The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-04-07
COLONEL GAMBLER WRITES
ON THREE CORNERED
"DISCUSSIONS.'
Makes Plain, Straightforward State-
ment to Judge Spencer R. Atkinson,
Replying to Latter's Letter.


reply to the letter of Hon. Spencer r.
Atkinson, in which the latter invited
Colonel Gambler to series of joint dis
cussions between the three candidates.
The letter is characterized by Colonel
Gamblers usual frankness and bold
ness, and it speaks for itself. as follows /.
Atlanta, Ca, March 10, lS9S.-Hon.
Spencer r. Atkinson, Railroad Com
missioner, Atlanta, Ga.-My Dear Sir:
have read in the Macon Telegraph
this morning letter addressed to me
and purporting to have been written
by you, copy of which has since been
received through the mails. in which
you say Il respectfully request you,
as do by this post Mr.. Berner, that
you and he join me in series of Joint
discussions throughout the State,n etc.,
and in reply I beg to say that since, as
you intimate, the executive committee
has thrown upon the candidates the
responsibility of deciding what are
the best interests of our party, you and
and Mr.. Berner should meet this re-
sponsibility conscientiously and with
an eye single to the best interests of
the party without regard to personal
interests or preference. This intend
to be brave enough to do without re-
gard to the effect my action may have
either upon you or upon me or upon
Mr.. Berner.
When consented to becomes candi-
date for Governor, published a dec
laration of principles upon which 1
proposed to go to the people. They are
substantially as follows:
am first of all Democrat and in
dorse all the cardinal doctrines of my
party as declared in the national plat
form. If you stand with me on this
platform we are agreed and there is
nothing for us to discuss. If, however,
you do not, 1 will meet you and dis
cuss our differences.
| am in favor of the free and unlim-
tied coinage of both gold and silver,
without discrimination against either
and without asking the permission of
England or any other power on earth.
If you agree with me in this, there is
nothing for us to discuss If you are
opposed to the restoration of silver
coinage, this makes an issue and will
engage with you to discuss our differ
ences.
] am in favor of the most rigid econ
omy and the lowest possible rate of
taxation compatible with the honor,
dignity and credit of the State and the
obligations she has assumed to her
schools and pensioners. If you agree
with me in this, there is nothing for US
to discuss. If you are opposed to, it /
will meet you and discuss the impor-
lance at all times, and especially at
this time, of economy and low tax.
am in favor of netting out equal
and exact justice in the courts and in
the legislature, to all classes of persons,
white and black, corporation, and in.
dividual, without d is C r j m n a I'll n
against either. If you agree with me
in this, there is nothing for us to dis
cuss. If you are opposed to it, will
meet you and discuss it.
1 am in favor of clean methods and
honest politics and fair elections. If
you are in favor of these things, there
is nothing for us to discuss. If you
are opposed to them, will meet you
and discuss them with you.
am opposed to what is known as
ring rule, which practically deprives
the people of that fair choice in the
selection of public officers to which
they are entitled under the law. If
you are in favor of ring rule, will
meet you and discuss it with you.
am opposed to the use of money to
control elections. If you are also op-
posed to it's use for this purpose, there
is nothing for us to debate. If you are
in favor of it, will meet you and dis
cuss the question with you.
If you agree with me, as presume
you do, on all the foregoing PROPOSE
tions, there are no principles in which
the people of this State are interested
for us to discuss and ''series of Joint
debates throughout the State" would
necessarily be series of personal con-
troversies and would at once degener-
ate into a series of mud-flinging con-
tests, in which a schoolboy would be
my equal and blackguard my supe-
rior. They would neither demonstrate
your fitness nor my unfitness for the
office of governor, but would, as has
been the case in all such contests in
Georgia in the past, result in schisms
and the building up of factions in our
party, damaging to it and the best in
terests of the people. Personal rivalry
and personal ambition should never be
allowed to control our action when
great principles and the interests of
the State and the people are at stake.
These are my views honestly enter
tanned and frankly expressed. In them