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YoU 41
A Heart To Heart Talk With
The Watson People.
For reasons set forth at length in another
section of this editorial, this will be ray last
talk to the Watson people through the col¬
umns of The Columbia Sentinel. It is my
duty to you—the reader—to make this brief
statement, and I could not feel right, and I
would not do myself justice, to neglect to
make it.
It is, I think, generally known that I am
poor in this world's goods. Fact, is, I have
spent too much time trying to learn the truth
about the Money Question to save up any
amount of the stuff itself. Besides, the Money
Question is apparently a hard one for a ma¬
jority of the American people to understand,
although it is, stripped of bunk, the simplest
question found in the books. There are, how¬
ever, many angles to this question, the strang¬
est being this: I myself have certainiy no prejudice
either for or against Money; none
against; yet money is my bitterest enemy.
I have never entertained any ambition to
accumulate wealth. I’ve never courted the
good will of the so-called rich class, although
1 am not the enemy of honestly acquired
wealth. Wealth does not make happiness;
never has and never will. Wealth does not
make men; impossible. And the fact is that
money has ruined many men who would have,
wthout it, won high station in this world. As
a boy, mv only ambition was to obtain knowl¬
edge—an brand, education—not the made-to-order
but a knowledge of things worth learn¬
ing.
It was a struggle for ino to obtain this edu¬
cation, handicapped by circumstances familiar
:o every lad of my community who spent his
teens on the farm. Had it not been for the
friendly help given me bv one of the world’s
noblemen who had faced the same conditions
and who had fought every rneh of his way to
the door of a great Georgia college, in spite of
stumbling blocks, it would not have been pos¬
sible for me to have prepared myself for the
law.
In this connection. I remind you that in
Bulwer\strangely fascinating poem which the
present generation has entirely forgotten,
there is a beautiful description of a boy’s love
for a great man.
Since my fifteenth year, I have read, and
re-read the writings " of the greatest man I
ever knew. For sixteen years, I have studied
his life, his work, gems from his pen, the good¬
ness of liis heart, the nobility of his character,
and the strange make-up of liis vast storehouse
of knowledge, which alone was worth every
ounce of this world’s gold and silver.
I am perhaps the only person who has
read every line, and am now in possession of
every published writing, of Thomas E. Wat¬
son.. While, reading law in the office of the
late Judge Wade, of Quitman, Mr. John D.
Bozeman—an Old Guard Watson man—gave
me a complete file of “The People’s Party Pa
pe*»” and I read it—every line of it. Mr.
John L. G. Wood, 0 f Monticello,—an old
Guard Populist—put me in possession of a
file of the New York Tom Watson’s Magazine,
and Judge Wade used to say that T spent more
time on this magazine file than I did on Black
stone. ing My name has been on the Watson mail¬
lists of The Jeffs»and their successor,
The Columbia Sentinel! I have read, and
studied, the Watson books, booklets, pam¬
phlets,, published speeches, and I have devoted
more time to the Watson style—studying it
and trying to learn it—than most ‘people
would care to spend, simply because with me it
has from my fifteenth year been my ambition
to learn the secret of 'Mr. Watson’s wav of
handling and treating public matters. ‘ He
didn’t waste words: every shot from his pen
penetrated the vitals. Every wrongdoer fear¬
ed Watson!
The years spent with Mr. .Watson, serving
mm as his private secretary and accompany¬
ing him on his trips and wading through the
oceans of printed stuff, during the day and far
into the nights, were the most! interesting days
of my life. When this Country entered the
World War and confiscated Watson’s publica¬
tions, he lost interest in current affairs, and
lie didn’t read the papers, magazines, etc.,
for more than a year. When lie resumed his
contributions to local and national polities, he
spent several months reading back numbers
ot papers, magazines, new books, and he per
miffed nothing to break into this study.' I
son’s eite^th CD method, ineiden is to burning show the desire reader Mr. Wat¬
knowledge, to acquire
knew information, etc. Many people
never time why Mr. Watson spent so much
on old works, out of date writings, etc.
It was the secret of his success as a .debater
•
he knew more than theother fellow!
