The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-14

on the same day, ana friends OF the Gov
ernor should not make the mistake of
putting him In such an indefensible posi-
ton as to claim that it is.
Newman Herald and Advertiser: We re-
greet exceedingly that Mr.. Gambler should
have written the letter, and this regret
will be shared by his friends everywhere
There was no necessity for IT, He had no
opposition, and the chances are that he
would not have been opposed. Under
these circumstances his effort to arouse
the passions and prejudiees which have
been slumbering since the Atkinson-Evans
campaign must be regarded as unfortu-
nate-unfortunate for himself as well as
for the party.
Rome Tribune: Since the Gambler letter
which appeared In the Tribune of We'd
nesday Feb. 8, has created so tremen-
dous political sensation throughout
Georgia, we wish to say that it was pub
lished a matter of news, and not for
political effect. To say the least of 1t
Col. Gambler has invited opposition. His
letter has centralized the forces which
were dormant 1t was a political blunder
the extent of which may be far more Sc
rious than is now apparent.
North Georgia Citizen; If Hon. Allen
ID. Gambler is author of the card In yester-
days Rome Tribune. over his name, he
has either deliberately. or to put it more
charitably, unwittingly. struck blow at
a faction who has not yet offered any OBJ
stace to his candidacy, but who might,
and undoubtedly would have contributed
greatly to his election. Unless Col. Cand-
Ter had assurance, doubly sure that this
faction intended fighting him, the card is
untimely.
Americas Times Recorder: Col. Gambler
admits the authorship of the letter, and
says he stands by every sentiment in IL.
He says 1t was given no personal appli-
cation by him, but If the cap fits anybody
desires IN pflt ba 10 ta
cept the responsibility and defend any
statement he has made. There is really
nothing in the letter to become excited
over, yet there will be a host who win use
il against Georgias favorite. Allen D.
Gambler, in order to further their own po-
ltical preferment. The Times Recorder
unhestatingly characterizes the publica~
ton of Mr.. Gamblers letter as malicious
unprofessional act. There is no power
under Gods sun that could have induced
the Times Recorder to have employed
such underhand and unprofessional meth
DDS, even though II were to get rid of a
bitter enemy. Surely the tide of profess
sional ethics is ebbing low in the river
that flows by Rome"
Senoia Times Enterprise: After Mr.. Ter
reI withdrew from the race Mr. Gambler
was our next choice, but such imbecility
as is shown IN his letter TO the Rome
Tribune brands him as incompetent and
distinction as to the men who have de-
cided to support Mr.. Gambler; nothing has
been said about the old campaign between
Atkinson and Evans and it comes now
with bad grace, when everything posi-
BILE was being done in the interest of har-
mony in the party, to reopen this matter
and that, too, by the man around whom
there was a chance for all Democratic
voters to rally. Mr. Gambler you may rue
your words.
Augusta Chronicle: If Col. Gambler had
reason to believe that this opposition was
being Matched out by "the men who CON
troll" and that he was being antagonized
by certain element in the party he had
a right to say so. The severity of Ian
guage allowable in a letter to a friend
mot written for publication is a matter
likely to be influenced by the feeling of
the writer and the person addressed. That
language was employed which a careful
politician, who tries to run with the hare
and hold with the hounds. would not
have used. only convinces the people that
the man who is asking their support is
not a political trimmer, who tries to stay
serenely on the fence, but is a strong,
rugged man who has opinions and speaks
them plainly and Enthusiastically. Clearly
the bringing out of this letter is an effort
to injure Col. Gambler, but those who
have given it publicity may find that it is
live wire that is more dangerous to the
men who are handling it than TO the man
who charged 1t with electricity.
Macon Evening News: As far as Col
Gamblers letter tends to soidify the OPP
position to him, IL can do no harm. That
opposition was already solid and is al
ways solid whenever the political bosses
pull the wires on their little heelers
throughout the state. No sensible man,
of course, will believe that the letter had
anything to do with bringing out Spencer
r. Atkinson. He had already been decid-
ed upon by the ring" This decision was
| reached as soon as Bill Atkinson returned
from Mexico to find that his friend and po-
litical right-bower, Joe Terrell, had
thrown up the sponge. Col Gambler knew
these things, knew that he was to have
opposition, knew the source from whence
it would come, knew the methods that
would be employed and, as someone has
expressed 1t, he simply fired at the ducks
before they lit" And this is all there is
to it. The letter cannot make Spencer
II. Atkinson more fit for the high office
of Governor, nor can 1T make ring rule
and political trickery more desirable. Nor
can 1t make the honest, untrammeled vot-
ers of Georgia less hostile to such men
and such methods. We are fully convinc-
ed that when the smoke has cleared away
| the good people of Georgia will see that
| Col. Gambler hit the bulls eye-and they
will be glad he did it. The efforts of the
AthiHSoil ring 10 make the letter appear as
sufficient provocation for opposition to
Col. Candler-in lieu of some better ex-
cuse for putting out a ring candidate
will not in the least disturb the political
equilibrium of the honest voters of this
state who are Disguised with the political
traders and peanut politicians-"the men
who control"
Columbus Enquirer-Sun: If 1t were sim
ply an attack upon the unclean politician.
as Col Gambler would have 1t appear
thousands would say amen. But ii does
not appear to be SUCH 1t is an uncaIled
for attack upon the present state admin
istration, and while it was in the nature
or private letter, it nevertheless shows
a violent hatred of a large faction of the
democratic party which is not creditable
to candidate for the high office of Gov
ernor of Georgia, and for the nomination
Tor that office by the Democratic party.
We believe that Col. Gambler is mistaken
when he says that his friends are for him
because they are against the present adj
ministration. Some of them may be bur
there were many who were for Gambler
because they thought him a good Demo-
Graf, one who would do all in his mower
to Danish discord from his party and
make II harmonious and powerful whole
This letter of Col. Gambler does NOT indi-