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6 THE ATLANTIAN Samuel Gompers Democratic National Convention The veteran labor leader was in Atlanta on the 27th of last month, and delivered an address to a large audience at the Auditorium along the usual lines. Gompers has stood for almost a generation as one of the represen tative men of the labor interests of the country. In this long period of time he perhaps has not always been wise, any more than any other man would have been under the same conditions, but it cannot be questioned that he has always been sincerely loyal to the in terests which he represents. He is a strong and interesting talker, but his best things are said in a casual sort of way—somewhat in the nature of interpolations into his regular argument. For example, in discussing labor organi zations in his speech here, he made substantially this remark: “One will kick a small mongrel dog on the street without a thought of it— but he won’t kick a bulldog!” Of course, the mongrel is unorgan ized labor, the bulldog stands for Organized Labor. There can be no question of the good work that has been done by Organized Labor. It has its failures like every other human in stitution—but its work has been in the main for the betterment of conditions in this country. Unless we can maintain our laboring people in comfort and give to them that degree of leisure which will enable them to constantly improve along intellectual and moral lines, we cannot hope to sustain Democratic government. The work ers represent the majority of- our people, and if that majority is not kept sound and healthy and wholesome, disaster will overtake us. The men who would exploit labor for personal profit are the greatest enemies of the Republic. *»— m There is a good deal of talk in the town about securing the next National Democratic Convention for Atlanta. Well, why not ? There has not one come this way for fifty years. It s about time! We have got the building to house it in. We have got the hotels to put the delegates in. We have the best town, (with all its fail ings), of its size in America. And as Champ Clark said about nom inating him for President, the men having the selection of the place in charge “might do much worse.” Soberly speaking, there is every reason in the world why the Convention should come to Atlanta. There would today be in this Republic no Democratic party but for the votes of the cotton belt. It would have been buried so long ago that big oak trees would have been growing over its grave if we hadn’t stayed with it and kept it alive! We haven’t asked much—and we haven’t had much. Isn’t it about time for us to be asking for something, and asking so loud that we’ll get something? Without entering into any argument in the matter, the reasons are obvious why the Democratic Convention should come to Atlan ta. One point only we want to make. The Convention has been held many times in places where there was no especially strong Democratic sentiment. It has been held at times in places where the people didn’t even know what real Democracy meant. As we see it, it would be a good thing for the Convention to come one time into a friendly atmosphere—into a place where the masses of the people are Democrats because they believe in Democratic government. Of course, we have got our place-seeking politicians who are Demo crats for revenue. Rut the masses of the Southern people are really and truly Democrats. CURRENT COMMENT. The Richmond News Leader says: “Ever since the split in the Demo cratic caucus we have been reading in the newspapers of statesmen in the lower house of Congress almost at W. W. ORR. Prominent Business Man and Secretary Geo. Muse Clothing Company. the point ,of blows. The country is becoming a little weary of the ‘almost’ f business. Statesmen should keep the peace or go to war. The attitude of battle without its action is disquiet ing and gets on the public’s nerves.” The Philadelphia Record says: “Great news comes from the Minne sota College of Chemistry, where a pro fessor, after twelve years of experi mentation, has discovered how to get $41 worth of turpentine and $39 worth of wood pulp out of one cord of Norway pine worth $7.50. This is fine. It is great. The only lame ele ment in the announcement is the fail ure of the professor to give the cost of his new process of distillation.” The Baltimore Age-Herald (Dem.) says: "A tariff bill will be passed before mid-summer, and if we have normal crops the railroads will pros per, and that will certainly mean a new era of solid thrift. In the mean time, the iron market, which is a re liable business barometer, is begin ning to move, and indications point to a steady improvement; and with a brisk iron movement this district, at any rate, is never dull.” The Charleston Post (Dem.) says: “The East and West are badly tied up over the tariff on lumber and hides, and it may come to the representa tives of the South in Congress to de cide the issue. We fear the decision will be something of a shock to those who are persuaded from the way the South votes that it is wholly and un- J alterably Democratic in its princi ples—that is if tariff for revenue only is still regarded as a Democratic prin ciple.” LAWYER LOST A FEE. According to old-timers, relates the Dallas News, the late Col. Bob Taylor, of Bonham, once met a woman in the road as he was riding on horseback to hold court in Delta county, he be- DR. ED BROWN. Prominent Whitehall Druggist. lng then district judge. The woman had a jug of water and the judge was thirsty. Being a man with a cheery word for every one, the colonel stopped her. “My dear madam,” he said, smiling, “if you will give me a drink of cool water from yonder jug, when you want a divorce from your husband I will see that it costs you nothing.” “Are you a lawyer?” inquired the woman handling the jug. The colonel explained who he was, and waving a farewell, departed, leav ing the woman gazing after him. The very next morning the woman showed up in the court room and asked for him. She explained that she wanted a divorce. She had been separated from her husband for a long while, and the colonel had put an idea into her head. The colonel was game, however,. He procured a lawyer at his own expense and in due course of law the woman was given a divorce, and Col. Taylor would tell the joke on himself often. SAFE ENOUGH. Pat got a job moving some kegs of powder, and, to the alarm of the fore man, was discovered smoking at his work, says Tit-Bits. "Gracious!” exclaimed the foreman. "Do you know what happened when a man smoked at this job some years ago? There was an explosion, which blew up a dozen men.” “That couldn’t happen here,” re turned Pat calmly. “Why not?” “ ’Cos there’s only me and you!” was the reply.