The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-04-07
WHO is ALLEN D. GAMBLER?
Colonel Robertson Writes About "The
One-Eyed PlOwboy of Pigeon Roost."

EDITOR CONSTITUTION: A few even
lngs ago, while was standing in the
rOtunda of the Kimball House with a
group OF gentlemen who were discuss
ing the proposed candidates for gov
ernOr, one of them asked: "WhO is
Allen d. Gambler ?"
Let me answer the question:
Allen ID. Gambler is man who,
though reared between the plow-han-
dies, is yet scholar, a graduate of
Mercer, a student of men and things,
well-versed in history, literature and
public affairs; able, capable and faith
full, but modest and unobtrusive: man
VINO among strangers never passes for
his real worth. He has convictions
and the courage to stand by them. A
Democrat, thorough and sound party
man, one who believes in the people
and the "OmnipOtence of honesty" in
dealing with the people. He was a
brave, conscientious and true soldier
in the Southern army, but too modest
to talk about his service. He entered
the struggle early in the war as a pri-
vate soldier in the Thirty fourth Geor-
gia regiment of infantry, and served in
that capacity for some time; he then
rose to the rank of captain, lieutenant
colonel, and then to the rank of COL
onel; remained in service to the close of
the war, and then returned to Georgia.
his native State, with one eye shot out
and scars on his person received in
more than one bloody battle. For
seven years he was member of one or
the other houses of the the Georgia
Legislature, and from 1872 to 1880 the,
statute books of the State bear the i'm
print of his work He was first TO
move for convention of the people to
shake off the constitution put on Geor-
gia by the carpetbaggers and negroes.
and for three sessions pushed the
measure till he finally succeeded. He
was member of the committee
in the Senate which reported
the present railroad commission
law He was a prime mover in
favor of our present local-Option law.
In 1882, when Independentism was rife
in Georgia, when first the Seventh
Congressional District was lost to
Democracy, then the Ninth by four
thousand majority, the contagion had
reached over into the Fourth and
Eighth Congressional Districts, and
Democracy was threatened in it's every
stronghold, when such men as Dabney
and Lester and Billups and Bell and
Harris had gone down before the SEEM
ingly resistless torrent of Independ-
entism, and in the Ninth District that
brilliant genius, Emory Speer, whose
power on the stump has rarely been
equaled, was swaying the multitude by
his eloquence and sophistry when old
party-leaders declined nominations
and gave up the fight, and none could
be found to bear the flag of Democracy,
then it was that Allen d. Gambler, ''the
one-eyed plowboy of Pigeon Roost,"
modest and unobtrusive, but brave and
loyal, was called from his peaceful
avocations and given the taJtered ban
ner of his party. He accepted the
trust and conducted one of the fiercest
and most remarkable campaigns ever
witnessed in congressional district in
Georgia, as the result of which Colonel
Gambler went to Congress and Mr..
Speer went into the Republican party.
The four thousand majority for Speer
in 1880 was changed to three thousand
against him in 1882. White suprem-
acy was restored in Georgia. Inde-
pendentism was buried, and Allen D.
Gambler dug its grave. Colonel Cand-
Ter remained in Congress four terms,
eight years, when he declined another
nomination and came home, as he said,
ITO get acquainted with his wife and
children" During this long term in
Washington he never cast vote that
was not approved by his people, and his
speeches on the tariff, the force bill the
restoration of silver coinage and the re-
Mobilization of State banks, rank with
= L.. L II
In 1894, when the gallant General
Philip Cook, Georgia's Secretary of
State, died, Governor Northen, unso-
licited, but recognizing his eminent fit
ness for the place, appointed Colonel
Gambler Secretary of State, and he has
been twice elected by the people, each
time leading the ticket, and has made
an officer entitled to rank with those
distinguished GeOrgians who have
filled the place, from the glorious old
John Milton down to the incorruptible
Barnett and the gallant Cook. Colonel
Gambler is an orator who talks to the
point, and his heart is with the COM
mon people, and on the stump he has
way of getting close to them They
learn to love and trust him because he
has never betrayed them, and they
hhoW ne is HoneSC III act ana utUerance.
Such is the man-Allen ID. Gambler.
Georgia is proud of him and his record,
and if he consents to allow the use of
his name for governor he will be ac-
cepted by the party and will be over
whelmingly elected, and his admins
tration of the Office of governor will
reflect honor on the State, the party,
and the man.
JAMES w. ROBERTSON.
Cornelia, Ca, December Is, 1897.