegate to a
gubernatorial convention. But | guess
that Mr.. Watson desired to represent
his county at the democratic assembly
today so as ito keep an eye on things"
On the convention floor, if occasion
requires, he may bring into action his
salient powers of leadership, and give
the delegates a tingling experience.
He comes bearing the olive branch of
peace, but no doubt resolved that none
of the fruits of the late primaries must
be lost. He brings with him soft dip
lomacy, and prefers to breathe only
expressions of exquisite felicity but
the Knight Of McDufie never travels
without shining lance, a FURNISHED
and frightened blade, culver full OF
sharp pointed arrows.
| was a spectator at the convention
of 1880, and counted myself fortunate
at seeing there my Mercer University
c1assmate and baseball captain, Tom
on meeting him at today's convention,
where | shall go as soon as | finish
writing these lines, and once again be
"a locker on in Venice"
A Revolutionary Convention.
The convention of 1880 was one of
the most revolutionary in the political
annals OF Georgia. It came very near
producing an irreparable schism in the
democratic party. Some of the stormy
actions of Tom Watson in later years,
compared with the turbulent conduct
OF certain democratic leaders in that
convention, were as an evening zephyr
TO whirlwind, or the echo of sigh
to the roar of a tornado.
This was the memorable "Colquitt
convention" which broke up without
nominating any one for governor,
with the result that Colquitt, who was
a candidate to succeed himself was
opposed in the general state election
by former United States Senator
Thomas NJ. Norwood, the governor
being reelected.
Denounced as Gag Law"
The Colquitt forces were in the ma
jority in the convention, but under the
practice then in force it required a
| two-thirds vote to nominate. In an
effort to obtain this nomination the
committee on rules in its report, among
other things, recommended that no
man should be put i'll nomination, and
voted for, whose permission had not
first been obtained. This innovation
was made. to prevent the bringing in
OF dark horse"
In an eloquent and fiery speech
young Watson denounced the rules as
gag law" They were also opposed
by Others, but were adopted.
In bold and defiant address Pat
Walsh, the floor leader for Colquitt,
declared that his forces would support
no one for the nomination but Colquitt
and would nominate him if it took I'M
til Christmas. 1t was then the month
OF June.
Watson Answers the Defy.
! When Walsh hurled the Colquitt
defy Watson created scene of in
describabe excitement by his brilliant,
fearless and intensely passionate re
! spouse. In my minds eye l see him
now as the slender form leaped upon
the top of desk, and, throwing back