In view of his temperament. I am sure that
the highest tribute he ever paid a Secretary—
a mere nothing—came from Mr. Watson’s lips
(Continued on Page Four.)
■
€1 r\ A r i f v A rear i m ♦ m 4
Price SI •SO Per Year
THE MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW.
By Thomas E. Watson.
(Continued from Last Week.)
On the 18th of August, he attended at the
church of Notre Dame where, on a balcony
erceted for the purpose, Henry of Navarre was
wedded to Margaret of Valois.
While the Catholics afterwards, were at¬
tending service inside the church, Coligny, and
the bridegroom, attended by Protestant
friends, promenaded the cloister and nave.
The Marshal de Damvillc pointed out to the
Admiral the flags hanging from the vaulted
roof in the cathedral—flags taken by royal
troops in the recent Civil Wars. Coligny said
“I hope they will soon have others better
suited to this place. 1 >
Already he was dreaming of victories to
be won by a reunited France over Spain.
South-east of Paris, about 100 miles, in
the vast feudal castle of Ohatillon which over¬
looked the little river Doing, Jacqueline Co¬
ligny, wife of the noblest of all Frenchmen,
thought anxiously of her lord, and prayed
earnestly for his safe return.
To her, waiting in that distant chateau
there came this letter; and it may have been
in her hands, to read and read again, on the
very morning Coligny was shot—Friday, Au¬
gust. 23rd.
“My very dear and much beloved wife:
This day was performed the ceremony
of marriage between the King’s sister and
the King of Navarre. The ensuing three
or four days will be spent in amusements,
banquets, masks and sham fights. The
King has assured me that, immediately
afterwards, he will give me some days to
hear the complaints, made in clivers parts
of the kingdom, touching the Edict of Pa¬
cification, which is violated there. It is with
good reason that I attend to this matter
as much as possible; for though I have a
strong wish to see you, still you would be
angry with me (as I think) if I were re¬
miss in such an affair, and harm came
of it from my neglect to do my duty. At
any rate, this delay will not retard my de¬
h Very Bright Member of the Georgia Legislature
a eta an And Some Facts.
Alice Louise Lytle.
In this vale of tears and politics it is a
splendid thing when the Fates hare been kind
and endowed us. with more than one talent.
When two talents, combined, enable us to be
Managing Editor of a city newspaper, and a
member of the State Legislature—at the same
time—it would seem that generosity on the
part of Fate could go no further.
In Georgia we have such a combination in
the person of the honorable William G. Sut¬
live, who manages the Savanah Press what
time he is not managing the Georgia Legisla¬
ture) from a journalistic viewpoint). I am
not personally him acquainted with the gentleman
—I take to be young, because of f he crude¬
ness of some of his methods, and he didn’t
make himself known to me at the time our Leg¬
islature paid me the signal—and unexpected
—honor of giving me “the freedom of the
Floor” when I visited Atlarua recently. Mr.
Sutlive referred rather sarcastically to that
honor, and that was what I based his youth¬
fulness on.
The revelations The Sentinel was making
in regard to the Department of Agriculture
didn’t appeal to Mr. Sutlive, for some reason;!
he spoke slightingly of that, in also, and in his
daily letters to his paper Savannah made
light of the charges, and of the manner in
which they were received by his fellow mem¬
bers of the Legislature.
But a change has come over Mr. Sutlive;
lie is seeing things differently and it gives me
great pleasure to note he is evidently seeing
light, also. He probably realizes that, as an
aid to under the farmers, the Department of Agricul¬
ture, its present rulers and management,
is a dismal failure and something is bound to
happen to it. But read what Mr. Sutlive lias
to say, in the August 4 issue of ids paper
ignoring as best you may his sarcastic refer¬
ences to a fellow member of the Legislature*
A NEW ORATORICAL METEOR
FLASHES BY.
Check up a new orator in the- house. He
has been there every day since the legisla¬
ture began its session, but he only burst
full-blown upon the astonished attention
of his fellow lawmakers last Thursday,
The House was discussing a resolution "to
investigate the State Agricultural Depart¬
ment and the ayes and nays were being
called. There was only oassive interest in
Thomson, Georgia, Monday, August 13, 1923 .
parture from this place so long but that I
shall have leave to quit it next week.
