Newspaper Page Text
Veh 41
Thos. E. Watson was elected United States
Senator from Georgia for a term of six years;
less than twenty months after he assumed o.f
fice, the Nation awakened to the fact one morn¬
ing that he was dead.
He had not anticipated death, and did not
believe it near. In his office at the Capitol
there are unfinished plans representing every
subject within the wide range of his
an interest which included all things affecting
the rights of mankind,—a revised manuscript
on the “Battle of Waterloo,” not yet sent to
the publishers; legislation to be sponsored, in
eluding claims and pensions for his constitu
ents; and among other things a speech on the
Anti-lynching bill, which he was preparing to
deliver in the Senate at its next session.
His interrupted plans cover a number of
other subjects. Some of them may be carried
out; his revised manuscript may be sent to the
publishers, perhaps work on his bills may be
pushed, but the greater portion of his plans,
his ideals, his principles, and his policies, will
be dragged and trampled in the dust unless his
followers assert themselves in their defence.
The money-changers must be cast out,
false prophets aiid hypocritical creeds must
' me disclosed, and truth rather than fiction must
jain the greater brilliance.
Senator Watson left no political heirs, al
Ihougli a casual glance at the announcements of
Tertain candidates would indicate that he did.
lle had his staunch friends, more of them per
haps than any other living man of our tjme,
*nd he had his enemies. But Ills political
realm was not one of politics and men; it was
•omposed of principles, which he placed even
ibove friendship.
For this reason, The Sentinel in the limit
ed number of issues to be gotten out before the
primary date, will attempt to give its readers
a fair and impartial account of the policies,
principles, and comnsections of the several
, candidates in the Senatorial race.
In, the race for Pension Commissioner,
which will also be held on the same date, it is
already known that Senator Watson, barely a
week before he died, expressed his approval
of the candidacy of Major McGregor, of War
renton. This will be sufficient for Senator
Watson’s friends and they will carry out the
wishes of our Chief.
From the number of inquiries, received,
chief interest is centered upon whether The
Sentinel will in any way support Governor
Hardwick as Senator Watson’s successor.
Under no circumstances could this support
be given. _
To do so would be a sacrilege upon the
name of Thos. E. Watson* who so lately con¬
demned him as being unworthy of his trust.
Senator Watson less than a month go, de¬
clared in telegrams and letters to the people of
Georgia that Gov. Hardwick, then a candidate
for re-election as Governor, had not kept the
faith, that he had broken every political prom
ise.
He would not have voted for him, had he
been in Georgia, he said.
Would he favor Hardwick’s election to the
unexpired term which death deprived him of?
There is one and only one answer: NO!
Then no amount of support that could be
given should influence a single vote, nor
change a single word of that which had already
been spoken by Senator Watson.
There are other things to be said in this
connection. Let the people judge from thp
facts,—
The daily press of October 4, carried news
of the injunction granted by Judge Henry 0.
Hammond which restrained The Sentinel from
getting out further papers. It was alleged
that one E. H. Miller, from whom Senator
Watson purchased the paper ■ after the old
Jeffersonian was suppressed by Woodrow Wil¬
son, owned one-third interest in the plant.
This is emphatically denied. Senator Wat¬
son purchased the entire interest in the paper
in 1919, and since that time there has never
arisen any semblance of a dispute over the
title.
Conceding for the moment that a contro¬
versy had existed: Was not it strange that
someone supposed .to have a third interest in
the paper should be willing to have the publi¬
cation of the paper stopped, when v the matter
might have been settled in court without the
necessity of closing shop?
Wasn’t, it also very strange that the per¬
son claiming - to own a third, interest in. tha v»a-
k I u k U
Price $2 .00 Per Year
Factors In The Present Senatorial Race In Georgia.
per did not present his claim in the life time
of Senator Watson, or after his death, to the
estate?
Wasn’t it at least disrespect of the dead
stateman, to seek an injunction preventing the
publication of The Sentinel so early after Sen
ator Watson's death?
And last, but perhaps giving more light
the subject,—was it possible that certain
political influences had a desire to suppress
The Sentinel until after the primary was over,
in order that the people might not be correctly
informed?
Two days after the-funeral of Senator
Watson, an emissary appeared at “Hickory
Hill.” He eaS&e in the interest of Governor
Hardwick, he said, and wanted to know if The
Sentinel would support Mr. Hardwick in the
Senate race.
He was told NO; that under no circum¬
stances could Mr. Watson’s personal organ be
induced to support one whom he had so lately
condemned.
The emissary lingered around the vicini¬
ty of “Hickory Hill” for two days, during
which time further approaches on the subject
were made, without success.
According to witnesses, the representative
of Goveritor Hardwick was seen in the com-*
pany of the lawyer who later obtained the in-*:
junction.
As for the injunction, notice of its modifi
cation, permitting the paper to be published,
has already been given in The Sentinel.
