Sunday, 26th September 1915: To Whom It May Concern And No Others, The Atlanta Journal

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Reading Time: 13 minutes [2118 words]

In the first place, let me explain that this is an "Advertisement." I do this out of deference to the two Atlanta Newspapers which are carrying it at so much per inch; I don't want to get them mixed up in this thing without knowledge and consent. Also, it is an Advertisement, because it has a purpose to serve; not exactly a selfish purpose, but, nevertheless, a specific and important purpose at least, as I see it. I am addressing it only to those who see the present situation in Georgia as I see it; the others may think about it as they please.

I see in the present situation in Georgia an urgent necessity and a splendid opportunity for arousing the best conscience of her own people against mob violence. Too many have been aroused FOR it heretofore. All this has not so much to do with the Leo Frank lynching; for that horrible Affair was but the outgrowth of what we had been sowing in Georgia for many years. When I say "we," I don't mean "we"; I mean such people as Tom Watson and his most "incurable" followers. It is in an effort to offset and overcome this Mob Spirit in Georgia which even has its "official organ" in Watson's Jeffersonian that I have been printing a Series of Articles in The Augusta Chronicle.

And, now, I am getting to the Advertisement: But, first, I would like to be understood about it. Not that I expect to be understood by some, but I shall, at least, give them the opportunity to understand it whether they want to or not. I'm printing this "Advertisement" in the Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Journal, at a Cost of over $100 for each Paper a "special" Professional Rate; may the Lord forgive them! not with any view of making money out of it for The Augusta Chronicle (though I would, at least, like to "get our bait back") but, solely, with a view of having next Tuesday's Chronicle as widely circulated as possible. That's all! And that's why I say I am addressing this Advertisement only to those people who feel about this matter as I do who want to see Georgia set right before the world and with her own conscience.

But, I may as well be perfectly candid and say it I can't hope to do this with The Chronicle's normal Circulation. This is exactly 9,350 Daily and 11,500 Sunday. So, you see, The Chronicle situated, as it is, on the side of the State does not cover all of Georgia, by any means. I am free to confess that Tom Watson circulates about ten times as many of his Papers in Georgia as we do. This does not speak well for Georgia because there is not a line of news in Watson's Papers, and seldom a word of Truth just abuse, obscenity, and sensationalism but, still, it is a Fact.

Now, then, what I am trying to do is to put next Tuesday's Chronicle in the hands of 50,000 Georgians, at least, and if possible, a few thousand on the outside. But please understand this Right at the outset I am not trying to "make money" out of it for The Chronicle. No, the only thing I am after is to get this particular issue of The Chronicle circulated as widely as possible. And why? Because it will contain the whole "Slaton-Watson 'Law or Anarchy' controversy" brought down to date, as follows:

First The original "Slaton or Watson; which?" Article, of four pages. Second Judge Samuel B. Adams' masterly letter in Defense of Law and Order; half-page. Third Names of all the Georgians who petitioned Governor Slaton to commute Leo Frank's Sentence; with many other names and letters added since they were first printed; three pages. "I WANT TO TRY TO PUT 50,000 COPIES OF NEXT TUESDAY'S CHRONICLE IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH WHETHER SOME OF THEM WANT TO OR NOT AND I AM ASKING THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEEL AS I DO ABOUT THE PRESENT SITUATION IN GEORGIA TO HELP ME DO IT; THAT'S ALL." THOMAS W. LOYLESS, EDITOR AUGUSTA CHRONICLE.

SLATON OR WATSON; LAW OR ANARCHY WHICH?

Fourth Voluntary letters from every part of Georgia, either commending or condemning the Slaton-Watson Articles; six pages. Many new ones, which ought to be put before all the people, not only as showing the real sentiment of Georgia, but because of their "moral weight" in helping to determine this vital issue of Law and Order rightly. Fifth Newspaper comment from scores of Georgia weeklies the dailies being as yet unwilling to speak out together with intelligent and helpful comment by Newspapers in neighboring States about four pages all helping to set Georgia right in the eyes of the Country. Sixth A Review of Tom Watson's attempted "reply" in the last issue of his Jeffersonian; more of his misrepresentations being shown up without mincing words. His entire Case against Governor Slaton riddled by merely citing the Record. There are about two pages of this, and if I do say so, it makes an interesting Reading. Not because it is particularly well written, but simply because it brings all the Facts to bear against Tom Watson's mere unsupported assertions.

Seventh And you will want to see this, and have others see it; just five years of Tom Watson's Record in wholesale abuse and slander. He starts in with Christopher Columbus, calling him a "Liar and a Fraud," and works down to date with President Woodrow Wilson, calling him a "liar and a coward," the "Tool of the Trusts" and a whole lot more, besides. To him Grover Cleveland was a "rotten hog," President Taft a Pot-Bellied Traitor"; Bishop Candler a "Pot-Bellied Priest" and some other things besides. And, of course, there are all the things he has said about every Georgia Senator, Congressman and everybody else for the past five years. He has spared nobody, they are all "vile"; and, as Sydney Smith once said of Shelly "he even speaks disrespectfully of the Equator."

