People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-09-18
SAM JONES HAS A WORD.
He Writes an Open Letter to
Chairman Clay.

CARIERSV LILLE. Ga. Sept. sth, 1896
Hen. 4. S. Clay, Chairman of the state Demo-
cratic Executive Committee, Atlanta, Ca.
Dear Sill hare before me the correspon
dence between yourself and Mr.J. d. Cunning
nam. chairman OF the Peoples Party exscu-
tive committee. l haze lad the same with
interest, as the correspondence has to do with
The most important question before the peo-
PIE of this state for an dealing candidly
with you when / say that the issues between
tho Populist and Democratic parties of this
state Il nation so nearly wiped out by
the similarity of the platforms of the two
parties, that really we only have left in
Georgia today the two wings of the Popuiist
!nrty instead Of candidates with platforms
differing as PopuIists ard Democrats once
differed. In this correspondence yen give Mr..
Cunningham notice. in your short letter OF
September Sd. that tho corresr ondnnco between
you and him is at an end. You have ridded
yourself o! Mr. Cunningham SO far rs he is
concerned, but there are trainloads of fellows
in Georgia like myself who think honestly
that you dodge tho issue and beg he question
in your correspondence with MIR. Cunning.
ham. am not writing this article to you to
imHusn your motives or to make issue with
you on Any POINT in either of your letters TO
Mr.. Cunningham. You agree to everything
Your opinions are all right Your views are
all right to an honest election; but YOU
kick clear ont of the traces when Mr.. Gun
bingham brings YOU to the point as to the
methods by which honest ballot can be
had, snd it is on this Point that | would
bring you 10 tie tawline, we boys used to
say. 1t avails but little foI YOU to say that
ven need no instruction ia morals or hanostIo
or that yon have gone to the limit of your
authority as chairman of the democratic ex-
ecutiye committee. to talk to us about
whnt you are willing to do. In this day of
rings and rascality in politics tho time hes
CONS when a free ballot and fair count is
the only hope of THIS country and the only
bulwark that lies between us and revolution.
Dishonesty in Politics.
Men who honest and upright in their
business relations, men who would dis,!ain
dishonest act in Lrvate life, are uD to the
tricks of trade in politics. There are many Of
US in this state who believe that the Demo-
cratic party of Georgia is no better in life or
at heart than the Democratic party of Ala
nama or Louisiana; and the angels have not
known in 10 years who was elected in those
stotes to any office | doubt if there is gu
angel in heaven who knows Just how the cleo
tion went in Georgia two years ago. You
Democrats admitted that your majority wus
cut down from SO, coo to 20, Goa big aanis-
sion on your part. The time is past foi daily
ing with this question. If Sou would be
fairly treated at the hands of the people you
must tote fairly with tho people. Tine worst
outlawed thing in the United States today is
prize fight, and vet as low down as it is they
demand fair lay III the ring, and if ono Stag
ger hits the other below the belt time is
called, the lick declared full and The other
fellow gets the victory and the cash.
Negroes will sit down reaceably and shoot
craps all day until they find that one OF their
crowd has run loaded dice on them. Then
the DEVILS to pay If fair dealing is de-
manded in n low down negro game of craps OF
a prize fight when it comes to the ballot
box, the most sacred thing freeman has TO
do with .hon We must have free ballot and
fair count. Fouls and frauds must not ca
ter there. | know it has been tie cry of
Democratic politicians that fico ballot
aud fair count means negro domination.
We never had negro domination IN tne
south but once and that but for a short
'lme When tho federal bayonets were be-
hind the negro aHd the scaIawags wero in
front OF him he reignad supreme for few
short weeks; but SO soon rs the federal hayo-
nets were removed from behind him @ drop
ped TO his level and has remained there ever
since. Yen know ana l know that the icda-
arl bayonets Will not be hohiud him again,
and that negro domination in the south can
never be until in character, history, science,
art, literature, wealth and manhood the negro
auit &c at meme above Us.
You know me we'll enough to know that I
am no s0re-headed politician. Yol kaow me
we'll enough to know that l am hunting for 70
office in the gift Of tho people of Georgia,
now or hereafter. You know that the people
OF Georgia cannot now, or in any future cay,
give mo post OF honor higher tim the one [
ROW have Plain minister of the eospel,
You know they can give me place no moro
prominent than the ono ! have, or where the
salary could be aue"entcd. But [ am candid
whom I say to you that I voice tie sentiment
of every honest man in Georgia when l say
that candidates ana. platforms dwiuale INFO
nsigniticance before the question at issns
between you and Chairman Cunningham.
About tho Bloody Tenth.
When Mr., Cunningham, as chairman of tine
Populist party. asked at your hands that
You pledge the chairman of the Democratic
executive committee OF every county in this
state upon his honor to exert his utmost in
iuenae that both parties shall be represented (
on the board Of elecrors aud clerks al both
state and national elections, and on, you /
seem 30 lily the track and say it is a reflection I
on the Democratic party. The Democratic /
party in toto in Georgia cannot be trusted a.
to everything. There are good men in the +
Democratic party in Georgia. hat they ara not /
al R1oi men by a jug full. You remember |
( q Tenth distIict.I reckon, in Black and Wat |
son day, 1t makes me laugh to-day TO think /
o. dear, good i]rother Black when they got |
him Gu the Democratic tain in ito Tenth |
district; aud when IT started OFF wlliz1ing |
around the curves, the deer, good brother sat /
in the rear coach and held his at ara held /
lis breath. He was afraid eve, to go into the (
aisle of the car or go on tho platform. The /
thing was ruunin2 too fast FOR him; and you |
that SIS soon as the train stopped he /
got oil and gave them TO understands ';.oJs +