The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-03-21
ATKINSON TALKS
ON LOWER TAKES
Opens His Campaign With a Speech at
HaWklnSYilIe.
SAYS TOO MUCH LEGISLATURE
Would Have Meetings in Future Only
Once in Every Two Years.
PERSONAL PROPERTY rs HID OUT
gays His Opponents Talk About Re-
ducing Taxes, But They Have
No Plan to Offer.
SAYS TOO MUCH LEGISLATURE
PERSONAL PROPERTY rs HID OUT

Hawkinsvlle, Ga, March 19.-(Special
Staff Judge Spencer r.
Atkinson delivered the opening address of
his campaign for governor today.
He spoke for only thirty-tive minutes
but he made every minute count, ana,
when ne concluded, he had touched upon
all of the important issues involved in the
GuhernatoriaI contest. He says tonight
that he does not propose to deliver any
speech during the campaign that will keep
him on the platform for more than an
hour and if he continues to say as much
in as little time he did today the hour
he occupies Will be all sufficient.
At haIf-past II o clock everybody went
into the courthouse and the big and hand
some auditorium was completely filled.
Judge Atkinson's Party Services.
He began by denying Senator Berner's
assertions that during the campaigns of
1892 1894 and 1896 he had failed to work
for his party, and he said that the intima-
ton that he had SulIsed after being defeat
ell for congress in the eleventh congress
sional district was false He spoke OF his
work III the cause of free silver in 1S92
when he was running against Hon. Henry
G. Turner, and he called upon senator
Steve Clay to witness that his services in
1894 had been constantly at the disposal
of the state committee In 1896 he was
impossible for him to indulge his desire TO
assist the party in active political york
He referred to his record on the supreme
court as one to which he pointed with
pride AMI to which he desired to direct
the attention Of all the people of the state
Then he plunged directly into discus
sion of the matter of taxation. and devoted
nearly all OF the remainder of his speech
to an attempt to convince his hearers that
Colonel Gambler and Senator Berner, while
they had declared in favor of lower taxes,
had made no public declaration as to how
this much needed reform was going to be
brought about.
IN speaking of the alleged indifference
of his opponents IN the matter If telling
the people how taxes should be reduced
he said;
The Theory of Taxation.
"r shall not undertake to discuss indirect
taxation-the tax levied by the federal gov
eminent You all understand that-you
know how that is done You don't put on
a pair of new shoes but what you pay the
ny Svcrnment very considerable portion of
arise as cost Of the same. And the only
business. get around paying the federal gov
office. Suohhe tax on tobacco is to quit chew
serves 10 @uCl0ly way to escape the tax
as southern siste3 would be to join the
Almost every stfJL that would not be a
late. he o1le But l speak to-
ins@ ..SIs " receive "Jy upon your prop
delesa every DE-" ,3e state for the the
- ma Of the state government,
EEI euanCe OF the institutions of gov
- " which you have established for
q. y strange thing strikes me when read
tho platform doclarations-for such | take
TO he the formal public addresses of the !
other two honorable gentlemen who are
seeking your favor They both agree that
the taxes cXacted of the people of Geor-
gia are too high. They both agree that
these burdens OF government rest too heav-
lIN upon ihe people Yet when they como