The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-11-01
HIKE SMITH MAIN
CAUSE WATSON'S IRE
an HARDING TO ATLANTA
AFTER HARRIS AND UP
SHAW FAILED.
DART PLAYED BY EX-SENATOR

I, Real Cause OF Row. Say Governor
Du.rdwicks Friends. Much Prefer
p..ce Than War Between the Two
Toms. Governor Is Concilliatory.
ATLANTA, Gait seems that ex-
,.n,tor Hoke Smith is the source Of
ss.,tor Watsons irritation with Gov.
., or Hardwick, with the Atlanta
,,r,ber of commerce and with the
a r cane about this way, according
- information obtained here.
When the Atlanta chamber OF COM
nsrce heard that President Harding
l,. Going to Birmingham to attend
ga3 Sitv's big birthday celebration it
nl'@nediately decided to invite the pres
l..l, to stop off in Atlanta, either 60
mo or returning.
DS Senator Harris and Congressman
1-osbaw were asked to see what they
.orrd do. They took the proper steps
~ ,r oresent the invitation, but were not
,brs to obtain the presidents definite
Ex-senator Smith was asked to lend
hand He and President Harding
,s,red together in the senate and are
r, , personal friends. The personal
8.matjon counts for a lot. Ex-senator
Smith went to see the president and
SS5taned his acceptance of the invita-
Ill., TO stop over in Atlanta,
Smith on Committee.
At once the chamber of commerce
.ooointed a committee to call at the
Kite house and present the invitation
h formal way and ascertain the pres
#i,nts wishes with regard to the ar
Engement of a program. Ex-senator
Ninth was appointed chairman OF the
8onmittee. The others were prominent
enbers of the chamber.
Governor HardWick was requested
the chamber to accompany the
mmittee if he could, or to send
kmesentative if he could not, for the
roose of "seconding" the invitation.
hat was the word used. Not being
lie to go himself, the governor APP
Anted William J. Vereen, OF Moul-
h. as his representative. Mr.. Vereen
|Mt Inc OOlIllllllltC III w dSlilllS lOll OlA
morning OF October 9TH.
The committee was joined at the
oreham hotel by ex-senator Smith.
tey went to the white house to per-
Inn their mission of hospitality. Sen
Tor Harris and Congressman Up
law went with them at the request
Il ex-senator Smith. Senator Wat
a a was not present. Ex-senator Smith,
j chairman of the committee, had not
tuted him. They are not on speak
Eg terms with each other, and have
ot been for years.
Watson Feels Slight.
But evidently Senator Watson fig
Y red that somebody else on the COM
Etec might have invited him. Hardly
hi the committee returned to Allan
81 before there came a letter, it is said,
which Senator Watson informed
ueuor Hardwick that the commit
had sighted him in Washington
that he felt it keenly. Governor
&niwiCk communicated this intOrma-
IN to President Lee Ashcraft, OF the
amber Of commerce. He fastened to
bite a letter assuring Senator Wat
that neither the committee nor
chamber of commerce had intend
to slight him.
Then followed the senator's edito
III the Columbia Sentinel attack
i Governor Hardwick's administra-
and taking side swipes at eX-
nator Smith and the Atlanta cham
OF commerce.
Governor Hardwick sent a telegram
ex-senator Smith, day or two be-
Fe the committee went to Washing
asking him to see if it could be
Fanged for President Harding to
Fak in the Atlanta auditorium. The
Vernor had received a letter from
president expressing willingness
speak there.
Watson Peeved Again.
bis telegram, it seems, gave Sena-
Watson the impression that Gov
Or Hardwick was contributing to
Prominence OF ex-senator Smith