Newspaper Page Text
FTW' TH£ FLOWEftS
Thu Peoples Party Paper
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VOLUME VI.
SAM JONES GIVES THE PROOF.
He Says This is Only a Sample, There Are Wagon Loads in
the Patch—-No Doub. as to His Position.
CARTERSVILLE. Ga., September 25th, 1896.
To the Editors of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution:
Not that you two gentlemen are any kin or that your views are together on
any question specially, except, I believe, you are both in favor of local option at
this time, and you both are agreed that there Is no corruption in the politics of
this state, or words to that effect.
First, I have to do with you two gentlemen; for you were occupying exactly
the same positions two yelrs ago as Editors of the Atlanta Journal and The Con
stitution when you wrote the following which I clip from your editorial columns
of 1894.
Just after the state election two years ago in Georgia the editor of the Atlanta
Journal vaporized thus in his editorial columns:
“We do not hesitate to say that the throwing out of votes in several coun
ties in the recent state election because of purely technical imperfections in the
returns is utterly indefensible. If election managers anywhere violate the law
they should be indicted and punished. We believe that the people of Georgia
have made up their minds that no tampering or trickery at elections shall be tol
erated, and the man or gang which attempts to do so s in danger of heavy but just
retribution.
Closing the editorial with the still unanswered prayer: “Give us an honest
and incorruptible ballot!”
The editor of the Constitution just after the same election on November 9th,
1894, in a leading editorial headed “An Honest Ballot a Necessity.” says:
“All over the country there is a growing and imperative demand for fair elec
tions. The voters of all parties are siekand tired of bulldozing and corrupt
methods In the old days when the South was under bayonet rule
and so long as the South had reason to* fear Federal interference' at the polls,
many of her people were disposed to look with indifference upon the questionable
methods by which some states saved themselves from the blight of negro denom
ination. Self preservation then forced our people to maintain white supremacy
at any cost We must have a law that will stamp out corruption in ev-
ery voting precinct in this state. Th© safety of society and the maintenance of
good government depend upon the purity of the ballot. . . . The people of all
parties arc united in demanding this great reform, and the Democratic party
has taken the lead in pushing it through" (?)!!!
The Constitution of November Sth, in another editorial headed “Corruption
Run Riot.” said:
"The less said about the Congressional election in the 10th District the bottet
for the good name of tho state. The methods which characterized that election
reproached tho civilization of the day and stigmatized the fair fame of Georgia
as the most advanced in sentiment and substance of all the Southern States.
Such an election calls for plain talk, and if the Constitution offends in condemn
ing and denouncing it, let the man who so believes and who is ready and willing
to defend this carousal of corruption make the most of it. . . . Wo protest in
the name of the honesty of our people and the civilization of our state. . . .
And if the Legislature of Georgia does not pass an election law which will guar
antee honest elections in every county in Georgia, those who are responsible for
such failure will have upon their hands the blood of those who might hereafter
bo sacrificed at the ballot box as in Augusta, as victims of an incompetant and
inadequate election system. ... Both sides are responsible for the Tenth Dis
trict affair by courtesy called an election. The democrats not more so than the
pops unless it be that they were better at counting Richmond county
polled nearly 16,000 votes. Tho census sttatistics of voting population counting
every man more than twenty-one years of age, without reference to registration
c- '■‘‘her ■' tions. Is one to five of a full population. The census of 1890
g: - uty a population of 45,194. Based on the vote of last Tuesday,
its population is shown to be nearly 85,000. Hence the question is not one of poli
tics but inanely of honesty, and It should not be looked upon with partisan bias.
Public sentjfyent will not tolerate any more elections like that tn the Tenth Dis
trict.
On June 4th, 1894, the Constitution had Utiother editorial headed "Not Fit to
be Governor,” which reads as follows:
“Mr. Atkinson is daily emphasizing his unfitness for tho officer of Governor.
As a member of the Legislature his official functions were such that he could
rt v Services
siyely thu; he isrnet tue iuaft Icr merit Vtun F*’’ • ls>r - lve I ‘ l
his light against the Twltty bill because perhaps it intgiu' affect his tees. . . .
In a public speech at Columbus, Judge J. H. Martin, an honest and as upright a
judge as ever sat on the bench in Georgia, declared on his word as a man that
Mr. Atklnsoft.‘J Sought a trade by which to exchange his vote as a member of the
Legislature and that ho (Judge Martin) not being willing to meet Mr. Atkinson’s
terms, tho‘latter voted against him. This is the solemn assertion of an honestand
upright masb.and if Mr. Atkinson has denied it we have not heard of it
Mr. Atkinson not only traded votes for the election of judges and solicitor gen
erals, but virtually boasts of it. . . . .He took a fee—we might say fees—while
a member of the Legislature notwithstanding the crude constitutional inhibition
against one man receiving double pay from the state. In the special matter re
ferred to there was so much doubt about tho propriety of accepting the fee refer
red to that two lawyers had to be consulted before he was satisfied of its legali
ty. The question as to whether it was right or wrong for him to deprive the Gov
ernor of Georgia of his Information and assistance to the state in a matter of vital
importance which as a member of the Legislature came under his official observa
tion never entered his head. What he wanted was the SI,OOO fee and the Constitu
tion of the State was no consideration so long as he got it. For he knew that ho
would not have to pay it back on demand, and tho moral aspect of the question has
never to this day dawned upon him. It was no doubt the biggest fee he ever
got—probably more in cash than he had ever made in one year practicing law.
