The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-03
CUNNINGHAM CAN'T LET UP.
He VIII Prod Chairman Clay With
Another Communication.

Atlanta, Ca, Sept. 2-The situation
with regard to the division of managers
in the coming elections took fresh start
to-day
Chairman Clay sent a tart reply 20
Chairman Cunningham Of the populist
state committee and Chairman Buck of
the republican state committee sent
communication TO both Chairman Clay
and Chairman Cunningham. demanding
republican representation in all the mil
itia districts in the November election.
To Chairman Cunningham of the popu-
list organization, Boss Buck says he takes
IL for granted that he Will raise no OBJ
lection Of this division. inasmuch as he
has asked II of the democrats for him
self. The republican easy boss also draws
Mr.. Cunningham's attention to the fact
that the fight in November Will be be-
tween republicans, and populists and
democrats combined
Chairman Clay has not yet replied to
Chairman Buck, but from what he said
to-day Ia is understood that he will join
Chairman Buck in the same request to
county chairman that he was willing 10
issue with Chairman Cunningham. The
chairman of the state committee has
nothing to do with the appointment of
election managers, than being in the
hands of the counties themselves but
CHAIRMAN clay mas Deen READY from the
outset to use his official influence to get
the county chairman to divide managers.
II seems now that Populist Chairman
Cunningham has been trying to set trap
for Chairman Clay in this matter, start
ing out simply with a request that he
and the democratic chairman should
join in a request for division TO the coun-
ty chairmen of both parties, but when
this failed to evolve campaign thunder,
another course was adODted
Two years ago the populists sent
similar communication and demand to the
democratic managers and because 1t was
ignored. as many think, this one should
have been. owing to the evident intention
of II, they made much campaign capital
out of 1t. When Judge Hines went down
in defeat, they Immediately set up the cry
of fraud, based upon the action of the
democratic managers in ignoring the de-
mand made during the campaign for the
two state committees to agree upon a di-
vision of managers.
In order to show Chairman Cunning
ham and his fellow plotters that the dem
ocratic party is the party of fair cleo
tions and would go any length to secure
that end, Notwithstanding the fact that
the state has nothing whatever to do
with selecting managers and clerks, when
Chairman Cunninghams demand came to
hand this year Chairman Clay sent back
a courteous reply agreeing TO 90 what
he desired. that is. he was perfectly will
ing to unite with the populists in re-
questing the county managers to divide
the managers. He thought that Chair
man Cunningham was acting in good
faith and in accepting his proposition all
ground for the cry of fraud, when the
populists meet another Waterloo this
year, would be removed. But Chairman
Cunningham was not acting in good faith.
for Immediately upon the receipt of Chair
man Clay's letter he sent a second COM
munication to democratic headquarters
proposing that Chairman Clay should sub
nit to the various chairmen of the coun-
ty committees an oath-bound agreement
as to the division of managers and clerks
He even went so far as to attach copy
of the agreement to be submitted and
signed by the county chairman at the
request of Chairman Clay, doing this evil
IDENTIFY for the purpose of making the mat
ter so obnoxious to the sense of demo-
cratic honesty as to made it impossible
for Chairman Clay to accept it, and thus
force him to make reply that might be
used for campaign purposes.
To-day Chairman Clay wrote Mr.. Cum
bingham, a curt note refusing to have
anything TO do with his proposed oath
bound agreement, treating 1t as an insult
to the democratic party. Chairman Clay's
letter to Chairman Cunningham was as
follows:
Atlanta. Ga. Sept. 2. 1s9e.-Hon. John
d. Cunningham, Chairman Peoples Party
Campaign Committee, Atlanta, Ga:-Dear
Sir: / received a communication from
you asking for a division of managers and
clerks in the coming election. l respond
ed that neither you nor l had authority
TO select managers for the election that
whatever we did was simply advisory; but
that, as chairman of the democratic
executed committee, I most cheerfully re-
commended that each party be allowed a
manager and a clerk at every voting pre-
cinct in Georgia This letter was given
to the press. and ought to have ended this
correspondence. Your proposition that l
draw and send out oath-bound contracts
to every county in Georgia to be signed
al to a division of managers in the coming
election l regard as a reflection upon the
good people of the state and the party |
have the honor to represent, and is most
respectfully declined. Very respectfully
yours, a. S. Clay,
Chairman Democratic Committee.
Tomorrow Chairman Cunningham will
come forth with another letter to Chair
man Clay on the subject. Chairman Clay
thinks the correspondence should stop
and the next time he will answer Mr. Cum
ningham, he win handle him without
| gloves.