Shouldering the responsibilities and the financial burden of a new magazine, is a serious matter. As nearly everybody will understand, it involves tens of thousands of dollars in the way of necessary expense, and whether you will ever see that money again depends entirely upon circumstances over which you yourself have nothing like absolute control. There are already so many brilliant and beautiful magazines circulating throughout the Union, that establishing another is a venture that borders upon temerity.

But in my case there was no alternative. It had to be done. Flesh and blood could not bear the infamous treatment which was being handed out to me by that fat rascal, Col. W. D. Mann, and that lean sneak, C. Q. DeFrance. Out of consideration for the subscribers, as well as in justice to myself, it was absolutely necessary that I should establish a magazine of my own, which should extend to the subscribers of the New York Magazine the privilege of securing the remainder of their terms from a magazine which was, in fact, what the name of the New York Magazine had led subscribers to believe it to be.

To have Mann and DeFrance publishing, in New York, a Watson’s Magazine, and securing money from thousands of innocent people, who would subscribe upon the faith of my name, and would then be told falsehoods as to why I was no longer writing for it, WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INTOLERABLE SITUATION.

To remain silent and acquiescent under those circumstances, would have been to make myself a party to the fraud. I understand that Col. Mann and C. Q. DeFrance are using, for themselves, the money sent to the Watson’s Magazine by those who are not aware of the fact that there is no Watson connected with THAT Magazine. If they do not extend to the subscriber the option of getting his money back, or of having it sent to the genuine Watson’s Magazine, they will be cheats and swindlers; and they ought to be made to plead on the criminal side of the Court, where the appearance of Col. Mann would not be considered extraordinary.

Not wanting to be a party to a fraud by making no effort to defeat it, and not having a disposition to lie down quietly while those two rascals trampled upon me, I announced the purpose of establishing Watson’s Jeffersonian Magazine. Of course it was hoped that my friends would stand by me. It was hoped that those subscribers who had gone to the Magazine in New York would follow my Magazine in Atlanta.

Did the subscribers of the New York Magazine want a real Watsonian Magazine, or was it just any old magazine that they were after? Were those subscribers men and women who had faith in me, and who were attached to myself, my work and my message? Would they have sufficient interest in the matter to sympathize with me, and follow me? These were the questions. They could not be answered until the opportunity was offered for the subscribers themselves to act.

With grateful heart, I hereby return profound thanks to those steadfast and earnest comrades who have already enrolled themselves with Watson’s Jeffersonian Magazine.

These friends did not wait for a sample copy; they did not wait for the day of publication. They had faith. They knew in advance what my Magazine would be. They had confidence. They knew perfectly well that their money would be safe in my hands. Therefore, from California to North Carolina and from Florida to Michigan, they have poured in upon me their letters of sympathy and encouragement. And together with these letters they sent remittances to cover their subscriptions in advance.

***

From so great a number it is difficult, and perhaps not quite fair, to single out individuals, but as it is my intention to carry in the Magazine from month to month, a Department in which those who are most active in their support of the Magazine will be mentioned by name, a few will be mentioned now. Others will be mentioned later.

I want every one of my friends who have written me, to feel that their encouragement and support is profoundly appreciated.

You naturally inquire, who was the very first subscriber to Watson’s Jeffersonian Magazine?

Dr. Cicero Gibson, Thomson, Ga.

Following closely after Dr. Gibson, came a good many others who arrived so nearly together that it would perhaps be unjust to some to say which was literally the first-comer, yet I cannot refrain from selecting a few for special mention.

There was my gallant and loyal friend of LaGrange, Ga., Dr. Frank Ridley, whose letter I am going to print in full:

“Please know that I am in thorough sympathy with you in the matter of the Magazine contention, and all other matters.

“I have written to the New York office of the Watson’s Magazine, instructing them to discontinue sending me their paper. I am enclosing check for $1.50 for Watson’s Jeffersonian Magazine. With sentiments of my continued warm regard and friendship.

“P. S. Please see that my subscription begins with the first issue.”

