The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-04-22
JUDGE GRIGGS' LETTER
IN REPLY TO THE RECENT ATTACK
UPON HIM

By Candidate Walters. Assures His Friends
That His Campaign Is in Fine
Shape.
70 the Democrats of the Second dis
trict-It is due to you that make reply
to the open letter of Mr.. J. w. Walters,
which was given to the press in reply to
communication from me to him looking
to the establishment of harmony among
the free coinage element of the demo-
cratic party in this district, and which,
itself, was in reply to communication
from him offering to retire from the
race in case would do the same. l have
thus far in this campaign carefully re-
Trained from entering into any contro-
versy which might create breach in the
ranks of the free coinage advocates, and
did decline joint debate with Mr.. Wal
ters at Georgetown for the reason that
we agree on the only question which
makes division in the democratic party.
| Ehave not even replied to the charges
made by him against me in several parts
Of the district We uldn't now trouble
you with this j! all of you knew both of
us. Unfortunately this is not the case.
and it becomes my duty to myself and to
the friends who have SO generously CIV
en- me their support to answer such of
his accusations as are worthy of reply.
[ give in this connection my letter to
Hon. III. M. Mcintosh, which explains
itself, and | ask you as faIr-m'nded, hon
est men, interested in the success OF free
coinage, to say whether it is not a fair
proposition and one calculated to pro
duce harmony in our ranks.
eff, as the gentleman suggests, have
friends among the representative free
silver men in this district who will CON
sent to nothing and agree to nothing ex-
cept my retention in the race that is
not my fault but my good fortu0e, and
am glad that am blessed with such. If,
on the other hand, my friend can't find
men like these to represent him in a
conference, that is not my fault but his
misfortune, and shows his bad judgment
in sticking to hopeless race. The ad-
vocates OF the gold standard say that
and say, try it and see. He says such
a conference as is proposed by me is i'm
practicable. say, try it and see. My
proposition is still open and the list of
gentlemen to whom be refers as under
the spell of my political juglery' is still
in the hands of Mr.. Mcintosh. I have
told the gentle nan how he can get it. 1
tell him now this much: It has on it
over $50 names, and there is not man
named from Terrell or Dougherty coun-
ty. If it be true that all these repre-
sentative men are under the spell of nv
political jugglery' and would consent
to nothing but my retention in the race
am very proud of the fact and thank
my friend for suggesting it.
"The gentleman charges that am MT
Tree coinage man from conviction.
presume he is the Lord Amounted
confess have never had a Saul Tar
sus conversion on this or any other ques
ton. My opinions on the financial cues
ton were carefully formed and my con
illusions deliberately reached, and they
first found expression in my vote for the
Patterson amendment to the silver plank
OF the democratic platform in the ma
tional convention of 1892, which propos-
ed an unequlvocal declaration for free
coinage. What was the gentleman's po-
sition on this question at that time?
sit is not true that am supporting
Mr.. duBignon for the senate. 1t is true
that my personal relations with him
have for years been of the closest char
acter. He has been my friend and |
have been his friend. am glad to saw
that there now exists between us person
ally the most cordial friendship, but he
neither expects or desires that I sacrifice
my convictions to my personal friend
ship for him. | am also glad that am
broad enough to differ with my friend on
economic pI oblems and at the same time
hold him in high esteem. I am, as all
who have heard me in the second dis
trict know, making square, straight
fight for free coinage, and / have shown
my willingness to sacrifice my own per-
sonal ambition should it be considered
by the friends of free coinage in the dis
trict necessary to the success of the
cause. Mr.. Walters declines to accept
advice from the people most interested
in the proper solution CT this ques-
ton.
LAS to the matter of passes, I am
frank enough to say that 90 not desire
the support of any man who believes
that the possession of railroad pass
will influence my opinion or affect nv
position, and in this connection would
like to ask if my friend, Mr.. Walters.
ever used a railroad pass? If not, he
can criticise Tne with better grace.
81 dismiss the Hill and Cleveland mat
ter with this question: If my action on
that occasion was so grave political
crime, why did the gentleman with a
full knowledge of all the facts after.
wards Voluntarily indOrse me for Judge