That such an insult should be heaped uport
the memory of so clean and honest a man as
.Thos. E. Watson, before the grave had closed
over him, is beyond belief. Could all that is
known of his goodness of heart be written, the
almost fanatical creed which made him regard
as debts, things ignored by the average man;
could one forget the many deeds of kindness
he hadtd&ue those connected with the injunc*
tion,—this story might be far different.
Suffice it to say that political cupidity
beans the burden of responsibility, it seems,
Who are the candidates in the race for the
unexpired term of Thomas E. Watson, those
four remaining years which he was elected to
serve, and which be will not? Those four
years, it should be added, that would have seen
many fights for the masses.
The candidates are Governor Thomas W.
Hardwick, recently defeated for re-electi5n;
Judge Walter F. George, of Vienna, former
member of the Supreme Court and Court of
Appeals; Seaborn Wright, of Rome, close
friend of Hoke Smith and active proponent of
the prohibition cause ;-John T. Boifeuillet, of
Macon, and John R. (Bunk) Cooper, of Macon.
Governor Hardwick lias already been elim¬
inated from the list in the hearts of Watson
friends; but this does not mean that he will be
defeated at the polls. On the contrary, his
chances for victory are considered better than
any of the others, unless Senator Watson’s
friends concentrate on one of the others.
This is explained by the several candidates
in the field. There are four contenders to be
seriously considered, and if the field is fairly
well split up, Hardwick will go to the State
Convention with a majority of the County unit
votes, which is necessary to elect him. .
With the exception of Seaborn Wright,
there is no one in the race to draw from Hard
wick’s support, and even this will not seriously
damage him, it is believed.
Wright, having always been identified as
a Hoke Smith man, will naturally gain from
the -Smith element some who otherwise would
have gone to Hardwick,—not enough to do the
latter harm, however.
Opposing candidates, then, will make no
inroads into the Hardwick camp, which will
have a clear field unless something is done.
AS TO THE CANDIDAIES.
The t,wo men who will split “the Watson
forces,” and thus throw a new strength to the
candidacy of Governor Hardwick, are Judgt
Walter F. George, of Vienna, and Hon. Sea¬
born Wright, of Macon.
Col. John Boifeuillet, of Macon, whose
name had been mentioned most favorably, is a
Wilson Democrat, a believer in the League of
Nations and, as a Wilson appointee to tl
Court, of St. James, would naturally favor al¬
liances with foreign nations.
These things would all eliminate him as
the successor to Senator Watson, who had so
often and so forcibly expressed himself against
1 hem.
Hon. Seaborn Wriglit. lomr associated
Thomson, Georgia, Monday, Oct . 16, 1922 .
Hoke Smith, politically and in close personal
relations, would weld even closer the Hard
wiek-Smitli combine to control Georgia politics
—notwithstanding both Smith and Hardwick
had been repudiated at the ballot box when un¬
aided by Mr. Watson.
These facts should be known:
The day after the death of Senator Wat¬
son, it was announced that Hoke Smith would
come to Georgia from Washington, and enter
the campaign as successor to Senator Watson
Governor Hardwick went to Washington
within the week. He and Mr. Smith dined to¬
gether. and when Governor Hardwick returned
to Georgia, he evidently brought the assurance
that Smith would not be a candidate to succeed
Senator Watson, but would “wind up his busi¬
ness affairs at the Capital, return to Georgia,
and offer for the Senate at the expiration of
Senator William J. Harris’ term.”
.Thus was the Hardwick-Smith coalition to
resume its unwholesome political sway in Geor¬
gia to be established.
BOIFEUILLET AND WRIGHT.
Who is John T. Boifeuillet, arid what of
him.
When his candidacy was first anouneed, it
was thought he would offer a platform com¬
patible with the principles advocated by Thos.
E. Watson. Certain overtures in connection
with his name lead to this view, and according¬
ly no opposition was contemplated against him.
But. under the stress of conditions, when
everything at Hickory Hill was in a turmoil
over the loss of our Chieftain, we failed to take
into account Mr. Boifeuillet’s past record,—
die record which he evidently stands upon now,
as shall be pointed out.
Mr. Boifeuillet submitted a copy of his
platform.
It said nothing; except that he had an am¬
bition to become United States Senator from
Georgia, and that he felt able to hold down the
lob,—a very noble ambition, to be sure; but
one must have something more than mei'e am¬
bition, however honorable that may be within
itself.
In his platform, Mr. Boifeuillet made ab¬
solutely no mention of the policies and princi¬
ples of Thos. E. Watson.
On the contrary, he appears to have no
policies,—at least a cursory glance at his pub¬
lished statement would prompt this view.
*For instance, he says he is keeping out of
factional fights; that he is “moving along a
plane far beyond the angry elements of dis¬
cord and the stormy waters of factional dis
sentions,”—he infers principles, too.
Does this mean that, if elected to the office
left vacant by the late Senator, he will still
hold himself aloof in the many issues confront¬
ing the Nation?
