Published: August 05, 2008 06:33 pm            

Old handbills revive political speakers of years past

Past decades, personal characters, and real concerns about the voting population returned as memories several weeks ago at a church supper after Karen (Mrs. Charles) Hemphill, Dalton, handed me an envelope sent by her mother, Mrs. Estelle Townsend of Murray County. In the envelope were two old political handbills, printed by the long-ago A.J. Showalter Co. Each of the handbills Karen presented were old browned by age and brittle by time. The bills’ invitations to the public to attend local political speaking rallies brought to mind how national and state political candidates used to visit local communities to give their speech, to meet the townspeople, shake hands, and in eye-to-eye contacts learned of the community’s problems and the peoples’ needs.

In today’s political circles and procedures, many of us wonder if those elected office holders, in state Capitols and especially in the U.S. Congress, without personal contacts in home communities, actually know in reality the existence of such problems.

While browsing through some publications, Mrs. Townsend found the handbills in a massive book, “The Complete Works of Flavius Josephus, the Celebrated Jewish Historian.” The book, printed in 1900, was one of several items given her a year ago by a second cousin, Jack Poag, of Dalton, now deceased.

“At first I was surprised to find them in the book,” said Mrs. Townsend, but later learned the reason. In one of them, she read this: “Dr. Edgar Jackson will be the master of ceremonies and will present the speakers.” Dr. Jackson, a former Dalton dentist, hymn composer and song leader, was her great-great uncle. She thought both of the handbills should be placed with the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society.

And that is where they shall be placed. Unfortunately. For exact times in history, neither handbill gave the year’s publication date.

One handbill was on the scheduled speaking engagement Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. of Hugh M. Dorsey, as a candidate for governor. On the other handbill, the printed message invited the Dalton-Whitfield public to the speaking of two local political candidates, W.M. Sapp and George G. Glenn. That, the larger and most interesting of the two handbills, declared in large type at the top: “Political Speaking.”

The public was warned: “Don’t miss the best free show of your life.” The speaking of the two Dalton candidates would be on Thursday night, Aug. 31, at the courthouse (presumably, Dalton). The handbill’s printed message continued: “Hon. W.M. Sapp and Mr. George G. Glenn, candidates for representatives, will appear in the first in a series on ‘Jint Sprints’ entitled ‘Why I Want Your Vote’ or ‘Listening to the Sad Sea Waves’, vs. ‘Women’s Wiles and Rainbow Hosiery.’”

Endeavoring to unravel the meaning of “Jint Sputes,” one would guess perhaps it was a comical and eye-catching phrase of “Gents Dispute” as Sapp and Glenn would vocally express their opinions on the three subjects.

The oddest title was on the “women and rainbow hosiery,” reminiscent of the 1920s (“Roaring 20s”) and the women’s fast knee-rubbing steps in the Charleston Dance.

Apparently, Sapp won the race for the Georgia House of Representatives. The book, “An Official History of Whitfield County,” shows he was a member of the Georgia Legislature in 1922-1924, and of the Georgia Senate in 1925-1926. He was a citizen of many talents and served on a number of organizations in the state, county, and city.

He was president of the Georgia State Parks Association in 1937, and in 1938 was grand master of the Georgia Masons. He served as clerk of the court, Whitfield County, for 20 years. Likewise, he was a composer of poems, many of which were published.

Date of the Dorsey handbill poses more of a question. He served as governor from 1910-1916.

The handbill does not show him as a former governor, nor that he was running for re-election to the post, which indicates that his handbill perhaps was printed in 1910, preceding his election that year as governor.

The Dalton-Whitfield County history book recorded little information about George G. Glenn. It has been said he resided on Glenwood Avenue and the present stretch of that thoroughfare on the eastern side of Dalton was named in his honor. City directories in the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society show that in 1948, a George C. Glenn was a plumber with the City Water and Light and Sinking Fund, now Dalton Utilities.

The directory listed him as residing at that time on Patton Street. The 1958 City Directory listed a George C. Glenn as an employee at Barwick Mills. It also listed a George Glenn as an employee in the City Street Department.

        

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