Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-24
STATESMEN PAY TRIBUTE
TO MEMORY OF WATSON

and government made him greatly
feared by the stand-pat Republicans,
and greatly loved by the Democrats
as well as the progressive Republi-
cans. He was the best friend the
common people, the weak and the
helpless ever had in the United
States senate"
Senator Harris reviewed the work
of Senator Watson, and declared
that the late senator, by his wonder
full speeches on the floor, had more
to do than anybody else in driving
w. p G. Harding off the federal re-
serve board, as we'll as keeping
Henry Lincoln Johnson, Georgia
negro, out of the position as re-
corder Of deeds for the District Of
Columbia.
Senator Watson had more friends
in Georgia who would at all times
follow him than any public man
within my time" Senator Harris
said. with this following he made
and unmade governors, senator's, con-
was always fighting for the masses
anu OPPO0illS opCNICI SSlS.
United States Senator Walter F.
George stated chat he mad never seen
the equal of Mr.. Watson at the bar
of the state of Georgia and that Mr.,
Watson excelled in marshalling facts
and presenting them to the judge and
jury.
Senator George reviewed the rec
ord of Senator Watson as a lawyer.
l. ,tnE Tod Il, ~
at the bar Mr.. Watson received only
$212 and during his second year only
$470, but his ability rapidly increased
his income until he was making more
than $4,000 per year when he volun-
tarily retired from the practice OF
law
Mr.. Watson, had the imagination.
the genius and the soul of a poet, -
Senator George declared. HE has
contributed many notable books to
the literature of the world. 1t is a
most remarkable fact that a back.
ward country lawyer for many years
unknown except in his immediate
vicinity and who never visited
France, should have written a his
tory of France that has been accent,
ed as authority and a classic by the
people Of that country"
Tribune of the People
Judge James j. Flynt, the next
speaker averred that Mr.. Watson
was the best loved and worst hated
man in Georgia.
He was loved by the masses and
mated by few who wanted special
privileges for themselves, he said
lie was usually in the minority. but
was nearly always right. L knew
MN for thirty years, and my father
knew him before me. He was truly
the tribune of the people. Georgia
never produced his equal. The suc.
geStlon to erect monument TO Tom
watson is beautiful, but it will not
TAKE monument to perpetuate his
memory. His work, his writings, will
always live in the hearts of thou.
sands OF his devoted followers"
! Mrs. F'eltOn's Tribute
MRS. Rebecca Latimer FELTON, of
Gainesville, who was appointed bv
Governor Hardwick to succeed tho
late Senator Watson in the Cnited
STATES senate, said that she found
out on her brief visit to WASHINGTON
that Tom Watson stayed on the
JOB for the common people in the
national capitol as well as in Geor.
gia.
Mrs. FELTON, reviewed the various
political campaigns of Senator Wat.
son in the Tenth congressional dis.
trlct and throughout the state. She
said her attachment for him was
MADE undYirg when he left a cam.
paign in his own district in 1894
and went to the Seventh district to
help her husband.
The efforts of Mr.. Watson TO re.
peal the so.called tax equalization
| law, which has been riding the larm.
ers of Georgia to death, was one OF
his bEeatest services to the people"
Mrs. FELTON, declared.
Although the voters of Georgia
send you legislators up here in.
structed to repeal that law, some.
body turns you over after you get
to Atlanta and [ make the predic-
t on right now that the tax equaliza.
ton law will still be the main issue
before the legislature in 1924"
SOlOns Laud Record
Mrs. FELTON, stated that when
crops failed and hard times come,
the people have to economic, and
the state should do the same thing
| by reducing expenses and cutting
down appropriations.
Mrs. FELTON, said the hours OF
suspense through which Mr.. Watson
passed during the week when he
was on trial at Augusta on a charge
of violating the espionage act had
aged him and possibly affected his
health, although his only interest
had been the protection of the com
mon people.
Representative Pope, Of Walker
county, followed Mrs. FELTON, with
! an eulogy to Senator Watson. Rep
! resentative Daniel, OF Troup coun.
ty, also paid tribute to the late
| senator.