The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-15
NOT MIR. TURNER'S CIRCULAR.
The Junior Commissioner UnjustIy
Criticised

Criticised.
Atlanta. May Alt may not be neces-
sary to notice the continual references,
which have been made to my connection
with circular, used during the campaign
of 1886, headed, What Gov. Atkinson has
done for the colored people of Georgia"
denominated by some as "the Duncan
Rape circular" but as there is being distri-
buted over the state a circular containing
newspaper and other references to this
matter. which are misleading, and in which
the facts are distorted for the purpose of
prejudicing the people-against me, I have
concluded to give all ehe facts concerning
the same. feel sure that all fair minded
Democrats. when the truth is brought TO
their attention, will exonerate me from any
censure on this account in either act or
intention.
The statement circulated to the effect
that the Democratic campaign committee
had nothing to do with this circular. but
that [ issued and published it without their
knowledge is absolutely untrue. During the
campaign of 1896, between the Democratic
and Populist parties, the latter, in order
10 secure the negro vote, circulated over
the state pamphlet maliciously attacking
the Democratic nominee for governor. for
having pardoned one Hinton, who had been
convicted of killing a negro in Wilkes
county, distorting the facts in order 10
make 1t appear that the Governor was us
ing the pardoning power for political pur-
poses, and to the prejudice of the negroes
The chairman of the Democratic executive
committee sent for me to come over to the
committee headquarters, at the KimbaIl
House, and with other members of the
committee requested me to collate, from
the records at the capitol, to be used 10
counterfeit the effect of the Populist circu-
lar such facts that would demonstrate
that the Governor had administered the
law fairly to all classes; and had not as
charged by the Populist party, discrimi-
mated against the negro on account Of race
or party Affiliations. L willingly undertook
this task, being always ready to serve nv
party when needed.
eol!ated from the records such facts as
thought would prove the truth of this
proposition, and sent them over to the
Democratic committees headquarters.
supposlng that they would there be edited,
revised or corrected as deemed necessary.
Beyond this l had nothing whatever to do
with the matter neither published or
distributed the circular, and never saw one
of them until several weeks afterwards.
They were published. paid for and dis
tributed by the Democratic executive com
mittee. When the excitement arose con-
corning this circular, rather than the partv
should suffer on account of it, l wrote a
card in which l stated that L was request
ed by several gentlemen, prominent Dem.
ocrats, whose names did not then think
pest TO give, TO prepare a circular setting
forth what the Governor in the DISCHARGE
of his official duties had done for the coll
ored people-believing then that IL was bet
ter to take the punishment of adverse crit
icism, rather than the party should suf-
fer defeat or the usefulness of the execu-
tive committee should be impaired in the
crisis of the campaign.
II the bare statement that ''the Govern
or had pardoned Adolphus Duncan who
had been twice convicted of rape unon n
white woman" which was but a state
ment of the facts from the record had
been explained by adding that this pardon
was granted, because II was subsequently,
proven that Duncan was innocent of The
crime, there could have been M nossitla
INSTRUMENTATION of the intention of m
paper If IL had been properly edited ana
revised this statement would have been
made. As has been previously stated Inv
the chairman of the executive counnaittae
the facts prepared by me were bvSSnad-
vertence sent to the printer without nav.
Ing been revised. This Is my whole con
nection with the matter and every etota-
ment concerning IL can be verified bv otber
gentlemen than myself
Joseph s. Turner