We make no vague statement on the subject, for what we say is based upon in
formation of his former law partner. Mr. P. S. Whatley of Newnan says so, and
he ought to know.”
Now, gentlemen, if I were the author of the editorials as given above then
surely I would not be the author of your editorials of last Saturday evening and
last Sunday morning in the Journal and Constitution.
I quote from other good authority—when W. 11. Fleming, Speaker of the House
of Representatives of Georgia two years ago, from right out of the midst of the
infamies of the 10th district left the Speaker’s chair and walked down on the
floor of the house and uttered these words as reported by the dally press previous
to putting the election bill upon its passage for the new registration law. Mr.
Fleming, of Richmond, spoke 10 minutes in favor of the bill, saying:
“It may not be perfect, but it is the best billl yet drawn up on the subject.
The bill is non-partisan. It will be fair to both sides and will insure an honest
election. Fair elections and honest counts are more desirable than democratic
success. The bill will be fairly tested in the 10th district before the next session
and amendments desirable can then be ascertained. The people of Georgia want,
to make a new law, and God knows they need it in the face of the frauds in the
last election. I challenge any member to name a newspaper in Georgia, be the
politics what it may, that has not editorially demanded fair elections and a stop
page to the frauds which have been perpetrated. Tho passage of a law which
will insure honest elections to thestate in all future contests,
will do more good than the exposition to invitf immigrants to come to Georgia
to settle. The fraudulent elections in Georgia is a scandal from one end of the
continent to the other, and it must be purged of the stigma in order to resume
Its rightful place among the states of the South.”
Again, I quote from Governor Atkinson himcself. In his message to the same
Legislature he said on this question:
“I therefore urge upon you the necessity of changing our election laws and
providing a system wherein any unfair or fraudulent practices may be easily
detected and effectually prevented.”
These are the deliverances of the St. Bernard’s and the Newfoundlands. I have
not had time to look up the vaporings of the bench-legged flee, water-spaniels and
rat-terriers of the editorial and political tribes on this subject. I suppose that
two years ago they were all in the procession after the elections were over. The
public can now readily see that I have simply been saying before the election
what you good fellows have said aftei the elections, and I believe ycu will all
join my procession after the present election is over when it is too late to pre
vent the rascality, that you will bo sure to denounce after it has been perpetra
ted. Yet you two editors in your leading editorials of Saturday and Sunday last
were replying to my letter to the “Honest Men of Georgia,” saying that I was
dealing in nebulous generalities and that the elections in Georgia were as fair as
any state in the Union, an! calling on me for specific evidence on the charges I
had made. You say I am howling and growing more virulent as I progress, and
you demand of me to bring forward my proof of the assertion that there had been
unfair elections in Georgia. If I have lied on the people and politicians of
this state I have but followed in your foot-steps, for you both told the He before
I did. and so far as I have knov.n neither of you repented of ft until you saw what
a lie it was after a preacher told it. You both knew I had the proof. You know
mo well enough to know that I don’t gooff half-cocked. Don't your editorial de
liverances of two years ago read very much like my articles of last week and week
before? You may charge me with plagairism for aught I know. There is quite
a similarity of both thought and expression, and yet you gentlemen demand of
me to bring forward my proof of the assertion that there had been unfair elec
tions in Georgia.
To the testimony then, gentlemen. I will give you a few samples which are
but transcripts taken from tiie sworn testimony of reputable witnesses. I only
present them In brief. All the testimony can be found by you gentlemen in the
archives of the State. That is where I got them. I bring you but a handful of
potatoes as a sample. There are wagon loads just like them in the patch.
CONTESTED ELECTION CASES HEARD BEFORE THE GEORGIA LEGISLA
TURE OF 1894-5.
Effingham County. Bird vs. Speir. Page 9, Evidence.
Returns handled by cutside parties; taken out and kept all night with tally
sheets and tux fl.fas.; key to the safe lost and found again the next day by the
VTerk of tho Superior Court and .the Board of Commissioners. Ordinary lost his
<« EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL ; SPEQLL PRIVILEGES T<hHOXE"
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, FRIDAY,
key at the same time. All democrats. Witnesses were democratfi county offi
cials who testified to their own connivance at these illegal truiactions, and
election results probably changed thereby.
Pike County. Barrett vs. Redding.