Will he sit in his seat in the Senate like so
much flesh and bones, however good flesh and
bones they may he, and permit his colleagues
to carry on the continual political fights, as be¬
tween the two major parties, and not offer a
helping hand?
Is he above fighting the battles of the'peo
pie?
Does he expect the people of Georgia to
elect him to a fence in the Senate, rather than
a seat ?—a fence on which he can sit and watch
the fight go on?
That appears to be his attitude for the
he is not identified with either side
or faction, he says.
Senator Watson when running for the of¬
fice which death so recently deprived him of,
expressed his views on those who select some
middle ground very vividly.
Speaking of foreign entanglements, before
the thousands of Georgians who heard him in
the 1920 campaign, he said:
“If you are for the League of Nations, vote
for Hugh Dorsey; t if you are against the
League, vote for me,—if you don’t know where
you stand, vote for Hoke Smith!” able
The pity of it is that his voice is not
today to lift a similar cry against the plaintive
moan of politicians. \
But there is more that must be told; may¬
be it will throw light on the circumstances,—
Light is the savior of the world, so away
with darkness!
In 1918, when under the stress of war con¬
ditions, the country was rife with Wilsonism,
Joi n T. Boifeuillet had a similar ambition to
become United States Senator.
A! that time, however, his policies were
mi re cle*..) ly defined; he was favorable to all
war .nolieies which. .Thos. E. .Watson *(<*<.!
Issued Weekly
against.
Not only were his policies clearly defined,
but they were pronounced.
Perhaps that is the only difference between
his 1918 and bis 1922 case,—-maybe bis policies
arc still clearly defined, but merely not pro¬
nounced.
At any rate lit* has not told us what, they
are; he lias not even hid a change of heart like
some of the politicians.
Maybe he will yet, but sincerity may find
conflict with memory.
Birds do not change their plumage over
night; ami the honey bee still likes his favorite
flower.
Colonel Boifeuillet does not belong to the
Watson school of thought, whatever he may be
otherwise.
So much for Boifeuillet, who has rio right
to the Chief’s following.
Going further into the list of candidates,
whom do we And?
Seaborn Wright deserves careful attention
because of the misrepresentation that has been
carried on in Connection with his name. He
shall receive as much,—
Ordinarily, it would suffice to point, out
that Seaborn Wright, has been identified with
Hoke Smith practically all of Hoke Smith’s
political life. This in the ordinary trend of
events would be sufficient to blacklist his name
among the followers of Mr. Watson, but a
campaign of deception is being carried on in
Wright’s behalf.
In his candidacy for the Seuate, we find
nothing short of a. wolf pararding as a lamb.;
the facts shall be disclosed:
The people shall not, be fooled, and if this
paper, The Columbia Sentinel, published and
maintained by a man held in greater esteem
among his followers than any other of his con ¬
temporaries in this country,— if this paper ever
misleads, we offer its destruction us a tribute
to his memory.
The last minute announcemeut of Seaborn
Wright was the chief surprise of the Seuate
race; it was not known until the entrance date
had closed that he would be a candidate; he
had not even been mentioned as such.
Bid it ever occur to you why this was?
Was there any purpose in withholding until the
last minute the announcement of his intention
to run? Let us see,—
Hoke Smith and Seaborn Wright have been
close political allies throughout Hoke Smith’s
career.
In the beginning, it was not known whether
Hoke Smith would be a candidate or hot. It
was generally and reliably reported that Hoke
Smith would enter the race as Mr. Watson’s
successor if Governor Hardwick did not; both
of them would not run.
Until the very last minute, practically, i!
was not announced which of them would run
In the meantime, Seaborn Wright, a leader
of the Smith forces, was busy preparing his an¬
nouncement which he planned to make if Smith
did not get it.
We have no way of .finding out for sure,
for those things arc guarded as great political
secrets, but we have high authority for the
statement that Seaborn Wright’s announce¬
ment was prepared in the Jaw office of Marion
Smith, of Atlanta, Hoke Smith’s son and part¬
ner, and remained there until it was definitely
determined that the former Senator would not
be a candidate.
If lie was not going to run, then Wright
would; and lie would get the Hoke Smith vote,
or as much of it as did not go to Hardwick.
Smith did not enter, so lo and behold! one
of his right hand men did,— but waited until it
was definitely determined.
Let the circumstances speak for them¬
selves. As we say, we do not know, for there
is no way of knowing,—it would spell defeat if
Wright admitted what is believed; they could
hardly be expected to do so.
All of the above brings to this,—the most
important of all:
Whom did Thos. E. Watson defeat for his
seat in the United States Senate? Hoke Smith,
his personal an'd political enemy for years, one
of the outstanding figures against the .Watson
element during past campaigns.
And who is Seaborn Wriglit?
He has been identified with Hoke Smith’s
campaigns in North Georgia upon many occa¬
sions. The same can bo said of his family.
Let’s see whether or not this is deuied.
If it is, we will present further evidepcej
CTWtjnufid on Paica Four A u * ' *v
No 2