The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-06-04
FANNIN COUNTY'S FLIP.
THE PEOPLE BOUNCED TIVE MA-
CHINE POLITICIANS
And storm the County for Evans-Other
Counties Act Throughout the State.
Weeks Summary nj the Situation.

Blue Ridge, Ca, May 30.-(Special )-Fan-
min county goes for Exams, and 1t is the
most pronounced triumph Of the people
over the politicians recorded in Georgia for
many day.
II all occurred in a mass meeting. and
though the Evans protested against
such a mass meetins, and wanted a primary,
they were forced to the mass rae .ting rack
on forty-eight hours notice, and everything
was fixed to make them witness the humil-
iating spectacle of pulling u string which
was to deliver the delegation o. the county,
against the wish Of the People, TO Atkinson
for governor.
But the people simply kicked out Of har-
ness and swamped the politicians who had
fixed the deal. and the result is that Evans
carries the county by majority OF twelve
votes. the vote being 165 for Evans and 153
fer Atkinson. The Evans men are jupilant,
and they have cause 10 be, because 1t is
the most brilliant victory of the campaign,
even exceeding that in Telfair, where the
people had some chance, while here 1t was
thought they would have none at all.
The story OF the DenI.
This is how it ell happened: This Is court
week in Fannin. and as usual, the mill be-
gan to grind on Monday. Judge Gober ar
rived in due time, and with him came So
licitor General Brown. The county execu-
tive committee had been called to meet on
that date and it was found that, by the
careful manipulation of proxies, what would
ordinarily have been Evans committee,
became Atkinson committee when 1t got
down to business. So the politicians simply
had their own way, and instead OF giving
the people of the county lair chance an
nounced that mass meeting would be
held forty-eight hours thereafter for the
purpose of electing delegates to the guher-
material convention, the mass meeting be-
ing called for today "wednesday while court
still on hand.
The news OF the action of the committee
was received with absolute ama2ement by
the Evans men in town. They saw that
court was in session and that with its en-
tire machinery openly and actively at work
for Atkinson and pronouncedjy determined
To capture the county for him, it would be
a terrible undertaking to summon the peo-
pie from throughout the county and have
them on hand on forty-eight hours notice,
ONLY tw2nty-four of which would be day
light.
Over the Mountains.
Fannin county is peculiarly formed and is
q large county. The fastest horse that
runs the turf could scarcely carry a mes
senger from the upper end of the county to
the lower over towering mountain ranges,
and get back to the starting point in forty
eight hours. With the exception of the
Marietta and North Georgia railroad, which
passes through the narrowest portion of
the county, the other parts of the county
are without railroad facilities and to reach
the people it IS necessary to go over the
mountains. BY mail it sometimes takes
two or three days to get letter from one
part OF the county to another.
But the Atkinson men had set their
chine and the politicians not being willing
to give the people fair showing, deterntn-
ed that the county should be delivered to
Atkinson. They did not want the people
TO participate, because as a general thing
those in The country districts who were not
under the direct domination of the court
house ring were for Evans and it was
these people whose presence not
especially expected.
But &'Iaey Came in Drovcs.
The news of the action of the committee
spread like wild fire. The country people
heard about i'll and were indignant. The
farmers dubbed together, punched their
wagons, and proceeded over the mountains
to the meeting.
Those who had set the trap were amazed
al the response which had been made on
forty-eight hours notice, end they are alb
solutely dismayed at the result.
AS It Is, the people are thoroughly enjoy
ing the situation to the extreme discomfort
of those who had arranged little game
which did not work, and which while it
failed in Fannin, has been pushed to sue
cess in other counties in the state.
Tried to Steal the County.
Blue Ridge, Ga, May 31.-(Special )-One
OF the most outrageous and his5h-handed
efforts at political trickery ever attempted
in this section was sprung upon the people
here today by the Atkinson ring in their
attempt to steal the vote Of Faunn county
for Atkinson after it had gone for General
Evans in open mass meeting.
The Atkinson ring had confidently ex-
pected to capture the mass meetinzg They
failed to do so. Today, after the good citi-
2ens of the county who came up to vote
Tor Evans, had returned to their home
the ring trumped up a little back room
caucus, declared that the mass meeting
was not fair and decided to send contcstius
Atkinson delegates to the Convention. They
made no protest at the mass meeting fully
realizing that it was for Evans. The peo-
pie Of the county are indignant a this
back room caucus action and the chairman
Of the county executive committee holds
the credentials for the Evans delegates.
The attempt to fCdst the Atkinson delegates
upon the people against their win is moth
ing more than fiasco, which will have Il
boomerang effect.