The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-27
GOVERNOR MISREPRESENTED.
HOW HE WAS DRAGGED INTO THE
ATLANTA FACTICNAL SCRAMBLE.

the city Court Bills-GoN. Can0lcr
Had Never Expressed IA Desire TO
Make the Appointments of Judges
and Solicitors; In Fact, He Would
BE Glad 10 Escape such a Duty.
Atlanta. Ga. Nov. 25.-The bitter fac
tional fight over the Atlanta City Court
bills continues 20 be most absorbing
topic at the capitol
Developments to-day Indicate
that GOV. aCndler was brought
into The controversy without
his knowledge or consent. and through
the injudicious actions of those who pose
as his friends has been made to appear
IN. q. most embarrassing position both be
fore the public and before the legislature.
1t is not overstating mis- feelings to say
that the Governor is very angry with some
of his friends for the manner in which
they have dragged him into this local fac
tional scramble. He feels as If he has
been set up as a sacrifice for the factional
benefit of inconsiderate friends and the
ultimate result of the whole thing may
he series of political divorces in which
the Governor will be the plaintiff and some
of the best known political leaders of The
state the defense, with an interesting
spectacle in tine way Of correspondents
In order to understand the feelings and
the position of the Governor as expressed
to-day through a confidential source it Is
necessary 10 briefly review the incidents
of the City Court fight, which though
strictly local in plot and characters, has
nevertheless been presented in a stage set
40 into I
commenced when the three members from
Fulton joind i'm a bin providing for the
election by vote of the people at an election
TO be held next January of the judges and
solicitor of the City Courts.
This bill was in accordance with the ex-
pressed wishes of the people of the county
at an election in which the proposition was
ratified almost unanimously. While this
bill was going through necessary routine
ia the House opposition developed in the
Senate taking the form of a general bin
for the election Of all judges of all City
Courts of the state by the people. This
was gradually abandoned. however, and
when the House bill reached the Senate
the opposition succeeded in securing the
adoption OF substitute for it in the shape
of bill which allowed Gov. Gambler to ap-
point the successors of the present incum-
bents of the city courts, but gave the peo-
pie the privilege of electing a new set two
years hence.
During the tendency of this substitute
the bar association, through a committee,
made a sensational protest, alleging that
there was a scheme on foot to place tool
of the corporations the bench. IL was
charged that undue influence was being
used in the interest of this plot. the Cover
nor being indirectly involved as a party to
Il.
Upon the floor of the Senate, Mr.. Mes
bitt of the Atlanta district, who appeared
as the champion of the substitute, declar-
ed that Gov. Gambler had told him that he
favored the substitute. When the Senate
passed this, il was heralded as a vote of
confidence in the Governor, and repudia-
ton of the reflections cast upon the Sen
ate and the executive by the supporters of
the House bill.
That Gov. Gambler had expressed his APP
proval of the Senate measure, as stated
by MIR. Nesbitt, was not denied until to-
day, when. after an almost identical as
serton had been made on the floor of the
House yesterday by Mr.. Knowles Mr..
Nesbitt entered a disclaimer over his own
signature. Following close upon the heels
of this disclaimer from the senator from
the Twenty fifth, Mr.. Knowles of Fulton,
who had change of heart after the House
ball got into the Senate. and now appears
as a champion OF the substitute also enter
ed a denial to-day. Rising to question
of personal privilege, he declared that he
had been misunderstood-that Gov Cand-
Ter had not expressed disapproval of the
House bin to him.
These disclaimers bring the story down
10 its present status, and reveal the fact
that Gov. Gambler was being used a
straw man by the factions in the fight.
According to the statement, which
comes direct from him he never authoF-
lied, nor even intimated TO Senator Mes
bitt Representative Knowles or anybody
else that he favored the Senate bin and
would like to be permitted TO make the
judicial appointments as had been stated
upon the floor of both Senate and House.
All that he ever said one way or the
other was when he had been told that
compromise measure had been agreed up
on. that he was glad of it, as that would
stop the wrangling that had become so
bitter over this issue. He said to-day that
he has never cared one whit which bill
was passed. but Notwithstanding his feel
ings he has been placed in the undignihed
attitude of seeking TO influence a local
measure, so as to secure for himself the
appointment of a couple of judges and a
solicitor.
Gov. Gambler feels keenly the embarrass-
ing position in which he has been placed
by those claiming to be his friends
friends who took the unwarranted liberty
OF dragging his name into a factional fight
In the hope of gaining factonal advantage
though he should be overwhelmed with en-
barraSsment.
As a matter of fact it's quite well
known that Gov Gambler considers the
patronage of Office milestone about the
neck of incumbent, and would not only
prefer to be relieved of making the ap-
pontments. over which such a row has
been raised in Atlanta, but all other APP
pointments well.
To use his own words, when the Gov
ernor makes an appointment with a dozen
applications, he makes eleven enemies and
one migrate. This is about the experience
of all public men, and Gov. Gambler knows
it as well as any one else, which aggra-
Yates the conduct of those who dragged
him into the Atlanta fight. they not