Result of the election changed by throwing out returns because anagers for
got or failed to sign the list of voters and tally sheets. All the ‘turns were
properly sealed and delivered, and carefully kept, correctly cot Red and no
changes made. The consolidators threw out three districts becaur of lack cf
signatures on the list of voters and tally sheets, when Section i3-"4of the Cods
provides that no election shall be defeated for non-requirement the law 12
held nt proper time and place by qualified persons if it is not s’.wn by non
compliance that the result is made different. The returns were rejected and the
defeated candidate given the seat. A cousin of Redding was made rr.hager at his
own request. Then Manager Redding went off without signing th* tally sheets
and list of voters as the law requires. The next day the consolidattngboard reject
ed theses precincts because tho list of voters and tally sheets cad . t been prop
erly signed. J. F. Redding who was declared elected made the moon to throw
out the precincts which would have elected Barrett, the contestant,to the posi
tion of representative. But ho was thus defeated by J. F. Redding. At some pre
cincts they had defaulters lists and no voter was allowed to vote whose name
appeared thereon. At other precincts every man voted who chose .o do so and
no defaulters list was heard <;f. Deddlng’s workers had receipt boks and when
a voter for Redding was challenged they tore out receipts from th'd bookstand
these receipts were not in possession of the voters at all. Barrell/ < d a majority
of 243 for representative. Seven men were brought out of jail ail voted for
Redding. One of them said he was only eighteen years old. The consolidators
(a majority being democrats) threw out the three precincts, and tub defeated
Barrett and elected Redding.
Monroe County. Zellner and Hill vs. Willingham and McGough '
At Culloden seventeen mtn testified that they were recorded a’voting who
were not there and did not vote. No Populist was allowed as manger*. Pages
19-22, evidence. They kept the populists six feet away from the veins window,
(page 22.) A voter swears he counted tho voters and only 166 voted—Zellner
and Hill. Os the names on the bogus voting list running from 166 t>sJo9 not one
of these parties appeared at tne polls.
At Red Bone district ballots were counted and the tally styees .filled out
No proper signatures were placed thereon as freeholders or not ay public and
ex-officio Justice of Peace, being merely signed “F. H.” and "J. McGough
and Sappington wore freeholders and Bush the Notary Public v/hp aeld the elec
tion. They were all democrats. Bush said it didn’t make any difference if he
brought the w r hole damn thing in his pocket unsealed, that It i ouid be as good
that way as any other; and he piled up the returns and said he’d et by God there
wouldn't be as many damn populists to come there to vote again When the vot
ing was In progress the democrats received 117—the populist candidates 243.
The whole precinct was thrown out by the democratic eonsolk ixors.
At Unionville precinct the consolidation sheet disappeared. The democrats re
ceived 54 votes, the populists 100. As nothing but the voters’ list and tally
sheets could be found, that precinct went out; see page 36, evil ence. The. ordi
nary of the county, Mobley, said there were no returns to on and tho
democratic consolidators did not object. McGough and Willing! am were count
ed as receiving 12S8, the populists about 1100.
(So tho result was declared and the will of the people defeated in Monroe
county. A good citizen remarked Judge Hines carried the county .without a doubt.
It is said that one Ballot box thief was given a good paying office as a reward
for his conduct; and I will give his name if the fact is questioned.)
Fayette County. Blalock vs. Cook.
Blalock gave notice of contest as Populist. Cook was declared to be Fayette’s
representative. Blalock kept on taking testimony which Cook liaivMeu io uay
after day until November 3rd, 1894. Cook gave his reply to Blalock’s notice of con
test inside of the legal limit—3o days—and took in all of his evidence inside of ten
days after Blalock finished taking testimony. Tho democrats In the Georgia
Legislature rejected all the evidence taken by Cook because it was not taken
within 30 days after the election, although Cook made it clear to everybody that
he was not allowed to investigate the ballot box until Blalock got through with
its examination for his side of the case, the custodian of tho ballot box being in
constant attendance upon Blalock’s court. Tho. Populists of the House Election
Committee denounced this manifest unfairness but Blalock took the seat never
theless. Only tw’O democrats dissented—Hall from Coweta, arid Price from
Lumpkin. It is a disgrace to Georgia; and will stand on the record as a sample
of corrupt partiscan politics.
Douglass County. Blair vs. Burnett..
Moody, a manager at 1260 district was a freeholder. Two or three years before
the election he had bought about 50 acres of land from Giles, agreeing to pay
five bales of cotton for it. Giles had a bond-for-fitles w)iich he transferred to
Moody, and Moody had finished paying all but one bale of cotj.on. which re
maining bale he turned over the week after the election. The 12i ; 4 district w’as
thrown out because of the c arge that Moody was not a freehold* pr it gave
Barnett 172 majority over Blair. Twenty-five c olored men unknot- ' oitl’ ?ns of
Lithla Springs were present at the election there that c Me Tm Cobb coun
,y . -Jy .
Blair, «thc candidate, exercised manager’s powers and was not Tax de-
faulters voted freely for Blair, and no voters list or tally Bh<•*•,.> w> • ■ signed
or certified to by these unauthorized manages. Blair’s voters changed their
clothes and voted again, all the managers being Blair men. and the returns from
the 784 district had no signatures to indicate who held the election at all. And
certain mon well known to us used both money and whiskey freely at the Doug
lasville precinct. In the faco of all these outrages upon a free people, Burnett was
unseated and Blair given the high position nf representative.
Senatorial election of Douglas County. Whltly vs. Williams.
ITho democratic candidate was allowed 304 votes on the same day at Llthia
Springs by the same managers who helped along Hon. Columbus Blair to his
seat in the House, while Williams was only credited with 34 votes. The returns
were not signed until they reached Douglasville, where the poor-house inmates
were voted for the democrats. Whitly offered one man $15.00 for his vote. In
Meriweather county 1200 illegal votes wore cast for Whltly; and in Campbell coun
ty the election was held in the usual place at Union Church, but. throw-n out be
cause somebody changed the place of holding in August, but nobody w T as notified
by the democrats. Red Oak was thrownout In the same county because the
election was held near by the usual place of holding. Whitly was seated in the
face of these uncontested facts by the democratic partisans.
