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.