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IQBWiCMM CIIUUUI ONLY
h fcOGAL FAPER TO MENTION
of thos. i
•? WATSON.
Editor The Citizen:
I want to congratulate you, as The
Citizen was the only Schenectady
paper in which I observed any refer
ence to the recent famous case
against Thomas E. Watson, who was
charged with sending indecent mat
ter through the United States mails.
.This is a strange and startling fact,
when we take into consideration that
the case against Watson, and a few
other similar cases to be acted on in
the near future, will settle, possibly
lor all time, whether the “silent
secret influences” fighting to crush
the freedom of the press, in this
country, are more powerful than the
constitution and will of the people. '
I have in my library a book writ
ten by Thomas Watson, and an ex
tract from which was used to secure
his indictment. Nowhere in that book
or any other of his writings, so far as
I have been able to find, is there any
“indecent” or “obscene” statement,
written by Mr. Watson. The Au
gusta, Georgia, Herald says of the
Watson case: “It has easily been the
most celebrated case ever tried in the
U. S. Courts at Augusta. The leading
publications of the country had their
ablest representatives there, and the
Associated Press has sent out thou
sands of words.” Thousands of peo
ple left their homes and business in
the vain hope of hearing Watson’s
trial, and able lawyers and journal
ists from distant points were in Au
gusta.
Thomas Watson, who is now fifty
nine, when in Congress, forced
through the legislation that made
possible the first rural free delivery.
He has been the candidate for presi
dent and vice-president on the Popu
list ticket. He is a great lawyer, a
great orator, a great writer, and
above all, he is truthful, honest and
This Series of Pamphlets
BY THOS. E. WATSON.
1 Oath of 4th Degree Knights of Columbus 3 The Inevitable Crimes of Celibacy
2 Is there a Roman Catholic Peril ? 4 What Goes on in the Nunneries ?
S The Italian Pope's Campaign Against the Constitutional Rights of American Citizens,
For 35c. - - - - - • Postpaid.
After reading this series of pamphlets, a clear, concise, understanding will be
had of the effort to
gfIAKE AMERICA
and of the disastrous results that will follow.
The eJeffersonian Publishing Company,
THOMSON, GEORGIA.
THE JEFFERSONIAN
fearleM. His “Story of France” Is a
standard history in the schools of
France. His “Story of Mexico” is a
marvelous historical work. In his
writings on Socialism I understand
he has criticised some of the theories
of Marx, Engels and others; but I am
not familiar with his writings on that
subject.
My purpose in this communication
is not so much to discuss Watson, as
to discuss the remarkable control of
the press, revealed in connection with
his famous case. The system of con
trol in all newspapers of consequence,
seems well nigh perfect. “Sporting
news,” stuff that will assist us in
parting with our money, if we have a
tendency to gamble, is played up for
us temptingly; but news of vital and
nation-wide importance is carefully
censored by our editors and pub
lishers.
While the indictment and trial of
Watson was a disgrace to the United
States Government, which claims to
be the government of a free people;
that did not impress me as being as
ominous as the evidence of the con
trol of the press of the country.
Every daily paper, no doubt, secured
the press despatches, as “thousands
of words” were sent out.
Every owner and editor of a daily
paper knew, that if Watson was con
victed, an unconstitutional precedent
would be established. It matters lit
tle whether the editors knew Watson,
or whether they liked or disliked him.
They knew from despatches coming
in over the wire, just what was hap
pening in Georgia. Why, then, were
the newspapers silent? What unseen
hand produced this silence? What
secret power had our leading publi
cations by the throat? What voice
hissed “silence,” and every editor
tremblingly obeyed?
This condition does not exist in
Schenectady, alone. This system of
press control has spread rapidly
throughout the entire country. What
does ft mean? It fs even hfnted at
that the government will again try
Watson. Who will be the next victim?
Watch the Appeal to Reason. Every
man of us should be ready help
Watson, to help the Appeal to Rea
son, or any other paper standing for
the free expression of thought and
conviction. We ought to stand to
gether for a free press, or fall to-
The coffee producer is never hampered by “over
production,” is he? Why should the cotton producer
always be the goat?
Read the speech of Thos. E. Watson, delivered at the
New Orleans Cotton Convention, in 1905. Note the
similiarity of the conditions then and now. In
Life and Speeches of Thos. E. Watson
Price Fifty Cents, Postpaid.
THE JEFFERSONIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY
THOMSON, GEORGIA
Send a Club of Ten, at 50c Each
====================== AND GET
The Weekly Jeffersonian
FOR ONE YEAR.
Mr. Watson will touch on every phase of the Financial,
Religious, Political questions, which are of so great
importance to our people. Every issue of THE
WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN is a live one.
The Jeffersonian Publishing Company
Thomson, Georgia.
gether when the preee 1b effectually
controlled.
Fraternally,
M. T. MINOGUE.
TO ANY ONE WHO WILL MAIL ME THE
names and addresses of 10 house wives, pre
ferably residing in rural districts, I will mail in
return a very useful kitchen utensil.
SMITH BROS.,
653 Fullerton Ave., Chicago, 111.
PAGE ELEVEN