Greene County.
An election for county officers In January 1895 w r as held and the populists were
unseated because the Justice of the Peace or Notary Public who acted as mana
gers were not sworn. Eight precincts were discarded on this ground, which cast
1324 votes. The three remaining ones cast 660 votes. Each manager not sworn
was a democrat, only three thrown out precincts gave democratic majorities,,
while live of the discarded ones gave large populist majorities. In the contest
hold before a democratic judge this extraordinary result was affirmed, and the
offices given to the democrats, although the populists were elected by a large ma
jority.
Polk County.
The. county election held in January. 1895, resulted in the election of Carter
over Clements for sheriff. Carter’s majority was 332 votes. The case before
Judge Janes who, without giving the law or a reason for his decision, declared
Clements the proper man to hold the office. The case was carried to tile Supreme
Court. The judge refused to sign the bill of exceptions, but Carter’s attorney
sued out a writ of mandamus and got before that August body in Atlanta which
declared that “Carter, the plaintiff in error, instituted proceedings to con
test the election of another who had been declared elected sheriff of the county
of Polk In this state,” and thereupon decided it had no jurisdiction in this ease;
and Carter, the man really elected, was left to the mercy of a partisan judge in
his own judicial circuit. Carter was the republican postmaster in Cedartown un
der Harrison, so I am not surprised tlr.it the republicans in Georgia are clamoring
for honest elections in the state. I can give you any amount of testimony touch
ing congressional elections. I have decided to give you official records that any
man can reach by going to the archives of the State Capitol of Georgia.
Now I ask you gentlemen to consider these matters in an honest, fair-minded
way, since you challenged me to bring up the proof that any dishonesty or
unfairness had occurred in our state or federal elections. You have but a fore
taste of what is certainly coming if the chairman of the State Democratic Ex
ecutive Committee hangs back and declines to promote a fair election this year.
This state of affairs will end in blood as surely as this unjustness and unfairness
is persisted in. As an honest man and a preacher of righteousness, I warn you
that we must retrace our steps or people will wade in blood to the ballot box
before long.
The above are but samples of how tho thing is done. Now once for all, let
me define my position and my attitude towards this whole question. First of all,
I simply demand a free ballot and a fair count in Georgia this year, let the re
sults be what they may. Secondly, that one of the candidates in tho field cham
pions the principles of prohibition, which is as sacred to my heart as any prin
ciple beneath the stars.
The reason I have written as I have written is because I learn that two years
ago Mr. Watson appealed to the Chairman of the State Democratic Committee
Mr. Clay, just as the Chairman of the State Populist Executive Committee ap
pealed to him a few weeks ago. Mr. Clay disclaimed authority then as he doos
now, and because he had no authority he would not sign an obligation to do his
best for a fair election and get. the County Democratic Executive Committee to do
the same. I have always heard it said that a bird that can sing and won’t sing
ought to be made to sing. The chairman of the State Executive Committee not
only refused to sign a written agreement to bring about a fair election, but he
positively refuses to answer questions put to him by his fellow citizens. In the
postcript of my letter last Saturday I called the chairman's attention to his cir
cular to the colored people and asked him did he have anything to do with its
origin or circulation. I was writing from high moral ground and would have
been greatly pleased and relieved in my mind if he had made a manly disclaim
er for the honor and credit of my state. Surely he would have relieved a great
burden from my heart and the hearts of all the intelligent, virtuous people of the
state. No more incendiary literature was ever circulated from the hot-beds of
abolitionism or the fury of reconstruction politics than that rape circular; and the
fearful outrages upon Georgia women in the past three or four days must make
the hearts of the Campaign Executive Committee tremble with horror.
I notice in yesterday’s Constitution that Gov. Atkinson in a letter said that
as he was attending to the duties of his office and making speeches over the state
he could not possibly revise the literature sent out from the democratic headquar
ters, and that even Mr. Clay himself did not know of the contents of that circu
lar until he. Gov. Atkinson, called his attention to it. If you will notice the let
ters below from the Chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee of
the State of Georgia dated September 9th. 1896, and September 14th, 1896, you
will say surely Governor Atkinson is as ignorant of the existence of these letters
as Mr. Clay professes to be of the colored brethren’s literature; and you can rely
on these letters as genuine. They are as follows:
ATLANTA, GA.. September 9th. 1896.
“State Democratic Headquarters. Kimball House, Rooms 154-156. A. S. Cloy.
Chairman Democratic Executive Committee.
Mr. E. L. Rainey, Dawson. Ga.
Dear Sir:—l mall you today some literature for the colored people—“ What
Governor Atkinson has done,” etc. Very truly,
A. S. CLAY, Chairman State Executive Committee.”
ATLANTA. GA., September 14th, 1896.
“State Democratic Headquarters. Kimball House, Rooms 154-156. A. S. Clay,
Chairman Democratic Executive Committee.
Mr. J. A. McCrary, Geneva. Ga.