***

Then there was the very warm-hearted H. J. Mullins, Franklin, Tenn.; there was J. J. Gordy of Richland, Ga., who had rendered such faithful service for the New York Magazine, and who transferred his zeal and influence immediately to the Jeffersonian; there was whole-souled Frank Burkett, of Okolona, Miss.; and there was that gray-haired but warm-hearted veteran, Thos. H. Tibbles, of Nebraska.

From the Empire State, Texas, came the cheering response of sturdy Milton Park. From Salem, Va., W. H. Tinsley spoke words of encouragement. And my good old friend, Allison W. Smith, of North Georgia, went to work as earnestly and as promptly for the new Magazine as he had done for the old.

And how can I fail to mention Paul Dixon of Chilicothe, Mo? A truer man does not live. Of the many who have stood by me at this juncture and shown a willingness to co-operate, none has been more emphatic than Dixon & Lankford, who enjoy the distinction of publishing one of the three Mid-Road Populist papers which stood the storm, and did not go down in consequence of the awful mistake and of Fusion.

From Los Angeles, Cal., came a heart-warming letter from Lucian L. Knight, which you will find elsewhere in this number of the Magazine. From Athens, Ga., came a most welcome letter from A. D. Cheney; and his bright boy, Jean Cheney, took up the work of canvassing his community, with results so extremely helpful to me that I mention his name in grateful recognition of his service.

From A. G. Thurman Zabel, of Petersburg, Mich., comes the following:

“I saw a notice in the Missouri World, that you were about to publish a new Magazine. Enclosed find remittance for which send me your Magazine as long as that pays for, and then let me know, and I will remit for it for a longer term. I am glad to learn that you will continue your good work.”

From Kentucky comes a cordial word from that veteran editor and gifted gentleman, Hon. Henry Watterson, who, on the eve of his departure for Europe, drops a line to the Atlanta management of the Magazine to say:

“Mr. Watson has few greater admirers or better friends than I am and whenever the Courier-Journal can do anything to advance his personal interests, it is always at his hands.”

Judge John J. Hunt, one of those level-headed Democratic leaders who did his best to prevent the awful mistake that was made by the Men in Control, in 1896, was swift with his assurances of hearty co-operation and support. And my old college friend. Alex. Keese, of Atlanta, was not behind anybody in the warmth and vigor of his protestations against the wrong which had been done me by those knaves in New York.

Nor should I forget stanch W. S. Morgan, of Hardy, Ark., nor J. M. Mallett of Cleburne, Tex., both of whom were emphatic in their denunciation of the New York outrage:—Nor yet sturdy Jo. A. Parker.

From far-off Seattle, State of Washington, the voice of The Patriarch, was heard in scathing condemnation of what had been done by Col. Mann and DeFrance; and from New Jersey, Dr. Geo. H. Cromie was equally emphatic.

My good friend, C. E. Parker, of Bainbridge, not only enlisted under my banner, turning his back upon those New York knaves, but he remitted the largest individual check that was sent—$13.80—and the largest number of subscribers received in any one remittance.

From the Hawaiian Islands, came a cordial hand-shake from that veteran of the Reform Wars, John M. Horner. From Paris, France, spoke the sympathetic voice of John Adams Thayer—the brainy, nervy man who achieved such a wonderful success for Everybody’s Magazine.

Nor must I omit from the Roll of Honor the name of Prof. M. W. Parks, President of the Georgia Normal and Industrial School, and President also of the Georgia Educational Association. His letter was a noble tribute which I highly value.

Taylor J. Shields, of Vineland, Ala., has my sincere thanks for his generous words.

Bay City, Michigan, is the home of an ardent, personally unknown friend whose hand I hope some day to shake—his name is Francis F. McGinniss.

And I must find room to mention my untiring friend, Col. W. A. Huff, of Macon; R. E. Thompson, of Toomsuber, Miss.; J. S. Ward, Jr., of Thomasville; Ben Hill, of West Point, Ga., and Clarence Cunningham, of Waterloo, S. C.; Rev. R. L. Benson, Clay Center, Kan.; H. G. Sumner, Passaic, N. J.; Chas. Butler, Oakland, Cal.; Theron Fisk, Sioux Falls, S. D.; and Prof. Z. I. Fitzpatrick, of Madison, Ga.

