The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-16
ATKINSON AND THE VETERANS
HIS TRIP TO RICHMOND CAUSING
A GOOD DEAL OF TALK.

The Veterans OF Fulton County Ia
BILE Resolutions CensurinE the
Governor for His Instrumentation
the Trouble Was Brought AbOut
Through Letter Addressed TO
Him by n Member OF the Coincide
rate Veterans Association OF Full
ton County.
Atlanta. Ga. June Gov. Atkinsons
trip TO the approaching reunion of the
union confederate veterans at Richmond
July / with his military stan is causing
some commotion among the veterans OF
the state. some of the veterans take the
position that the governor should not
go TO the reunion. as his presence there
would be an insult to the old soldiers
as he took occasion, during his CAM
paign for governor. two years ago. 10
say some things that the old soldiers
could never forget or forgive.
Tonight the Fulton county veterans
held a largely attended meeting at which
the governors trip to Richmond was
brought up by the Introduction OF reso-
lutlons censuring his alleged sentiment
rejecting upon the veterans, and callins
upon him 10 abandon his intention 20
resolutions We're however, promptly ta-
bled without discussion Oy unanimous
vote, the local camp or veterans having
accepted the governors denial Of the
sentiments attributed to him.
The governors trouble with the Veter-
ans was brought bout by a letter address
Cook, member of the Fulton County As
ISOLATION, in which the veteran said i'm re-
ference TO his contemplated trip TO Rich
mOnd. In a speech delivered i'm Rome !
%
sition you now occupy, you declared your
self sick and tired of this confederate !
sentiment and longed TO see it buried |
Ihat very confeuerate sentiment &C |
tuates those who viii assemble ina Rich
mOnd to build a monument to their beloV-
ed chieftan and whose hearts warming { o |
their old comrades of long ago when fight
ing for the same confederate sentiment |
you SO bitterly condemn. They went foot
the largest and best equipped army then /
in the world and fOE four years man
tained the unequal contest, and then lost T
all, save their honor and their love and /
admiration for that very confederate sem |
timent.'
The public career of your excellencv /
has been marked by one continuous eff 1
fort to destroy and bury that confederate /
sentiment with a zeal and pertiuacity /
worthy Of nobler and more hallowed |
You followed relentlessly the confed-
crate home 10 its death. But enough OF /
this. Governor, where viii your place be 1
during any of the ceremonies observed /
in Richmond? Certainly not among the /
cOnfederates, for you have persistently /
antagonized them, and this will be most /
emphaucally a confederate occasion. |
Then / repeat, where will your position 1
be? OF this YOU may rest assured, 1t will |
This letter was first addressed to Gov.
Atkinson privately, but he did not reply I
to 1t, and then Mr.. Cook published il. /
camp OF Sumter county met and indorsed /
Private Cook letter, passing resolutions
condemning the governors attitude to-
10 abandon the trip to Richmond. Before
leaving Tor Athens to-day Gov Atkinson
gave out an interview on the
don ana the letter Of Private
Cook. He said that his political enemies
were in all probabilities behind the matter
and on that account did not feel inclined |
10 defend himself. although there was no
ground at all for the assertion that he /
used any such language in reference to .
the veterans. Il suppose said Gov. At /
kinson, those resolutions grew out Of /
the fact that / ran for office and was op-
posed by an honored and distinguished /
confederate veteran. But 1t may be that |
some or the veterans have been imposed !
upon by the repetition of campaign sto-
ries which We're denied and refuted dur
ing my campaign for governor If so, I .
assure them that they are doing not only |
myself, but the state of Georgia. an in
Justice in giving credence to such reports.
me sentiment attributed to me and on
which the Americas resolutions We're prob
ably based We're never entertained BY me.
and Of course We're never expressed. In
deciding on this trip 10 the Richmond re-
union / was anxious that the young men
of Georgia should be as well and as freely
represented as those from any other state
in order that IL might be seen that we
were loyal and as devoted 10 the memory
OF our living and dead heroes as the sons
OF any other state" Said the governor,
THE part personally will take at Rich
mond Will be that part assigned me by
Gen Evans, who viii be in command /
there suppose | viii be with the sons /
of veterans, will so not to crafty any
personal pride, but in the discharge of a
sacred duty"