Dear Sir:—Yours to hand. The circular you refer to, I have not seen. I un
derstand that such a circular has been issued by the colored people here in At
lanta. The Governor is not responsible-neither are Lis friends. The nardon r«-
ferred to was recommended by the Supremo Court and the Solicitor General
who prosecuted the ease, and the Governor satisfied himself that he ought to have '
heen pardoned, and he pardoned him. I trust this explanation will be satis!.teto
ry to all. Yours very truly. «
A. S.CLAY, Chairman State
Now. gentlemen, talk to mo about helping to turn this state over into the
Lands of the pops. Every honest man in this state knows that whatever may be '
the criticisms upon the honest yeomanry of this state, they are as far übov*. '
procedures like that as the heavens are abo v- th- earth. No, gentlemen. I hav*
found th mother of that circular whether its daddy shall ever be discovered or
not. Th“ whole thing reminds me of what a drummer told me sometime ago.
Ho said he got home from a long iHp and walked in Th : family room after
break fa.: and found his little girl sitting on the floor playiu-. with her kitt*: and
fondling it, saying: “Kittle, kittie, you are the sweetest little kittle I ever saw.
And kittie I know who your mama is. Old Buss is your inama. Old Puss is a
sweet old cat, too; but kittie I never saw your papa, i spect your papa is i trav
elling man.” The democratic headquarters is the mother of that circular. I ex
pect its papa is a travelling man.
No. gentlemen, nothing shall beat prohibition in Georgia that does not ' at it '
fairly without a, protest from me involving all my ransomed powers. 1 am ><>t ..n
editor and I have not died with consumption, but I am a Methodist nreach* r hav
ing but little to,say anout tne sweet by-and-by. but cci ii y most of my ( :ne on
the nasty now-and-now.
And while you editors arc lecturing some of us preachers (who are -.ot on
your side) about going into politics will you let me lecturi you a lift I You
boast that you arc running newspape rs. Then speak your setitinn nts is your
editorial columns only, and in your reportoriul columns show yourselves bigs r
than little partisan editors. Eight thousand people gathered in the groot tab r
naele in Atlanta. Ga., last Sunday night, and each one of them will testify tliat
that was tho most enthusiastic, symputh-'tic. approving audien. e they ev r scw ;
jet your news columns beniggled, bedraggled, bclittlid and belkd lb. ' win thing
because it was not on your side, i would have reported a negro cr.-j > garne or 41
prize ring or a dog fight or even a democratic pow-wow more fairly than the
Constitution reported that occasion.
Tn conclusion, boys, if you were writing the truth two year:, ago in your dl
torials as quoted above, hasn't there been an immtnso reformation in the politics
of this state? or. in other words, the gang has either got religion since you
wrote those editorials or else you yourselves have fallen from grace.
SAM P. JONES.
P, S.—Say. Steve, the Pops say that Democratic headquarters lied like a dog
a-trottin’ about their having anything to say cr do eoneernyig Governor Atkin
son pardoning Duncan, the ac.cued rapist, and the first thing they saw or heard
of it was when the Democratic papers of the state began to . riticis*- your cir
cular—" What Governor Atkinson has Done for the Colored People"— in their own
columns.
One more question. Steve. You seem to intimate, in your letter of September
14th, 1896, to J. A. McCrary, Geneva, Ga.. that a colored brother got oat that lit
erature; and. now, Joe Sid Turner comes out. over his own signature, and said
lie got it out. You don't mean to say to the public Joe Sid- is a “colored
brother," do you? We who ‘are close to democratic headquarters understand
that he is a white man. and principal keeper’of the penitentiary ofi the stafto, ap
pointed by Governor Atkinson, to that office.
Steve. I told you your name was “Dennis,” if you didn't sigri up with the
Populistic chairman. | . B. i*. J.
THE RAPE CIRCULAR TRACED; HOME.
The Atlanta Commercial, a staunch Demo- :
cratic organ in its issue Sept. 25th says: i
The Commercial’s pity has never been so 1
challeng’d in a political fight as during its
Inte vigorous unraveling of the Duncan < ircu- i
lar mystery.
in order to quiet the popular indignation ,
that had been engendered by the exposures of .
this paper. Governor Atkinson entered a dis- ■
claimer only two days ago in which he con- ,
tended that the filthy circular was sent out ,
without his knowledge or consent, and with
out the knowledge or co-operation,of the Dem
ocratic headquarters.
Unfortunately he convicted himself in his
eagerness to be too explicit. There is nothing
so confining and entangling as the frankness
of a machine politician. The governor gave
the whole snap away when he said, that as
soon as he heard of the circular, he requested
Chairman Clay to stop its distribution. . iStill
neither knew by whom it was being sent out.
I or where to go to stop it. Funny, aint it?
i Then when the publication was made yester
i day, o* letters sent out from the Democratic
I headquarters, signed by Mr, C;uy.,th«
I “To t!:e people' - >. f ‘GeergM,” in ♦SnV-'
| also unfortunate enough to embarrass himsel' j
I and his cause. In this letter Mr. Clay says:
"In regard to the letter to Mr. J. A. McCrary.
’ at the time 1 wrote this fitter I thought that
I fie had reference to s me literature which was
I being circulated over the state by some of the
colored people who are supporting Governor
I Atkinson.”
