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FTW' TH£ FLOWEftS Thu Peoples Party Paper ______ 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 )