And then there is W. F. Smith, of Flovilla, Ga., who has never flickered in his loyal comradeship any more than has that noble old Roman, Gen. William Phillips, of Marietta.

Here is a specimen of the way they are writing to me and below it a sample of how they are writing to the bogus Watson’s Magazine:

Dixie, Ga., Nov. 23, 1906.

Hon. T. E. Watson, Thomson, Ga.

Dear Sir:—I am writing the New York office today cancelling my subscription to the counterfeit Watson’s Magazine. Old man Mann, and DeFrance are a set of fools, if for one moment they entertained the thought that they could detain the followers of the real Tom Watson on their subscription list. The thing can’t be done. When the readers of the New York Watson’s Magazine find out the truth about the manner in which they treated the genuine Tom Watson, you will see them leaving like rats leaving a sinking ship. The idea of Watson’s Magazine with Watson left out! Might as well try to run a locomotive steam engine without steam. Tom Watson was the steam—the electricity—the spirit—yes, the very life of the Magazine, and without him its name is Dennis. It is a burning shame, the way they have treated you.

I am sending my check for $1.50 for your Jeffersonian Magazine, and wish for it the success that you so justly deserve. I hope to be able to get others interested in the new publication. You have thousands and thousands of true and tried friends in old Georgia, and in fact, in every State in the United States, and the numbers are growing all the time, and every effort of the enemies of truth to put you in the background only brings you more prominently before the masses as the friend of Good Government.

May God abundantly bless and prosper you and yours, is the sincere prayer of your friend and brother,

(Signed) G. B. Crane.

(Copy.)

Dixie, Ga., Nov. 23, 1906.

Watson’s Magazine, 2 West 40th St., New York City.

Gentlemen:—I hereby cancel my subscription to Watson’s Magazine, and ask you to refund balance that you are due me on same. I do not care to read your slanderous vaporing about Tom Watson. You will soon find out that, bad as you try to make him out to be, he was really the Magazine, and without him it will sink in the cesspool of public contempt—as it should do.

Yours very truly,
(Signed) G. B. Crane.

Here are others, clean, clear-cut and business-like:

(Copy.)

Honaker, Va., Nov. 14, 1906.

Watson’s Magazine Co., New York.

Gentlemen:—The November number of Watson’s Magazine is at hand. As Mr. Watson is no longer the Magazine, will you please discontinue my subscription and return to me the three month’s unexpired subscription price, and oblige,

Yours truly,
J. L. Kibler.

Dearing, Ga., Nov. 14, 1906.

Hon. Thos. E. Watson.

I received a card from you yesterday concerning the Magazine. I noticed your proposition to make good the subscription to the Watson Magazine. I think mine will be out in June, but I got it at club rates and don’t want to be a burden to you, but I don’t want a Watson’s without a Watson in it, so you send me the Watson’s Jeffersonian Magazine, and I’ll see you and pay for six months at least, as I have great confidence in you as a reform leader and want to help what little I can.

Yours truly,
J. J. Pennington.