If I had regard to myself alone, I had
much rather be with you than stay longer
here, for reasons which I will tell you.
But we ought to cousider the public wel¬
fare as; far more important than our pri¬
vate benefit. 1 have some other things to
tell you as soon as I shall have the means
to see you—which I desire day and night.
As for the news that I have to tell you,
they afternoon, are these: This day, at, four in the
the bells were rung, when the
mass of the bride was chanted. The King
of Navarre walked about the while in an
open place near the church, with some
gentlemen of our religion who had accom¬
panied him. There are other little particu¬
lars which I omit, intending to tell you
them, when I see you.
Whereupon I pray God, my most dear
and beloved wife, to have you in His Holy
keeping.
From Paris, this 18th dav of August,
1572.
Three days back 1 was tormented with
colic and pain in the loins. But this com¬
plaint lasted only eight or ten hours,
thanks be to God, through whose goodness
1 am now delivered from those pains. Be
assured on my part, that amidst these fes¬
tivities and pastimes, 1 will not give of¬
fense to any one. Adieu, once more,
Your loving husband,
CHATILLON.”
“When the mass of the bride was chanted,
the King of Navarrff walked about the while
in an open place near the church.
There are other little particulars which
1 omit, intending to tell you them when I see
you. ’ ’
“When I see you!” Ah, how the wisest
of men are mocked. Those other little par¬
ticulars which “I omit, intending to tell you
when I see you,” are omitted forever.
The bride is in the church to- hear
(Continued on Page Two.)
the proceeding until the name of Kirk
land of Miller county was called. Few of us
knew Kirkland of Miller except that he
had answered other roll calls without feel¬
ing or animation. But. when this little
and, wiiy specimen of a South Georgian got up
shifting his tobacco quid, began an at¬
tack on the agricultural department he reg¬
istered action and got the attention of
everybody. He wanted a probe, a deep
probe, a telling probe, a probe that would
fix a verdict of guilty or not guilty, and he
said so. Jones of Perryman, presiding
temporarily, called him when his three
minutes were up, but a speaker’s gavel
and an acting speaker’s voice “made no
never-mind” to Kirkland. He kept on
talking on all cylinders. The House was
tickled and wanted to extend his time, but
unanimous consent could not he obtained
to his going full steam ahead. So Kirk
lond of Miller had to sit down, But
the hitherto silent man had burst into a
imssionatf ifcjpe of ‘appeal. All of which makes
us in this speech-ridden house
__ Afear that others whom have learned
we to
)pve of statesmanship as silent, whirring cogs yet in develop the wheels into
may
open cut-outs and highpowered exhausts.
To the naked eye and the quick reader,
that selection from Mr.- Sutlive’s paper is
clever—very than clever; it is certain that more
one reader of the male persuasion gave a
hearty The tunny “lleh, heh”, and or the two professional when they read jokers it.
have papers
been regarding the hayseed legislator as
one of their best bets.
It. is true “Kirkland of Miller” got into
the Legislature just as Sutlive of Chatham
got in; Kirkland of Miller isn’t as bright as
Sutlive of Chatham, and probably never
thought of sending “funny pieces” back to his
home paper; maybe he didn’t know enough to
write about Sutlive of Chatham shifting his
chewing Sutlive gum and making a speech; men like
wouldn’t think of shifting a wad of
tobacco in their mouths; they smoke cigarettes
- Ud chew gum in between.
had Any way, Kirkland of Miller said what he
to say—and it isn’t on record chat any¬
body his tainted after he said it, as a rebuke to
re-.. ' language and quid-shifting.
(Continued on Page Two.),
Issued Weekly
President Coolidge and the Late
Senator Thos. E. Watson.
■ Alice Louise Lytle.
The tragic succession of Calvin Coolidge
to the Presidential Chair places in that high
office a man most worthy of the elevation.
When the late Senator Thos. E. Watson
was in Washington—during his too brief term
Senator from Georgia—there sprang up be¬
tween himself- and the then Vice President, a
friendship that grew warmer with time.