Surely Mr. Clay was rattled over these ex
posures, or he would have never written- the
above in explanation - ©! his McCrary letter, for
in that letter Mr. (.’lay said:
"The circular you refer to, I have not seen.
I understand that such a circular has been is
sued by some of the colored pooph* here in At
lanta. ’ The governor is not responsible—neith
er are his friends
“The pardon referred to was recommended
by the supreme court and the solicitor general
who prosecuted the case, and thegovernor sat
isfied himself that he ought to have been par
doned, and he pardoned him. 1 trust this ex
planation will be satisfactory to all."
Now. if Mr. Clay did not refer to the Duncan
circular in the statement,“that the pardon was
recommended by the supreme court ami the
solicitor general who prosecuted the ca«e.”
what, in tne name of heaven, could he have
had in mind.
This is the only case that will fit the refer
ence contained in his McCrary letter. And
this is what that letter was Intended to meet.
In that letter he also said : “The governor is
not responsible—neither are his friends." In
dependent of the proof of the responsibility
furnished by the Commercial in the publica
tion of these letters from Democratic head
quarters, Mr. Clay himself admits that the
Duncan circular was sent out from his < flic",
for he says in his “letter to the people” that
•‘none of th? literature was sent out from his
office” after his attention had been call' d to
the newspaper criticism of the circular by Gov
ernor Atkinson.
The Commercial first attacked this circular
in its issue of September 7th. Mr. Clay wrote,
through his clerk to Mr. Rainey on September
9th, to have them distributed. On September
11th he wrote the McCrary letter denying that
any of Governor Atkinson’s friends had circu
lated the offensive folder. Ho allowed the
governor’s letter of September 23 to go undenl
e 1, wherein the latter reiterated that neither
he. Mr. < lay or the Democratic headquarters
had sent out the circular.
Now. since the circular was sent out from
Mr. Clay’s office on September9th,criticised
by the Commercial on the 7th, recalled (?)from
distribution no man knows when, denied in
the McCrary letter of tho 14th, and again by
Governor Atkinson on the 23d, it is well
enough to inquire where will the end of
thread in this knotted hank be found?
But there is even more convincing proof
that the circular was sent e»ut by Democratic
headquarters,and that its existence was gen
erally known prior to any publication by the
Commercial. On September Bd, the Constitu
tion said;
"The Democratic campaign has reached the
educational stage. Thousands <>f pamphlets
have b on sent out from state headquarters
this week all over Georgia. >ouie go to eVerj-
I postoflice in thestate There is a copy of Mr.
Bryan’s speech of acceptance; a pamphlet on
"What Governor Atkinson has done for the
oolored people of Geo'g’u a leaflet on "what
Democratic administration has done for (Geor
gia." This leaflet gives the receipt- and ex
penses of the state of Georgia for last year.”
This is the identical Duncan circular which
the Constitution seems to have critically ex
amined in the Democratic headquarters, and
which Governor Atkinson a.id Mr. (day “knew
■ absolutely nothihg about.”
What do intelligent people think of this
proof? Doesn't it convict ti:e whole crowd,
from the Constitution down? It matte s not
whether Mr. Clay actually read it. It w. - sent
out from his otliee on September 3d. according
to the organ that gets its news through Mr.
Clay himself.
Truly the way of the transgressor is hard.
The fact that Mr. J. S. Turner, chief keeper
of the penitentiary, assumes responsibility for
the preparation of the circular, Instead of re
lieving the embarrassment of the governor,
tends to make matters even more interesting.
Mr. Turner is an appointee of the governor,
and he savs that lie was requested by “several
gentlemen—prominent democrats, -- to prepare
a circular showing "wliat Governor Atkinson
had done for the colored p ople."
Jt is pertinent to inquire in this connection,
the names of these -‘pro ninent Democrats”
who would,put upon their comrade a question
able task, the product of o Inch has become so
notorious as to have led C lairman Clay to say
in extenuation of the crlpe: “I understand
that sue! a circular has l >en issued by some
of the colored people in 'l antn.”
The Commercial has id-ver b’en more sur
prised than when it iienrli that a man of Mr.
Turner's position and intelligence was con
nected with the authoauip of a circular that
has been used to accomplish the most disrepu
table work that has eve Jl»een done in Georgia,
to-wit: teaching the igiotant and vile to be
lieve that they had a g-i enror who would par
don Hjeni.even when ronvicted of crimes on
white women. And tq think of this being done
in the name of Democracy!
But how is it that tile Turner letter was not
ready for the press at |i ’ofivk p. m. yesterday,
and yet npp nrediq .te ailjs-noun papers,when
■kith** v. ry qtm: th.ib.it wfcs in Course of pre
ton? This w ouid t atyjoutfh •
Turner assumed tfffc responsibility, he was hot'
the only one connected with the circular—
probably not the < ne upon whom the greatest
biani' should rest. Isn't it true that the circu
lar was submitted to Governor Atkimoii be
fore being sent out? Now, gentlemen, you
havp dodged this question until you have fall
en into the hole that the Commercial dug for
you. You have evaded and squirmed, and
given the people the truth in homeopathic
doses as the issue was forced upon you. Don’t
you think it is time to let them have the whole
truth. They want no further suppression.
