The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-23
SAM JONES VERY UNCERTAIN.
HIS OPINION OF MEN APPEARS
VERY CHANGEABLE.

a Few Months Ago He Was Sounding
the Praises of Those He Is Now
AbusinS-CandIer's Friends Afraid
He May Do the AcrObatic Act Again
Before the Campaign Is over.
Strong Suspicion That a Guberna-
tOriaI Bee Is in Jones' Head Genr.
Atlanta, Ga, Feb. Prev Sam Jones.
the freak Of this years state politics. came
down TO Atlanta from his Cartersville
home to-day to see what sort of a dust his
recent utterance is kicking up in these
parts.
He is still occupying the ambiguous po-
siton which he took in his letter printed
yesterday
He has no more desire to be Governor
than bailiff. he says but at the same time
he evidently has something like a political
bee crawling around in his head gear
The belief is that he wishes 10 stand be-
fore the public and the field Of candidate
as menace. If his kind of man is nomi-
mated by the Demo ira s, he will take III his
horns and shut off his vocabulary, but
if not then he will make an independent
campaign himself.
If, for instance, Col. Gambler gets the
nomination, the Rev. Samuel will say
amen" but if it should be Atkinson
Berner or some other man who has not his
sanction, then he will sail in and try to
beat him on the cry of ringism and corrup-
ton.
Neither Gov Atkinson, Judge Atkinson
nor Col. Gambler will say anything sor pub
lication about Mr.. Jones' letter.
Col. Gambler is not talking for publica-
ton just now, though he felt good enough
over the letter to remark that Sam was
good one, and always right.
The evangelist is an uncertain quantity
however, in some respects, and he might
kick again and leave a different impress
sion on Col. Gambler When he raises his
heels there is no telling where they viii
strike. Then he would not think Sam
was always right"
This is what some of Gov. Atkinson's
friends are saying. They refer to the letter
and the sermons of the evangelist a year
or so ago, in which he lauded Gov Atkin-
son to the skies for uprlghtness and back
bone. They also recall the fact that Mr.
Jones and his wife were guests at ;ne ex-
ecutive mansion for a week or so about
the time he was delivering himself of these
iaudatory encommiums, partaklng Of the
hospitality of the chief of the gang"
which he now denounces and wishes treat
ed as so many common thieves and plum
derers. The Governors friends are talk
ing about these things and wonder how it
Is that even Sam Jones can do them
1t is also recalled that the evangelical
censor of Georgia politics, as he now poses
made Senator Steve Clay the target of his
most inveterate abuse during the last
campaign, and also "cussed OUT duBig-
non to the limits of his billingsgate Now
he is patung these two on the back and
has forgotten their transgressions be-
cause they are for Gambler He saws thew
are emblems of purity in Georgia politics
now, while Berner and Atkinson. upon
whom he could not lay abuse then because
ne wanted to use il all on Clay and duBig-
non, are the arch-villains in his eyes<A)w
With this sort of a record some of Col
Gamblers friends are little wary of the
Jones enconiums now They are afraid
a reaction will set in, with the usual re-
suits.
AS stated Gov. Atkinson has declined to
express himself about the Sam Jones lei
ter He could hardly do the subject JUS
tiee in ordinary print.
| Col. Gambler made his first speech today
since his announcement for Governor He
was at Confederate reunion at Decatur
He did not mention politics. however. but
carefully avoided all references to his can
didacy.s Col Gambler was given an oya-
ton by the crowd He was present. not
as speaker, but at a spectator, but made
little speech in response to the calls for
him when his appearance during the exer-
cses was noticed.