Evening star., 1896-09-28
G EOR GIA'S POLITICS
A Sensation Uaused by a Campaign Cir
cular.
democrats Fear That 1t VIII Cause
Their Defeat-A Sudden Change
in State Issues
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

ATLANTA, September a. 1895.
There is an old story familiar to all
Georgians, al least, about a parrot which
talked too much" The story has a
moral, but failure to observe has got the
democratic party in general, and some of
the politicians in particular, in grave trou-
BILE. Really, the election of the state ticket
has been imperflled, and the whole issue
between the democrats and the populists In
this state has been suddenly changed. 1t
all came about through what is known as
the rape circular" or Duncan circular.
This was a short circular containing a
resume of certain things which Governor
Atkinson has done for the negroes during
his administration. After reviewing the
governors interest in the negro school sys-
tenn and reciting his investigation of the
penftentiary system to that the black
prisoners obtained the same treatment
corded to the white convicts. the circular
mentioned some pardons of negroes which
the governor had granted. Among these
was the pardon of Adolphus Duncan, who,
it is stated, was twice convicted of rape on
white woman, and was under sentence Of
death at the time of the pardon.
Atkinson and Clay Explain.
The populists have taken up this part of
the circular and are using 1t all over the
state to excite race feeling and DISCUS:
among the whites at the indelicacy of the
such literature from campaign headquar-
ters. Many of the democratic papers of the
state criticised Chairman Steve Clay and
Governor Atkinson for allowing the matter
10 be distributed. First one and then the
other made public statements, declaring
that they did not know the circular was be-
ing sent out Then the populists got pho
tograph of a letter bearing Mr.. Clay's Sig
nature, and the letter stated that some
circulars were inclosed on What Governor
Atknson Has Done for the Negro" More
explanations were necessary, and the gov
ernor wrote card saying that he was so
busy making speeches over the state and
attending to his duties at the capitol that
he had no time to watch the literature sent
out from headquarters. Chairman Clay
wrote letter saving that he was SO busy
getting speakers and answering correspond
epce that he had no time to superintend the
literature, and, as consequence, 1t was
left to the clerks to look after.
The whole matter has created a great
sensation over the state. Prominent demo-
Gratis write from all sections that the cir
cular is driving votes from the democratic
party. The explanations did not explain
satisfactorily. and things are in bad shape
Will Cost the Party 10000 Votes.
Congressman Charles Bartlett of the
sixth district. who was here day or two
ago. said that he had been all over Georgia.
and he heard Of the circular" everywhere.
He estimated that ii would reduce the
democratic majority 10000 votes. Mai j.
F. Hanson, prominent republican, said
last night that the circular would defeat
Atkinson and elect Seab Wright. Hanson
told Clay in the kimball House lobby that
it was a bad break. This is admitted bv
all the democrats. Mr.. Clay takes IL 10
heart very much, too, although he did not
have anything to do with the preparation
of the paper, and he says that he never
read it until he noticed the criticisms on it.
Judge ice Turner, the principal speaker of
the penitentiary, admits that he wrote the
damaging letter, but says that he presumed
every one was familiar with the facts in the
case. and did not mention that the supreme
court had twice ordered Duncan q new
trial. and that the judge who tried him and
the prosecuting officer who convicted him
asked fer his pardon, believing that he was
innocent.
The circular would not have made much
of sensation if the democrats had onlv
stood up to 1t, and, instead of trying to
escape from responsibility for it. had boldly
stated the facts. shown that Duncan was
innocent, and that his pardon was an act
OF simple justice to poor, helpless negro
who had been made the victim of a con-
spiracy. which. it is asserted. was the
truth. Very few voters outside the cities
have read the original circular. but all over
the state they have read criticisms and
garbled versions Of 1t. until they have come
to believe that it is something horrible.
Col. Lester's Condition.
Representative R. E. Lester. who had an
apoplectic stroke at his home in Savannah
last week. is improving slightly, but his
physicians cannot say what the result
will be. In the event of a vacancy in the
first district the sound money men would
run candidate. but all the counties out
side of Chatham are for silver. and sound
money man could not be nominated. One
might make an independent race however
Chairman 7. F. Corrigan of the state
sound money campaign committee has
headquarters here. He says that there will
be no congressional contests by his party
this year, and he will devote himself simply
to the Palmer-Buckner ticket. No part will
be taken in the state campaign. At heart
the sound money men are cold toward Gov
Atkinson because he is for silver and Bry-
an. Up at the Chicago convention the gov
ernor was not 16 to l man, but he came
out strongly for the legal ratio after the
national convention.