People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-05
Mr.. Atkinson in. Atlanta.

Atkinson has spoken in Atlanta, dis
%gusted his audience with his wheed-
s3ing, and left disguised with himself.
Fhe closing gun of the democratic
campaign fired Tuesday night by w. 7.
Atkinson, candidate for governor at
DeGive's Marietta Street opera house
in the presenre of 96S people by actual
count, despite democratic claims of
2,00O,
The crowd was about equally tdi-
/. 'vided between the populists and demo-
J. Gratis. as was evidenced by the APP
plause.
At no time did Mr. Atkinson have
the sympathy of his audience. lie Ia
bored hard from beginning to end, but
aroused no enthusiasm.
The whole speech consisted of big IL
9JId little ''l.''
( Mr.. Atkinson made no votes for
{ democracy. Such was the contrast be-
I tween his meeting and reception to
that of Mr.. Watson on the night be-
fore.
MIR. Watson made many votes for
Hines. and Mr.. Atkinson has added
Others.
! The only time the audience all
cheered together was when either At
J kinson or some one of the numerous
members of the audience who fired
QUESTIONS O1Il, were HGSidllJ why
or clever at repartee.
During his denunciation of the popu-
list platform and explanation of the
democratic planlts, the audience lis
tened attentively. but did not shower
upon the speaker the round after round
+ of applause that was expected
! President VIII Black of the Young
Mems Democratic League told story
predicted Atllinson's success in Fulton
county and introduced to the audience
Hon. Albert Cox who was 10 introduce
the speaker of the evening.
I Mr. Cox criticized Mr.. Wateon's
speech OF the previous night and icied
to show the fallacy of the populist
platform and its impracticabillty. He
discoursed in eloquent tones upon all
I that democracy could do, but had not
done and then introduced Colonel At
kinson.
Some irrepressible questloner in the
Faudience Immediately threw at Mr.. At
( kinson the question, what do you
{ think of b. r. Iillman, of South Caro-
4 lima" Mr.. Cox had also been con-
fronted with this serious awe-inspiring
question, but he had refused to be in
terviewed on the subject Mr.. Atkin-
son also went on record as declining to
either eulogize or defame the leader of
Z the democracy of our neighboring
4 state.
He attacked the leaders of the third
party and in sneering tones referred to
General James B. Weaver, whom the
democrats have endorsed for con-
gress,'' put in some one in the audience
/, and the crowd yelled.
) The first part of Mr.. Atl1inson's
4 speech was devoted to an attempt to
disprove the charge that he was against
Atlanta. He stated that during the cam
paign previous to the primary he had
declared himself against the Atlanta
politicians, but sincethey had been sup
porting him. he had concluded that
they were q very clever lot of people,
and if they would stick to him (Atkin-
SOM he thought they would ultimately
Z be above suspicion.
MIR. Atkinson had no hesitancy or
modesty in telling the audience what
he thought of himself and what he
would do if elected. He even went SO
far as to promise the presence of Grover
Cleveland at the opening of the exposi-
ton.
There were numerous and loud cries
for Atkinson's position on the
silver question. At first he de-
elined to so into it, but after
being hard pressed he adroitly
gave q history of the silver legislation
without committing himself, and then
= asked i'll dramatic tones, ''Where does
the third party stand ?" The answer
tcanae quick $50 t0 l. sail s&Eae one
in the audience. and the cheering was
loud and prolonged, where are you
at?n The speaker again clevefly
lodged the issue and talked all around
the subject without defining his posi-
ton.
He defended his vote against the sol
dier's homo by saying that he repre-
sented the people of Coweta county
and it was not to their interest to ac-
!. cept the proposition. He also stated
I for the benefit of the audience that he
had voted as much money to the CON
federate soldiers as any member of the
legislature.
His speech in its entirety was glow
{ ing eulogy of himself without defining
his position on any of the serious ques-
sions of the day. He descended to mud
singing with all the grace of one ac-
customed to the practice and instead
Of pointing out the alleged incousis-
teneies of the populist platform, he en-
deavored to prejudice his hearers
against it by ridicuIe.
Loud calls We're made for Colonel II.
w. j. Ham, who was on the platform
and who responded with short speech
asking all democrats to work hard for
their ticket and the defeat of populism
Thus ends the campaign and the vot-
ing begins.