G. M. Stembridge, of Milledgeville, is good enough to say, in subscribing, “you are doing more for the Reform cause than any other man in the United States.” “If ever anybody wants to whip you,” writes friend M. S. Chiles, of Macon, in remitting his subscription, “I will be pleased to push you aside and say, ‘Whip me first.’” “I would not carry the New York publication from the postoffice,” says W. W. Shamhart, of Newton, Ill. Dr. R. R. Smith, of Burtons, Miss., doesn’t “like the jingle of the editorials” of the bogus Watson’s Magazine for November and would like to see any response that I may make. Verily, he shall see it. J. K. Sears, of McCoy, Oregon, wants a Magazine “published at Atlanta by Tom Watson and not by Col. Mann at New York.” “Please enter my name from now till doomsday,” writes Prof. J. H. Camp, of Chicago, who at the same time cancels his subscription to what he calls “the New York dummy.” Dr. J. D. Allen, of Milledgeville, enrolls himself and says, “send me the first copy.” “I shall always be a subscriber,” writes W. W. Bennett, Esq., of Baxley. “The reason I subscribed to the other Magazine,” says W. W. Arendell, of Gause, Tex., “was that you were the editor,” so of course he wants the genuine Watson’s Jeffersonian. B. L. Milling, of Neal, Ga., was a subscriber to Watson’s Magazine of New York from the first issue, “and would continue to be, had it not been that ‘the gang’ tried to impose upon you,” he writes. Likewise C. W. King, of Rome, Ga., “only subscribed to the New York publication on account of your colors flying at the mast-head, so”—he writes—“of course I wish to enter my name as a subscriber to your new venture.” H. Gillabaugh, of Missoula, Montana, thinks the bogus Watson’s Magazine as at present conducted, is “like a church with the devil as pastor.” “No more of C. Q. DeFrance for me,” writes J. T. Melbone, of Huntingdon, Tenn. A cordial message greets me from Captain Jack Crawford, the poet-scout. A. Benoit, of Shreveport, La., sends $10, with the request that $1.50 be credited to him for subscription, and the balance be used “for the cause.” From the little city of Flippen, Ga., a list of 25 subscribers to the bogus Watson’s Magazine goes forward to DeFrance. A copy of the letter is sent me with the request that they be enrolled on the Jeffersonian.

And so they go.

It is something to have lived and worked in such a way as to have won true hearts in every part of the Union.

God knows how much I appreciate these stanch friends, many of whom I have never seen and will never personally know.

***

My lady friends—God bless them!—have been just as prompt and just as earnest in taking my side in this struggle against a rascally New York millionaire and a treacherous sneak who are trying to make off with Watson’s Magazine.

Shall I ever forget the warm-hearted letter of Miss Sallie T. Parrish, of Adel, Ga?

Or that of Miss Mattie V. Mitchell, of St. Louis, Mo?

***

Various subscription agencies, as well as newspapers and magazines, had made clubbing rates with Watson’s Magazine while I was with it. Of course Col. Mann and DeFrance would like to have these clubbing rates stand, and would like to have the revenue coming from those who are still subscribing to Watson’s Magazine in ignorance of the fact that it now has no Watson connected with it. The managers of these subscription agencies, and the managers of those newspapers are necessarily compelled, as men of honor, to hold up all subscription money coming from those who wish a Watson’s Magazine, until the managers of the clubbing rates shall have notified the subscriber that Mr. Watson is no longer with the New York Magazine that bears his name, but is now publishing in Atlanta, the Jeffersonian Magazine. In other words, as a matter of common honesty, the subscribers should be put on notice that the New York Magazine which bears my name, has been taken away from me by Col. Mann and DeFrance, and the subscriber should therefore have the option of sending his money directly to the Jeffersonian Magazine.

The Union Library Association, of New York, promptly assured me that this would be its attitude in the matter. They will hold the money until the subscriber shall have elected which of the two magazines he really wanted. This was very honorable in the Union Library Association of New York, and the promptness with which the manager took that position, is highly appreciated by me. I give Mr. Bowman’s letter in full:

New York, Nov. 26, 1906.

Hon. Thos. E. Watson, Thomson, Ga.

Dear Sir:—Yours of the 23rd inst. is at hand. You evidently did not receive our letter, although we have an acknowledgment of receipt of same from your manager.

We wrote you voluntarily that we would be glad to do just what you now ask us to do. That is, endeavor to switch subscriptions for Watson’s Magazine to Watson’s Jeffersonian Magazine.

It seems to us that if anyone wants your Magazine they will not be satisfied with Colonel Mann’s continuation of the original. It is a rather unfortunate state of affairs, but no doubt in time it will get straightened out and everyone know the true facts in the case.

We can assure you of our interest in the matter, and will be glad to do what we can to throw business your way.

Yours very truly,
Chas. L. Bowman.

***

The Atlanta Journal has notified our Circulation Manager, Mr. Clement, that its position would be the same. In fact, I cannot see how the managers of those various clubbing arrangements, which are now standing in the name of Watson’s Magazine, can, as a matter of common justice to me, as well as to the subscriber, turn over the money to Col. Mann and DeFrance, until the subscriber himself says that the money should go to that precious pair.