In many ways, Mr. Coolidge showed his
friendliness to Senator Watson, and the un¬
usual Senate! privilege placed there of presiding Republican in a Republican Presi¬
by the enjoyed
dent of that Senate, was by Senator
Watson more than once.
Personally they were good friends, when
they met outside enjoyed of the Senate immensely; Chamber, and
Senator Watson this when
ever peaches or melons came from 'down
home”, the first compliments of each was sent to Mr. Cool¬
idge, “with the of Thos. E. Wat¬
son of Georgia,” and there would always eorno
a personal acknowledgement from Mr. Cool¬
idge.
To Mrs. Watson the two sons of Mr. and
Mrs. Coolidge were just two hoys—bashful and
diffident; knowing the loneliness of her two
little grand-daughters, who were in school in
Washington, Mrs. Watson planned a little pic¬
nic in the Washington park, and the party
was made up of the four youngsters, Mrs.
Watson and myself. It was, like ail young peo¬
ple’s picnics, just a day in the open, with a
good lunch and many snapshots. The two
young chaps unbent after awhile, and we
learned that one was “hooky” and the other
athletic—they teased each other over their re¬
spective talents; didn’t think a great deal of
life in Washington, liked the country, would
be glad when school opened again, and so on.
To Senator Watson Mr. Coolidge showed
more than one favor, and here is a bit of histo¬
ry no one has ever known before.
When we first went-to Washington there
was some sort of hitch in the matter of Senator
Watson paying his respects to the White
House—I do not know what caused it, but time
went on and he had not gone. We were re¬
minded of the short-coming when one of the
other Senators spoke of it. The Georgia Sen¬
ator was a hard one to make observe near
Court rules, and he balked at the idea of hav¬
ing to be presented in anything like the forma!
manner which was the rule.
Finally, Mr. Colidge and myself had a talk;
he was anxious for Senator Watson to be
friendly ly at the White House—and it was final¬
arranged, through Mr. Coolidge; the Sena¬
tor went, he and Mr. Harding struck a common
ground on the asthma they both suffered from
—and from then on, we had no more doubt of
the fact that “our Senator” was going to get
some pleasure out of his stay in Washington. said"that
Frequently Senator Watson had
Mr. Coolidge was the stronger of the two men.
President Harding had little experience as a
politician, while Mr. Coolidge had been Gover¬
nor chusetts of Massachusetts, Senate, President of the Massa¬
and held other offices which
made him familiar with office. In the Senate
as its presiding officer he was, to all appear*
anecs, absolutely indifferent to all that went
on—that was only an appearance, however,
as he was alive instantly when any question
appeared to him to need* attention, or any of
the matters were becoming too badly balled
up, or there was need of the rap for “Order.”
Mrs. Coolidge daily sat in the gallery of
the Senate, and she and Mr. Coolidge always
ate luncheon together in the Senate Restaurant
—where we dined also, with our Senator.
“Plain folks” is what one would charac¬
terize the Coolidges as being. The presence of
their young sons will lend a. lighter note to the
White House, but it will be a long time before
the memory of the graciousness of Mrs. Hard¬
ing, and the unaffected good nature of Mr.
Harding will be forgotten.
The tragedy of the sudden passing of Mr.
Harding wife—closely made his death doubly hard to his de¬
voted as it came to her own
long and serious illness of last year.
Looking back to the growing list of those
who 'have “Gone On’,’ who knew our beloved
Chief, 1 wonder to myself: is this political life
worth the price they pay? ‘
Since the election of Senator Watson
there have died: Senator Penrose, Senator
Crow, Senator Knox—of Pennsylvania; Sena¬
Nelson, tor Dillingham of Vermont; Senator Knute
of Minnesota; Senator Nicholson of
Colorado; and our own Senator Watson of
Georgia—who was soon followed by his de¬
voted wife.
Mrs. Coolidge was the president of the
Luncheon Club, of which Mrs. Watson was a
member—and it was really the one club Mrs.
Watson enjoyed; the membership was con¬
fined to the wives and household members of
the Senators; each Tuesday they met in the
(Continued on Page Four.), - w** V’
No, 44