The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-20
STRONG GAMBLER ASPECT.
HON. f. G. DU BIGNON ON THE STATE
POLITICAL SITUATION.

Was Opposed for the Chairmanship
on the Ground That He Was
"GOIdbug'-Mr. duBignOn stand on
the Democratic PIatform-Says Col.
Gambler Is Anxious for Joint Dis
cussiOn, and May Go on the stump.
Anti-JOint Debate Resolution Was
Killed by the Gambler Majority.
why June O Was Chosen for the
Primary.
Hon. F. G. duBignon, who has just been
elected chairman of the state Democratic
executive committee by a most flattering
vote, returned yesterday from Atlanta,
where he has been in attendance on the
committees meetings. The vote for Mr..
duBignon was 2S to 3, and of his vote twen-
ty-four were In person and four by proxy.
Mr.. duBignon was seen by a represen-
tative of the Morning News and asked
about the Atlanta meeting. 1T was an in
terestng and practically harmonious one
he said, land its results win no doubt be in
many respects satisfactory to the party
generally"
Mr.. duBignon spoke of the resolution
against joint debates, which was intro
duced in the meeting. he said, by Judge
Hamilton McWhoter, who is not Gambler
man, but voted with the minority. The
Gambler men were in the majority and
could have passed the resolution had they
seen fit to do So but there was no partic-
ular reason for it in the opinion of most
of them, and it was defeated.
"Never in the history of Georgia poll
tics" Mr.. duBignon said, in speaking of
the date for the primaries, June 6, has
the opposition ticket been put in the field
as early as has been done this year. The
fun Popuist ticket. headed by Tom Wat
son was in the field before we held our
meeting 1t was our contention that, re-
CARELESS of the interests of any candidate,
it was our duty to stop fighting and pre-
sent a united front as soon s possible.
1.-The arguments against June 6 were
that 1t would not be as convenient time
for the farmers, and, second, that 1t would
not allow the various candidates reason
able time to present their claims. Upon
the first proposition two lawyers on the
minority side held that July was the
better date for the farmers, while the only
three farmers on the committee insisted
that June would be the most convenient
date of the two. Two years ago the pri>
maries were ordered on June 6, but the
minority maintained that there was then
no opposition to Gov. Atkinson, and the
national convention was to be held that
year In reply 1t was stated by the ma
jority that in 1894 in the Evans-Atkinson
contest, when the counties were left TO
| - ta ut moi 81 Tf
the counties acted before June TO- and by
that date Gen. Evans was out of the
race. 1t was shown also that many MEM
bers of the committee who favored delay
had agreed on early primaries In their
respective counties.
II have every reason TO believe" Mr.,
duBignon said, that while Col. Gambler
is not a lawyer and not public speaker,
he will be able TO hold his own with the
other candidates as a speaker; and as
soon as the engagements made for him
by his friends have been filed, he will
meet those gentlemen in joint discussions,
it, his counsellors deem it advisable. /
| know of my own knowledge that he Is
| personally anxious TO go into discussions
at once, and if he does not, It will be
| because he will be convinced that ii Is
| for the best interests of the party.
1.-The majority of the committee is un-
doubtedly in favor of Col. Gambler, and
| through them he has most favorable as
| surances from all parts of the state.
| There were three members of the commit
| tee who voted with the minority on the
| date of the primary who were for Can
| der"
Upon the subject of his views on the
| financial question Mr. duBignon said his
| position was exactly the same as he indi-
Gated in his interview published in the
| Morning News of Aug. 4, 1897. He stated
then that the foundation principle of De-
mocracy was the Willingness of the mi
| nority to bow to the will of the majority.
| Prior to the action of the Chicago con-
vention he had spoken in many places IN
| the state in favor of sound money, but
| when the platform was made he had
| subordinated his views to the Will of the
! party, and as long as that is the plat
| form of the party he said he would stand
| on ii.
| Mr. duBignon stated with reference TO
| his election as chairman of the state
! Democratic executive committee that he
had never sought the position, and had
never written a single letter with refer
ence to 1t. Senator Clay was present at
the meeting, and efforts were made to in
duce him not to resign, but he had de-
termined to do so months ago, and the
| efforts were unavailing. The opposition
| to Mr.. duBignon was made on the
| ground that he was a "gold-bug," the
lead being taken by Mr.. Whitley. Per-
sonally Mr.. Whitley did not oppose Mr.
duBignon, but on that ground. Mr. du-
| Bignons position in that connection is
clearly stated above.