The Portland daily press., 1889-09-30
he WAS HANGED IN EFFicY.
Col. Buck, a Native of Maine, Talks
of Southern Politics.

AUGUSTA, September 2S.-Among the dis
tlnguished gentlemen who have visited the
State the past summer is Col. A. E. Buck,
one of the most prominent Republicans of
the South, and resident of Atlanta, Ga.
Col. Buck is Maine man, and is possessed
with strong Northern ideas and opinions.
He was born in Foxcroft in 1887, graduated
from Colby in 1859, and served with distinc-
tion in the rebellion. After the war he went
South, taking up his abode in Mobile. Ala,
where he became engaged in the turpentine
and rosin business. He continued this Oper
alton with considerable financial success.
until the year 1867, when his entire business
stand was destroyed by fire at the hands of
the Southern Democrats, who committed the
deed in payment of alleged suggestions
made by him to the people that they had
better go in for reconstruction of the State
After this event COL Buck engaged in poll
tics. and IN 1869 was member of the Ma
tional House from the State of Alabama.
For the past II years, Col Buck has been
a citizen of Georgia He was prominently
mentioned for position in President Harri-
sons cabinet and is at present chairman of
the Republican State committee. Col. Buck
gave most interesting account of the polit-
cal situation in Georgia and of the burning
OF himself In effigy, an event which took
place On the evening of the 8th of August in
the public square in front of the post office
building at Atlanta. Col. Buck in answer
to an inquiry of the reporter regarding the
"Yes, was burned in effigy with that of
Gen. j.. r. Lewis, postmaster of Atlanta. 1t
was ON the evening of the Sth of August at
about s O'clock"
WAS it con the eve of any election, or
mo it was not prior to any political con
test whatever. The matter started In the
appointment by Postmaster Lewis of a
negro to serve in the register department. of
the Office. 1t was for this cause that they
burned Gen. Lewis and / was burned in
efigy on general principles or as the Gen
erals advisor in the appointment when in
point of truth had nothing to do with it
and knew nothing about it.
"By what methods were they incltedp
"The Democratic press of Atlanta, especi-
ally the Atlanta Constitution, being a pro-
lection paper, had lost caste with the Demo-
cratic organization in the State for that rea
son and were suspected of being tco much in
harmony with leading Republicans in the
State. In order to recover their lost ground
they have Deen making use of the question
of negro domination and to condone for be-
ing protectionists melted pullic sentiment
against leading Republicans which resulted
in the effigy business.
"Do they attack you personality"
"Yes they have attacked me for being a
dictator as to the patronage in Georgia
charging me with putting carpet baggers in
office, when in fact there has been scarcely
man OF northern Dlrtn appointed 10 an
Office in the State under the present admin
istration. The main object seems to be to
make the cry of negro domination so loud
aud so strong as to mold the protection DEM
ocrats in the State from uniting with the
Republicans because should they break from
the Democratic party they could no longer
hold the State solid. and we should then
have fair elections and their stock in trade
''the negro question" would be lost sight of.
Col. Buck says the Republicans hope to
carry two congressional districts largely
populated by white people next year.