It was unnecessary for Mr. Turner or his At
lanta representative to intimate that he had
no incendiary motive. This granted, it is
enough to say, that his misguided zeal has
been seized upon by negro politicians, who
close their references to the Duncan pardon in
their prejudiced appeals for Atkinson votes,
with: "Be it remembered that his victim w<as
a white woman.”
Why should the circular have stated that the
victim was a white woman? Why should the
term “white woman” be carried through the
slums of a political campaign by circulars and
politicians, if not to pander to the \vor.-t pre
judices of the negro? it is an insult to com
mon decency.
•Such appeals have appeared in the columns
of Uh- Constitution, where this class seems to
< njoy unrestrained freedom, and they are be
ing sent out, even now.in campaign circulars,
by the very Democratic committee that made
an unholy use of :he Duncan circular. The
use that lias been made of this literature is a
crime against womanhood, and for Atkinson
to attempt to shift the responsibility of the
Duncan circular after enjoying the full fruits
of its infamy, is a phase of liability that is un
known to common Intelligence.
For the Atkinson committee to pretend to
withdraw the Duncan circular and supple
ment it with circulars containing tlie publish
ed letters and interviews of negro politicians,
who say of this incident: "Be it remembered
that the victim was a white woman.” is add
ing • rime to venalty.
What has Governor A’lcinson and his com
mitt- eto say of this infamy? It is even worse
than the Duncan circular, for it is intended to
tak f> its place. Docs atiybodj- around Demo
headquarters know of these vile circulars?
Will Governor Atkinsqn repudiate them ? He
has not ev< n’repudiated the Duncan folder—
he only disclaimed knowledge of it.
No reputable eit zen or paper can or will
excuse this damnable traffic in votes. The
Mae in Telegraph, probably the staunchest At
kinson paper in Georgia, says:
••We have not the slightest disposition to
minimize the seriousness of the mistake made
in issuing this circular. We realize that it
encourage negro brutes to commit crime,in
the belief (hat the governor of the State will,
for the sake of negro votes, protect him from
the legal consequ- nces of that crime.”
This is the meaning of the circular to the
ignorant conception of the negro, and this is
the way it has been used. Isn’t it a horrible
thought? What dowh’te men think of the
fall made by their grand old party?
The Augusta Chronicle of yesterday was in
credulous enough to discredit the circular, for
it took th? strange position that
“The Democratic campaign is in charge o!
Chairman >t- v ■ i lay.and it is probable that
any circular specially bearing on Governor
I Atkinson’s candidacy would be submitted to
i him before it was put in circulation. As nei
ther Governor Atkinson nor Chairman Clay
i is crazy, we fei l n<» hesitation in asserting that
they never sent out any such outiageous doc
ument.”
We wonder what our cautious contemporary
has to say now. that the proof and confession
is all in? Will it denounce the infamy,oi
I condone it on account of party fealty?
: When will this diabolism end. unless the
. manhood of the state stamps up n it today
What will li' eome of the homes of Georgia
what will be the fate of our children, unless
Georgians rise to the height of sublime man
hood and br- uk this political combine of little
, ! men into atoms?
I What,indeed, will be the fate of the negro
NUMBER 3.
if he, in his ignorance, falls before these vi
cious appeals? What the fate of law? II -w
can lynching stop, so long as the provocative
Let these politicians continue their mad
nie:’.!od> am! :»11 Georgia will become an ag
gregation of lynching bees that will in the
end, show n<i more mercy to the pernicious
politician than they do to the brute who is
misled by bis vile campaigning?
The Ati.axta Com.me eci al of Sept. 29th says:
'Hie origin of that infamous Duncan circular
has been tnaced home.
If any fair minded person in the state ever
did doubt that it was distributed from Demo
cratic headquarters with the full knowledge
of (. iiairinan < lay and his corps of advisers
and assistants, there is no longer any room for
that doubt.
Evidence which has just come to light proves
< onelusively if sworn testimony can be relied
upon, tliat the circular was a campaign docu
ment not only distributed from Democratic
headqtiar:-'rs under the personal direction of
Chairman Clay, but was in demand and sent
out in large quantities under theexpressorders
of Major F. E. Callaway, the private secretary
to Governor Atkinson.
This evidence comes in the form of a sworn
statement made by Mr. C. K. Martin, who until
recently was a ch'.-k at Democratic head
quarters-
This statement was made by Mr. Martin in
reply so awri.o ii request addressed to that
gentleman by Captain W. M. Tumlin.a promi
nent insurance man of Atlanta.
in a previous conversation with Captain
Tumlin, Mr. Martin had made similar charges
concerning the distribution of the circular.
Having no reason to regard the conversation
as confidential Captain Tumlin repeated the
charges made by Martin on several occasions.
it was not until he was accused of circulat
ing misrepresentations that Captain Tumlin
determined to secure a written and sworn
statement from Mr. Martin.
This was promptly furnished by Mr. Marlin,
and the correspondence is published exclus
ively by Th*' Commercial today.
It is as follows:
CAPTAIN TUMLIN TO MR. MARTIN.
"Atlanta. Ga.. September lx—Mr. C. E.
