Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-21
TRUE TO THE SOUTH.
G0YorDOr Atkinson In Pull Accord With
the Confederate Sentiment.
A CHAT WITH HIS SECRETARY.
Major Galloway Says the Georgia
Executive Has Been Misrepresent-
State Esteem Him-Military Coming

Major Frank +. Galloway. private sec
retary to Governor w. Y. Atkinson, of
Georgia, is here for the purpose OF making
arrangements for the distinguished party
Of Georgians who will attend the reunion
He is stopping at the Jefferson, and will
probably leave the city this morning.
Major Galloway. like most OF the F;xo-
cutive secretaries. is an ex-newspaper
man. He was, prior to his official ap-
pointment. associated with the Enquirer
Sun. OF Columbus. When asked by tho
Dispatch representative yesterday 20 talk
about the recent controversy between
Governor Atkinson and one OF the Con-
federate camps OF Georgia, he exprsased
himself quite freely, and stated that the
former had been greatly misunderstood.
HAS BEEN EXAGGERATED.
1.-THE newspapers have greatly exsgge-
rated this alleged unpleasantness,' he
said. There is really nothing In II. Some
weeks ago a man In Atlanta, who Is
unknown out Of his own 'bailiwick.' and
not member OF any Confederate asso-
citation. doubtless wishing 10 secure for
himself some notoriety, wrote letter
and sent it to the Governor. This letter
was afterwards published In the Georgia
and Richmond newspapers, and the peo-
pie outside of my State have misunder-
stood II. In this letter the writer -ac-
cuses Governor Atkinson OF having de-
cried during his campaign for Governor,
the Confederate sentiment, and proceeds
to ask him where his place will be during
tho Confederate reunion, In Richmond,
and suggests that probably 1t will be
better for him to remain in Georgia. The
Governor took no notice OF the letter
when II was sent TO him, and the writer
OF Il then carried IL to the Atlanta Com
mercial. in which 1t was printed. As TO
the sentiments that Governor Atkinson IS
alleged TO have uttered, there Is abso-
lutely no foundation for the charge. The
speeches that he made during his cam
paign have all been published. and no.
thing of the kind can be found in them
On the other hand, he has the very
highest respect and regard for the Con-
| federate veterans. and has always ex-
pressed himself that way. II is true,
| that he fought the soldiers'-Hom bill
| in the State Legislature when he was a
member of that body. and defeated the
| passage Of the measure. but his idea was
| TO give to the veterans this money I'm
| pensions, instead OF bringing them TO such
| an institution, and the consequence Is
| that the State OF Georgia largely through
/ his efforts) pays as much or more pen
| sions than any Southern State. The peo-
| pe of Georgia now recognize the wisdom
OF the course.
| TRUE TO CONFEDERATE SENTrMNT
"Mr. Atkinson opposed General Evans
in his race for Governor, and defeated
him. but not single time during this
! campaign did he ever decry this Con
| federate sentiment. 1t stands to reason
| that no man wishing political prefermori
| could afford TO say n thing OF that kind
because the love OF the Lost Cause IN
Georgia Is too Strong. Besides this, Gov
ernor Atkinson Is the son OF Confede-
rate veteran, and two OF his brothers
were Confederate soldiers-one OF whom
was killed at the first battle Of Manassas
| and he now has, as his porter, the old
negro who brought this brothers rerfsans
home, and he is given the very best
| that the Governor can AFFORD. The reso-
lutions OF the Sumter County Camp y-rs
political In their nature. and do not
| by any means, express the sentiment OF
| the majority OF the members OF tina,
|
sociatlon of Georgia does not endorse
these resolutions. they had a meeting a
few nights ago in Atlanta, and repudiatec
the whole thing, and sent a committee ur
| TO Governor Atkinson 10 offer the Fulton
County Camp as hi. escort while in Rich
| mond.
II can safely say" Major Callaway
! continued, that TO man In Georgia -
| spects this sentiment more than Cover
| nor Atkinson, and he needs no defence
In his native State. but l desired, after
seeing that the Richmond papers had had
| a good deal to say about this matter. TO
let the people OF Virginia hear the other
| slde-or, rather, TO hear the truth OF It.
| Governor Atkinson and his staff will
be present at the reunion. accompanied
by several military companies from the
State Of Georgia. I came up ahead OF
time 70 make arrangements for their en-
| tertainment. One OF the companies that
win be present on that occasion IS the
Savannah Cadets. said 70 be the best
military organization in the Southern
states, and we are glad that Georgia VIII
have the opportunity Of showing. even TO
a limited extent, what She can do in the
| military line"
|