I give an outline of next Tuesday's Edition of The Chronicle just so you can determine for yourself whether or not, it will be worth while to give it a Wide Circulation, both in and out of the State, in the present effort to redeem Georgia from incendiarism and mob rule. If these Articles have any merit at all and hundreds of the best men and women in Georgia have, already, said they have then, the only way they can be made effective is to distribute them far and wide. If they will do any good in helping to remedy the present situation in Georgia and, particularly, in helping to clear her name of some of the slime with which Watsonism has smeared it then, the only good can come in putting this issue of The Chronicle into as many hands as possible.

So far, this has not been done; perhaps, not 30,000 people in Georgia have seen even the first Article, and not 15,000 have seen the subsequent Articles. Not 5,000 outside of Georgia have seen any of them. For, as already explained, I cannot undertake to do this single-handed and alone. The Expense is too great. Right here, it may be interesting to note what I have already caused The Chronicle to spend on this work. Here it is, as the Bookkeeper furnishes it to me:

Extra Composing Room Pay Roll ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .$197.08

Extra White Paper Consumed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .382.08

Extra Postage Paid. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .146.50

Extra Mailing Room Expense. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .54.00

Extra Expense Addressing Wrappers, etc. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .36.00

Total ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .$816.04

An increase in The Chronicle's weekly Cash Expense of over $400 per week; and even that isn't all The Chronicle has lost 79 old Subscribers, or $456; or a total for the "debit" side of $1,272; or about $200 per day. But that's all right. Of course, some of this has come back to it in "Paper Sales" and "New Subscribers" the latter, however, averaging less than three (3) months each. The Record for the past two weeks showing as follows:

Extra Paper Sales, Less Returns ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .$331.00204 New Subscribers Added at an Average of $1.48 Each ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..$302.73

Total ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... . $633.73

I mention the above, not by way of asking for help, or anything of that sort, but simply because it has been charged that The Chronicle entered upon this work "for pay"; that it had been "hired" to do it, or that I had. What The Chronicle gets out of it, and what I get out of it, is truthfully shown above except for that little Extra item of "satisfaction"; the satisfaction of having performed a duty to your State.

Now, with these lights before you, if you feel that you want to assist in giving this "Appeal to Georgians, in Behalf of Georgia" as wide a Circulation as possible, you are given an opportunity to do so at as near Cost as I can figure it. Here it is: The White Paper will Cost us one (1) cent per Copy; the Postage (Extra) one cent; the Cost of Production, writing wrappers, etc., one (1) cent; or, say, about three (3) cents per Copy. So, let that be the price. For as many Copies as you may care to have, The Chronicle mail out for you next Tuesday, or as few. Just send in the names with three cents for each one and we will do the rest. And if you haven't any money, or don't feel like spending it, send in a few names anyway and I will send Papers to them for nothing.

I, simply, want to get this particular issue of The Chronicle circulated as widely as possible and, as stated, I can't do it all by myself. That's why I am running this "Advertisement" to let others who feel as I do about it know exactly what I am trying to do. If they don't want to co-operate in this good work, they needn't to. I am, simply, giving them the opportunity. But, if they do, I would like to hear from them, with as many names as possible, before next Tuesday.

I am taking a chance and printing 50,000 Copies. It will take that many to meet Tom Watson's Publication on an even footing (as to Circulation, I mean not otherwise God forbid!) in every town and County in Georgia. Think it over, you who want to see an end put to this man's devilish work in Georgia and do as you please about it. But do it quick! And, remember, you are NOT doing it for me, or for The Chronicle, or for Jack Slaton but for Georgia!

Yours for the Truth and the Redemption of Georgia's Honor,

THOS. W. LOYLESS,

Editor and Manager of The Augusta Chronicle.

Augusta, Ga., September 24th.

P.S.: While I'm at it, I want to thank those 204 people who have voluntarily subscribed for The Chronicle during the past two weeks. Nearly all of them have written to me personally, but I have as yet not had a chance to answer their letters. I suppose they have understood why. If not, I'll tell 'em I've been working from fifteen to eighteen hours a day, digging out Tom Watson's Record and answering his crazy Charges about Slaton and others. I am, also, supposed to look after the Business Office, "between times," but I have just had to let that go. I don't know enough about Business, anyway, to worry me much and I care even less. Still, I know those 204 new Subscribers will be a help, in making up for those who got "huffy" and quit and so I thank them for getting in the "trench" with us.

T.W.L.