Martin. City. Dear Sir:- Some while back v*.u
talked to me with reference to the Adolphus
Dqnean circular, called, 'What Governor At
kinson has done for the colored people.’ You
did not state to me at the time that your infor
mation was confidential. ! have repeated
what you t«>ld me on several occasions, with
holding your name. It has been denied that I
had such information as I gave, and I have
b-. en accused of making *nii.■'Statements.’
"In justice to myself, I request that you
state in writing the facts in your knowledge
about this circular,and your statements to
myself.
"A prompt reply will oblige.
"Yours truly.
(Signed.) "W. M. Tumlin.”
MR. MARTIN’S REPLY.
Atlanta, Ga.. September 23.—Capt. W. M.
Tumlin. City, Dear Sir:—l am in receipt of
yours of this date and in reply the following
Statement embodies the facts:
"I went to work for the Democratic execu
tive committee at headquarters as clerk on
August sth. 1896. ‘
"The duties encumbent on me was the mail
ing and directing circulars and campaign, doc- ~
unients. • ? ?•
"The first document snnt out was a lifter/
calling on different Immcu-rats over tlv v/tiife
tor any information regarding the
the party ami urging all to do their duty? < •!
"Sometime the following week my
wore suspended on account of my
illness This kep‘uie awuv about-three jlayS.
When I returned a new lot of literature had
‘-TThjs tpc
tion:
♦•One circular containing tho state’s flnair?
ei.nl condition; Bryan's New York speech; a
slip containing a list of names of prominent
people who are supporting Atkinson, and a
circular entitled. ‘Whai Governor Atkinson
lias done for the Colored People,’
"These circulars were made up in packages
and distributed over the stat*'.
-The. wording of the circular on the. Ado
lphus Duncan pardon attract' d my attention
and I thought it very bad policy to be distrib
uting such a document.
"Believing this, I took one of the circulars
in my hand and turned to the objectionable
part, and showed it to Hon. A. S. Clay, saying
to him at the time: ‘Mr. Clay, have you seen
this? Do yon think it is going to do us any
good?' To which he replied : ’You go ahead
and send out the circulars, you are not here to
criticise—we will attend to that
"So I continued to send them out. and some
arc still being quietly distributed from Demo
cratic headquarters.
•1 sent out packages of this circular on the
, order of Maj. F. E. Callaway, private secretary
of Governor Atkinson.
"Also. I sent out packages of the same circu
lar on the order of Hon. .1 M. Terrell, attorney
general, who was nt times in head
quarters in the absence of Mr. Clay.
"On or about the llth instant Hon. A. S. Clay
came into the room where w were at work
. and went to the telephone ami called up Attor
ney General Terrell and telephon-d him tlmt
he. Clav. had gotten a telegram from Govr rner
Atkinson, ordering him. Clay, to burnupall
the balance of these circulars.
"Clav then said: ‘Where in the h—l is the
’ balance of tho-e circulars, "What Gov< rnor
’ Atkinson has done for the niggers."
"He then ordered me to bundle them up and
put them in a corner.
’ "These an the facts of th*’transaction and
- are what 1 told you. Os course I don't know
» all that you mav have said about it, but I have
told you these things, and unless you have
1 changed them in some way you have not -mis-
1 stated the facts. lam.
■> "Very trulv,
. (Signed.) "C. E. Martin.”
HE SWEARS IT’S TRUE.
. “Georgia . Fulton County -.—Personally ap
peared before me, Chas. E. Martin, who being
- duly sworn deposes and says that the facts
. stated in a letter of five pages this day written
by him to W. M. Tumlin,are true.
(Signed.) "C. E. Martin.”
‘ Sworn to and subscribed b'for me thia
■ September 28th. 1896.
“C M. King.
“N. P. Fulton County. Ga.
~ The Commercial was the first public journal
0 to expose the infamous character of the Deruo
cratic circular.
•> The exposure, raised such a storm around
c the heads of Governor Atkinson and hiscam
_ paign managers that they found it necessary
some days since to repudiate and deny respon-
1 sibility for the distribution of the circular.
e The first of these remarkable.statements was
made by Governor Atkinson in a letter to Hou.
S. A. Roddrnbery of Thomasville.
o The following is an extract from that letter:
e “ I did not authorize the publication of this
n objectionable statement about which you
l t write, and did not know of it until I saw a
n criticism on it in a newspaper. I then got a
copy, it the statement above quoted,
e and saw that the bare, naked, unexplained
' statement was calculated to demoralize those
° ignorant of the facts in the case, and at once.
e without a moment’s delay, requested Mr. Clay
to use his efforts to prevent further distribu-
1 ‘ tion of the circular. Mr. Clay himself did not
,r read the ci: cular or know of its contents until
I called his attention tn same. All of his time
>f is required to look after engagements for pub
lt He speakers, and to answer correspondence;
o it is, therefore, equally impossible tor him to
i- know the contents of all the literature distrib
y uted by supporters of the Democratic ticket.”
This was followed a few days later by a card
from Chairman Clay from which the follow
j’’ ing extract 13 clipped:
»r “I have had special charge of the speakers
and the bulk of the correspondence, sending
io speakers to every section of the state. This
y. has-consumed almost day and night. The cir-
- cular above referred to I never read nor knew
33 of its contents until Governor Atkinson called
it- my attention to the same. As soon as he cid
le this 1 read the circular carefully. The gov-
c, I (Continued on Fifth Page )