The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-03
EVANS IN NEW ROLE.
He Claims That GOV. Turney Is the
Contestnnt.

Chattanooga, Tenn. March 2.-Hon. II.
Clay Evans has made public the following:
In "a number Of letters received by me
in this mornings mail am asked this
question; why do you contcst2 The case
is settled; the judge has charged you out
of court. and the only thing left is the
costs. and why put the state and taxpay-
ers to all this unnecessary expeuse2"
But, my friends. you must remember.
am not the plaintiff; I am the defendant.
and the defendant cannot always dismiss
the cases. I am not the contestant Mr.
Peter Turney commenced this thing. /
am the cOntestee; I was elected. The re-
turns of the election of Nov. 8 last made
by the returning officers (of the ninety
SIX countless. showed that / had the high
est number of votes. and Tennessee's con-
stltuuon says the candidate having the
highest number of votes shall be governor,
and being law-abiding citizen. il is quite
humiiiatine, under the circums tancest to
be compelled to discard the constitution
Of Tennessee and not to act as governor
when entitled to the Office. / want the
good people OF Tennessee to know and I'M
derstand that am not responsible in any
way for this farce; neither am 1 RESPONSE
BILE for the cost that will attend the play
uAlu mat 1 am EnEdEeu III an unequal
contest. The entire power CT the 5 ate gov
eminent is arrayed against me. So far it
is true the militia have not been called
into reuuisition; but II there is any other
portion of the machinery and parapher-
MALTA of the state government that has not
been pressed into service l am not ad-
vised.
am told that not only the coal oil
inspectors, but the entire state revenue
department. the appointees of the con-
troller; the railway tax assessors and
even the state superintendent of public
schools, have abandoned their offices and
official duties and are out in the field
in the capacity of attorneys for Contest
ant Turney, aiding and advising in the
farcical investigation. ] believe l am now
having the distinction of being the first
legally elected governor OF Tennessee or
any other state governor who was ever
accorded the privilege OF being contestee,
while by a special Arrangement under the
forms of law the candidate defeated by
the people is permitted to hold over in the
office, usurp its responsibilities. be bur
dened with its salary and be contestant all
at the same time. Have we a republican
| form of government within the meaning
! of the constitution of the United States
/ In conclusion ] beg leave to remind you
/ that neither my counsel nor myself have
/ done anything from the beginning and
will not to the ending that will IN any
way bring shame upon the good name Of
| thegood people of Tennessee. 1 have made
the fight believing in the right and JUS
I tice of our cause strictly within the
| limits of the law and the constitution,
and | trust that heraftcr when the par
tisan clouds of political hatred and in
justice have cleared away that you may
| approve my course and become convinced
/ that l made a creditable defense of the
rights of the people of the state. Your
! most obedient servant. IL Clay Evans.