Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-10
GEORGIA CONTEST
THE SITUATION EXPLAINED BY AC''r
ZEN OF THAT STATE.
WIN General Clement A. Evans and Hon.
w. Y. Atkinson Area Spirited
Fight.

headed Georgia" In which you reter "
IN. nenalnp contest for the Democratic
nomination for Governor OF the Empire
state. deductions and conclusions arc
| drawn from an article In the Aos"''"
ma1 Chronicle. from which you quote
which do not give true ana compie'e
idea ~ the situation. The conclusions
YOU draw andsthe position you take arc
very naturally reached. since you view
the situation from a distant stahupo'"'.
Being a Georgian, sojournins Ia 'o''
city. who has had and Is now having 'he
pleasure OF taking a part in the 'eors'"
oannaipn. I write this with the hope that
IT may give your readers who are inte-
rested in Georgia and Georgia ma''ei'
an idea OF the race from q local stand
point.
In this particular matter. IL Is ho' 'e'y
safe to take on faith the statements "a
the Chronicle, for two reasons-hrs., pc
| cause IL is highly pretudieed IN ueh Is.
| Evans's favor, by reason OF the lae VIC.
| Augusta was the Generals nome lot
number Of wears. and that he has many
| influential relatives and friends In that
/ CITY. second because the Chronicle is
| edited by Hon. Patrick Walsh, onited
| States senator from Georgia, VINO - Nh
| able and honorable gentleman, put who
| Is much more deeply Interested IN ma
| tional affairs than In the race tor 1o'-
| ernor OF Georgia.
You say: I'VE have endeavoreu TO hlu
out how these gentlemen stand on the
| ouastIon Of sustaining the administration
| of Mr. Cleveland" 1t Is not very dlni-
| cult matter for one who has heard ooth
| gentlemen speak, and has read NUMBER
| OF speeches from each, to state their po-
sitions with reference TO national anairs
very briefly.
| WHERE ATKINSON STANDS.
Mr.. Atkinson Stands on the Chicago
| platform, as expounded to the people In
| is92; fayors the income-tax, and Is against
| the issue of bonds" and distinctly states
| that he does not stand on the Chicago
| platform. as its meaning has been warped
TO suit the purposes OF Democrats from
| different sections. representing yer!
varied and antagonistic interests
General Evans Stands on the Chicago
| platform. and favors an income-tax levied
| ON certain incomes. provided 1t Is found
| necessary 10 pass an income-tax bill by
reason of a decrease in the national reve-
nues."
You say:
ITO find the Atlanta Constitution advo-
eating the nomination of General Evans
is to suggest the possibility that Evans -
an NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. man. On the other
hand, to find the Atlanta Journal advocat-
ing General Evans's nomination Is TO sug-
gsst the possibility that he is an admin
istration man."
1t Is true that that Is a very strange
state of affairs, when II is remembered
that the Constitution arraigns the admin
istration with as much vehemence as any
Popuist or Republican paper In the
country. and that the Journal Is an ad-
mlnlstration organ whose president Is a
Cabinet officer but the matter Is easily
explained when it Is remembered that
General Evans was brave Confederate
soldier, has been one OF the ablest Metho-
dist ministers In the State for the past
twenty-eight years, now. having retired
from the ministry. lives In Atlanta, and
is gentleman without reproach Of char
acter. Both OF those papers declare now,
as they do the lion and lamb act that
national politics should not enter into the
selection Of the Democratic nominee for
Governor of Georgia, and since they are
OF this opinion, and General Evans lives
in Atlanta, these papers are supporting
him; but 1t places the General between
the devil and the deep. blue sea" He
has TO guard his expressions concerning
national affairs with much care, less he
offend either the one or the other.
THE TWO CANDIDATES.
4 few words sketching the lives OF the
two candidates will not prove uninterest-
ing.
General Clement \. Evans was admitted
10 the bar "A few years before the war.
had been State senator one term just be-
n served through the
making a brilliant record and being shot
more than once, entered the ministry In
1866, preached until a few years since.
when he married a wealthy widow and
retired from active service. holding
mere nominal position In the North Geor-
gia Methodist Conference.
Hon. w. Y. Atkinson, OF Newman. was
admitted to the bar about 1873. lie was
soon recognized as one Of the best attor-
neys OF his part OF the State. For the
past ten years he has represented his
county in the lower branch OF the Legis-
lature. was known as one OF It's ablest
members, for four years has been chair
man Of the State Democratic Executive
Committee. for two years past has been
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives,
and has served the State in other capac-
ties.
Although General Evans seems TO be a
little more in line with Mr. Cleveland's
policy. yet the defeat or election OF
either candidate viii neither be an en-
dorsement or population of the admins
tration's policy. The fight in Georgia Is
not on that line. Many side issues enter
into the campaign, and the fight Is very
bitter one, simply because L Is so close.
But the main point argued In the cam
paign is that OF fitness for the office.
Ar. Atkinson's friends maintaining that
General Evans. by reason of the fact
that he has been in no way connected
with public affairs for the past twenty
eight years is not fitted for the high
office OF Governor, and holding that he
(Mr Atkinson) Is well equipped by ex-
perience and ability for that position.
General Evans's friends simply hold that
he is well-htted for the governorship,
and then the fight goes into the private
and public lives OF the two candidates.
THE ATLANTA CLIQUE.
Mr.. Atkinson does not. as you say.
denounce "the Atlanta clique. and pre-
tend TO think that Atlanta rules the
State" He simply denounces the means
used by General Eyans's Atlanta Cam
paim Committee TO bring about his de-
feat by the use OF a large fund subscribed
principally by few Atlanta politicians,
with the figures, 1000, opposite the name
of General c. A. Evans as starter.
General Evans has not denied this At
the same time. General Evans's friends
claim that Mr.. Atkinson has large
fund at his disposal, but such has not
been shown as in the case OF the Evans
fund. Hence your grounds for calling
Atkinson demagogue are unfounded.
The fight will be one to the finish.
When General Evans announced himself
there was little thought that he would
have opposition, and when Mr.. Atkinson
entered the race the Generals friends
stated publicly that Atkinson would not
carry one-sixth OF the counties. How
ever, Mr.. Atkinson took the lead at the
start, and holds 1t TO the present There
will be $50 votes in the convention, which
meets August Cd. or these Dir. Atkinson
has 81. while General Evans has IS.