The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-14
THAT GREAT FUSS IN ATLANTA, GA.
1t Is Only a Piece of Democratic
Political Tactics.
There Were Five Negroes In the Of
flee Under Cleveland,
And Now the White Young BIoods
Get Their Guns for One.

WASHINGTON, August 13.-Acting Post
master General Clarkson said today in re-
gard to the appointment of a negro clerk by
Postmaster Lewis of Atlanta, Ca, which re-
suited in much excitement and the burning
in effigy of Postmaster Lewis and General
Buck, the leading Republican of the State.
''The story as printed in Atlanta papers and
sent north was to the effect that Postmaster
Lewis had appointed a negro clerk and as
signed him to duty at the same desk with a
young white woman. The real facts are,
that after General Lewis's appointment as
postmaster one of the registry clerks re-
signed. The postmaster appointed Charles
G. Penny, colored man who stood at the
head of the civil service list Of eligibles, as
he was compelled by law to do. Penny was
assigned to work in the registry division, but
not in the same room with the young lady.
The young lady and her father, who was
superintendent of the registry division and
had the assignment of clerks, both resigned,
simply because negro was appointed to a
place in the office, not because an attempt
was made to place negro at the same desk
with the young lady. From this grew all
the trouble in Atlanta and the effort to
utilize the incident for party prejudice. The
insincerity of this cry is shown by the fact
that there were five negro clerks in the At
lanta post office under Democratic post
master for six years, while young white
stamps to all people, black and white
There Is nothing in the matter Tor the de-
partment to act upon, and nothing in the ac-
tion of Postmaster Lewis to be objected to
by fair minded people.
Armed Men PatrolIlng the Streets Of
Atlanta.
ATLANTA, Ga, August 13.-Gov Gordon
was called upon to disperse a crowd of prob
ably thousand people last night, and by his
action lie prevented what might have been
riot or race war.
1t all grew out of the post office trouble
and the effigy burnings which followed.
1t was reported that a crowd of negroes,
500 strong,was forming in all the negro parts
of the city. This had the effect of stirring
up the young whites, and a thousand of
them, all heavily armed, met in the center of
the city.
A squad of 80 men, armed with Winches-
ters, was sent out TO investigate. For two
hours the business portion of the city was
filled with armed men. The police force
was doubled and preparations were made
for trouble.
The scouting party reported no disturb
ance, but the crowd was not satisfied and
stayed on the streets to await developments.
The scene on the streets ON Atlanta last
night havelperhaps not been excelled since
the war. The Atlanta Rifles, white mill
tary company, were ordered to their armory
and instructed to have on hand 800 rounds Of
ammunition.
The negroes, seeing that the whites were
in majority, made no attempt to carry out
any designs they may have had. The whites
followed and paraded the streets until Gov.
Gordon made his appearance and begged
them to. disperse, saying that the police
would take care of the negroes and the peace
Acting on this advice they dispersed.