The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-03
A WARM REPLY.
An Atlanta Attorney Refuses to Join q
"Sound Money" Club.

An Atlanta Attorney Refuses to Join
"sound Money" Club.
Mr.. Edgar Latham, a rising young
attorney of Atlanta, wrote the follow
ing hot reply to an invitation to join
the Sound Money" Club of that city:
"Atlanta, Ca, May 25, 1s96.-Hon.
Alex. P. Hull, Secretary Young Mems
Sound Currency Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 23d in
slant, addressed to me has been duly
received. You state in that letter that
you write to me personally to request
me to enroll my name as member
of the Young mems Sound Currency
Club. You also say that the object OF
that organization is to elect sound
money delegation to the State conven-
ton at Macon from Fulton County,
and thereby uphold Atlanta's business
and commercial integrity.
"You also enclose a manifesto and
a postal card with the request that I
sign the card and mail it to you that
my name may be enrolled upon the
membership list.
You further request, if I am al
ready member, that l get some other
sound money man of my acquaint-
ance to join.
I'm reply desire to say that I hope
to see the business and commercial in
terest of Atlanta upheld; and believe
it will be upheld; but I refuse to join
an organization which in my judg-
ment has for its purpose the promotion
Of Republican doctrine in a Southern
Democratic city and State. I have
always been Democrat, am one now,
and remain so, I prefer to cling to the
true traditions and time-honored doc.
trines of my own party, rather than
to join such an organization as be-
lieve yours to be. I cannot ask an
acquaintance of mine to join a,.thing
which I myself would not join.
IL favor the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to 1, and oppose the
single gold standard.
THE people of Georgia will vote for
silver and your club had as well under
take to stop the flow of the Chatta-
hoochee as to check this tidal wave.
II do not believe that your club
will be productive of the result for
for which you hope, but think it
will result in driving many good men
from the Democratic party.
II make this statement in view of
two statements which I heard you
make recently in the presence of sew
eral gentlemen.
"The first statement was, that you
had said on another occasion that all
of the silver leaders should be in the
penitentiary and their in their fol-
lowers in the asylum
1.-The second statement was, that
the country people knew nothing
about the silver question, and the in.
telligence and the refinement OF this
country were in the cities.
IF such utterances as the above
are not enough to infract party har-
mony and organization. would like
to know what is. It seems to me that
you ought to at least accord to your
opponents the same sincerity of pur-
pose and the same degree of intelli-
gence which you claim for yourself.
Fairness requires this.
IF the national Democratic con-
vention adopts free coinage platform
and puts out a Presidential candidate
on that platform you will be in posi-.
ton to stultify yourself by voting for
8 felon and with lunatics, or else bolt
the nomination.
''The gold standard organ, the At
lanta Journal, seems to have consider.
able antipathy for a bolter, and it is
reasonable therefore to presume that
you will vote for a felon and with the
fools, should silver win at Chicago.
II think before your club winds up
you will find yourself even in worse
position than you are now in.
"Allow me to say in conclusion
that I believe that you and your co.
workers are conscientious in your
work, but you are woefully lonesome
in Georgia.
I am, very respectfully,
"EDGAR LATHAM"