The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-01
ATKINSON TO IRWIN.
he REPLIES TO TIE POPULIsr IN
VIGOROUS STYLE.


He Has No Authority to Dictate TO the
People Who Shall Manage Their
Eectious-The Law Leaves 1t to the
Communities Interested-He Eas No
objection to a Division of Managers
by the Authorities-Democ IN
Favor of Open and Free Elections.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 30.-Chairman Nj.
D. Irwin Of the executive committee Of the
Peoples party to-day received letter from
Chairman Atkinson of the democratic state
committee, IN reply to a letter which the
PEOPLES party man had written TO demand
that Col. Atkinson see to it that there was
sn equal division of managers in the ap-
preaching election for state officers, so that,
In Mr.. Irwin's language, there
might not be a repetition Of the
recent Alabama frauds. Col. Atkinson
treats the demand # the third party leader
in a rather vigorous style, and his letter
will be read with q great deal of interest all
over the state.
COL. ATKINsON's REPLY.
hon. NJ. d. htoin, Chairman Peoples Party
Executive Committee, atlanta, Ga:
DEAR S1R-Yours of the 18th inst came duly
20 hand I have been absent so much from
democratic headquarters that while there my
entire time has been required to attend to such
pressing matters as come properly within the
bounds Of my authority chairman Of the
democratic state executive committee. have,
therefore, been compelled to delay attending 20
those matters which do not come within the
purview of my powers as g party official.
NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CHARGE.
Your letter implies, if it does not positively
charge, that there is a possibility OF fraud be-
ing committed in the approaching election.
There Is nothing in the history OF the state nor
in the character Of our people to justify such a
charge. 1t is unwarranted and untrue, and IL
defense of the people of the state, repel your
insinustions. The laws Of Georgia regulating
elections have long been OF force, and provide
for the holding OF elections so openly that any
man who feels an interest may look on and see
every ballot cast and counted.
A DIVISION OF MANAGERS.
These laws are ample to protect the voter and
the candidate. In the approaching state &C.
ton, where more than one party presents good
and true men whose characters are guarantees
that the election will be honestly and capably
managed, and who are qualified under the law
TO act, think 1t will give more general salts
faction for the members of no political party to
assume entire management az the polls. Where
such men are presented hope that a division
of managers will be agreed upon by
the authorities having charge Of the matter.
MUST Be LEFT TO THH COUNTIES.
The choice Of managers is left by law to the
people OF the respective communities interested,
and we must rely upon each community to
place the control Of the election In the hands Of
men who will see that each individual has the
right to cast his vote in accordance with his
wishes, and that every vote Is counted as cast
To guarantee this result it is more important to
look to the character OF the men who manage
the election than TO their political Affiliations.
NO AUTHORITY IN THE NATTER
There is no authority conferred upon me,
either by law or usage, to dictate to the people
by whom its elections shall be managed, and
for me to presume TO do so would be an offlcious
interference with the rights of the communi-
ties; and | shall not Rrrogate to myself such
unwarranted authority. The Democratic party
and myself as its representative, are and have
ever been in favor Of perfectly fair,
OPEN AND FREE ELECTIONS
under the laws governing the same. and my In
dividual exertions have been and shall be freely
contributed to accomplish this end / have no
doubt that the control of the election precincts
will be placed In the hands OF men who possess
the confidence Of the communities in which
they live, and who will so conduct the election
that no sincere man will question the result as
officially announced. Yours very truly,
W. Y. ATKINSON, Chairman