***

Thanks are due and are hereby extended to the editors of the leading periodicals devoted to literature and current events. Special acknowledgements are due the New York American for the use of striking cartoons reproduced on pages 12, 16 and 28—inadvertently not credited. The friendship and courtesy of such publications as Collier’s Weekly, The Saturday Evening Post, The New York Times Saturday Review of Books, The Literary Digest, The Commoner, and other notable weeklies is gratefully acknowledged, and similar sentiments are hereby expressed towards such leading monthlies as The Century, The Reader, The Review of Reviews, The North American Review, Success, Appleton’s Magazine, and The World’s Events, to such splendid dailies as The Tribune, The American, and The Globe, of New York, The Public Ledger, of Philadelphia, that lively bantling, The Washington Herald,—which is fairly glittering under Scott Bone’s touch,—The New Orleans Picayune, The Tampa Tribune, The Jacksonville Times-Union, and Claude L’Engle’s brilliant Sun, of the same place, The Charlotte Observer, The News and Age-Herald, of Birmingham, The Forum, from far-away Fargo, where the blizzards come from and the Post-Intelligencer from farther-away Seattle, where the salmon come from, The Toronto Globe, dauntless champion of good morals and tariff reform, The Tribune, of Salt Lake, The Columbia State, The Nashville Banner, The Griffin News, and scores of standard weekly papers scattered throughout God’s country down here and in the West.

Editor Walter Hodges, of The Central Texan, who is a native Georgian, “with some of the spirit of the old South,” is cordial in his offer to co-operate with the Jeffersonian; The Opelika, Ala., Post hopes that “Mr. Watson may succeed in his greatest battle of modern times for the people’s rights,” and will lend a hand; the Pretorian Guard, of Dallas, Texas, thinks that “with a leader of Mr. Watson’s originality at the helm, success is certain;” Editor J. P. Sarraman of The Charlotte People’s Paper, is “for Watson first, last and all the time,” and doesn’t want any “imitation;” Editor Fletcher Davis, of the Hondo, Texas, Anvil-Herald assures the new Magazine that he will put in some good licks for the enterprise, and W. M. Ellis, proprietor of the Rusk, Texas, Press-Journal, breaks an established rule to accept our clubbing proposition.

To one and all our distinguished regards and twice over to any whom we have accidentally omitted.

***

Shall I ever forget how generously there came to me the ready, cordial, soulful devotion of Will N. Harben?

And how could I ever fail in appreciation of the disinterested and noble impulse which moved my friends, H. Clement, A. K. Taylor, and Chas. J. Bayne, to cast in their lot with mine, for salaries less than they had been getting elsewhere.

In the same class, stands my brilliant young friend, Gordon Nye, who left the bogus New York concern to come and live with me, and work with me.

With these young men, Clement, Taylor, Bayne, and Nye working with me instead of for me, I go forward without the slightest fear of failure.

Nor would it be fair to fail to give due credit to my friend, Mr. Chas. P. Byrd, who, when he realized that my object in publishing this Magazine was, not so much to make money as to exert a healthy influence over public opinion and to be of service in the largest educational sense to young men, came to me with a generous concession on the cost of doing the mechanical work of the Magazine, and thus enabled me to publish it in my home State.

Had it not been for this magnanimous spirit in Mr. Byrd, the prices which were quoted to me in Atlanta for the mechanical work would have driven me out of my native State and forced me to give the contract to the Columbian Printing Co., of Nashville, Tenn., whose offer was much better than any that had been made to me, until Mr. Byrd generously came to my relief.

***

“We boys” are going to win.

We are going to down that brace of rascals in New York.

Friends!—don’t you think that knavery of that sort OUGHT to be downed?

Don’t you want to see us down those New York fellows?

Then, help us do it.

“We boys” are going to give you just about the livest Magazine that ever you saw—and you must aid us in extending its circulation and therefore its usefulness.

I want no office under the sun, but there is one thing that I do want and mean to have:

Influence with that imperial sovereign before whose irresistible power the haughtiest of heads must bend—Public Opinion.

THOS. E. WATSON.