The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-06-13
RING RULE.
points.

Some people seem surprised at the
strength Col. Atkinson has developed in
this campaign, says the Gwinnett Herald.
If they will stop to consider moment
they will find no ground for surprise.
1t is a well-known fact that there is
great ring in Georgia. 1t has been
organized for four years, and is composed
of leading politicians all over the state.
It's footprints could be seen four years
ago when the legislature assembled and
entered on the election of its officers.
Two years ago it had grown to such pro-
portions that no man who was not IN the
combination could expect to be elected
to any Office by the general assembly.
This log-ro ling, horse-swapping, trading
spirit had complete control. Good men
were defeated. Good men who saw that
their only hope of success YVES in sharp
trading retired from the race in disgust.
This corruption was publicly denounced
by the press at the time as disgrace to
the state, and as the beginning of the dis
Indignation of the party in this state.
The great mass of the people who were
not informed did not believe it. They
thought this hue and cry came from dis
appointed men, but they were mistaken.
The ring rule that controlled the legis-
lature in the selection of state officers
permeated every section of the state. It
was very appropriately referred to by
Mr.. Atkinson in his circular as ''the men
who control" It's organization is found
in every county in Georgia today.
1t is not Atkinson, but the ring, that is
handling the wires, and, shrewd poli-
ticians that they are, they are working it
} well. Every Office from United States
senator down, it is said, is pledged t.
men inside the combination, and if they
succeed no man need apply for any place
who is not in the ring. 1t is battle
for the control of the state as long as the
democratic party remains in power.
The gubernatorial contest has only
served to show the people the truth of
the charge publicly made two years ago.
1t is well understood that IL Atkinson
succeeds the combination is a success;
if he fails, it goes to the wall
THE democrats of Fulton county had
mass meeting Saturday, and an admin
istratioh and anti-administration fight
was made of it. Captain E. P. Howell,
of the Atlanta Constitution, was elected
chairman of the meeting, and it was evil
dent right from the start that the anti
administration folks had the day. The
fun began when Editor F. 81. Richard
son, of the Atlanta Journal, confident Of
smooth sailing, sprung a resolution en-
dorsing Mr.. Cleveland and his inserpre-
tation Of the Chicago platform, and
pledging him the loyalsupport. Of the par
ty. The Trojan horse gave mighty
beIch aud swept Mr.. Richardson and his
resolution clean out of sight, while Mr..
Clark Howell mounted bench and
cried hallalujah. With final flourish of
lung power a resolution criticising the
administration was adopted by vote of
more than three to one. The meeting is
said to have been the largest ever held in
Fulton county.
GOVERNOR TILLMAN made a sensible
speech at Augusta. He declared that
Southern farmers would not prosper as
long as they spent six moths in the year
trying to kill the grass in their
fields, and the next SIX months in