The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-11
DAILY, $40 A YEAR.
CENTS A COPY,
WEEKLY 2-TINfES-A-W EEK 81 A YEAR
GAMBLER HURTS HIS CHANCES.
SENDS OUT A LETTER THAT IS APT
TO PROVE A BOOMERANG.


cy-A Relentless and Determined
Fight Now Likely TO Be Made
Against the PIOwbOy.
Atlanta, Ca, Feb. 10-To-day saw the
first real sensation of the years Guberna-
torial campaign. 1t came in the form OF
a letter which Cold. Gambler, the only can
didate yet in the field, has written to soma
of his friends, particularly that element
who supported Gen. Evans four years ago.
The letter in some way not now KNOWN
fell into the hands of Editor Knowles OF
the Rome Tribune, and, although he re-
fuses to give the name of the gentleman
who received it from Col. Gambler. he
published II in his paper.
It's publication was like the explosion on
a bomb In the otherwise serenely monot-
onous situation that surrounds Col. Cam
dler and his apparent "cinch' on the Gov-
ernorship.
1t has nntagonized Gov. Atkinson and
his friends bitterly and Ii may now be put
down as a fact that If the man can be
found to lead 1t they will put up a relent-
less and determined fight against Coi-
Gambler whereas. IL he had not wrltten
the letter at issue he might have had MOTH
ing to fear from this element of state poll
tiles.
The construction put upon the letter by
Gov. Atkinson's friends, and by the Cow
ernor himself for that matter, Is that COL
Gambler has gone out of his way to ln-
suit those who waged the successful cam
paign against Gen. Evans four years ago
As these forces were not making any nghe
upon him and seemed likely not TO. the let
ter is regarded By even the best friends or
Col Gambler as a bad break.
Gov. Atkinson, I'm a statement in refer-
ence to It, says in effect that II does not
seem that Col. Gambler fills the bill as the
man who can harmonic the clements i'm
state politics, as has been claimed by his
adherents. This is regarded as signifi-
cant, and may prove TO be the entering
wedge for a red not campaign.
The letter in fun is as follows;
without any solicitation on my part
find myself candidate for the Democratic
nomination for Governor of Georgia. The
men who are behind the movement are not
the professional politicians, the men who
control but the rank and file OF our party,
the great middle class, who pay the taxes
and bear the burdens OF government.
have never seen such an uprising or the
common people in my life.
ut is a rebellion against the men and
their methods who ravished the Demo-
cratic party in 1894, and have dominated II
ever since, the men who by methods Pc
culiar to themselves deprived Gen. Evans
of the nomination after he had fairly won
Ii.
IT was against them and their methods
then and they are against me now. there
fore feel at liberty to call on those, VINO
stood with me by Gen. Evans in the con-
test to stand by me now. We fought them
IN the same phalanx for pure Democracy
and clean methods with Gen. Evans as our
leader Now that the same flag has been
put into my hand and am battling az he
did for the same principles, invoke tnat
support for myself that we all gave the
General at that time Then by political
trickery we lost; now by united and honest
methods we will win. We are right, and
the people are with us. Many who We're
with the tricksters and traders then, dis
glisted with their methods are with us now.
Let us, therefore, be vigilant and active
and we win in October, bury them and
their nefarlous methods 50 deep that the
hands of resurrection will never reach
"Allen d. Gambler"
This morning when Gov. Atkinson was
shown a copy of the paper containing the
| letter he refused to believe that Col. Can
dler had written IT, He thought that ic
| was fake and upon that hypothesis, he
| prepared and gave out an interview
which, though 1t subsequently appeared
| by a telegram from Col. Gambler that
he really did write the letter, is neverthe-
less deeply interesting from political
| point of view. The Governors statement
| follows: II have no idea that Col. Cand-
| Ter wrote such letter. He could not be-
| inslncere. He has always professed
friendship for me, and admiration for my
administration to a degree that would
| forbid such an attack. Our relations have
| been OF the pleasantest character. have
| had for him the highest esteem, which
| was evidenced by the fact that upon his
| I annOfnfpd his G0n-in-laW Ward
| Roper as one of the engineers to survey
| and make maps Of the property of the
Western and Atlantic Railroad. My posi-
| tion in this campaign for Governor has
! not furnished ground for such a change
! in our relations. These relations have
! not been changed.
'It Is true that l have not promised him
my support, but IL Is also true that havv
| promised my support to no other person.
| / have declined to advise any one to run.
or not to run for Governor. Despite the
many false statements published to the
contrary, this has been and is now my
position, and j do not think Col. Gambler
would be so imprudent and unwise as to
attack the men who voted for me as
| tricksters and traders, guilty OF using ne
farloas methods. and Of ravishing the
! Democratic party.
However he might feel towards these
men, discretion would forbid his denounc-
! ing them in such terms while asking their
support Of his candidacy.
| why, il such charges were true, the
| whole Democratic party would be con-
! demned for ratifying such practices in the
| election of the nominee. The statements
contained in The letter purporting to have
| been written by Col. Gambler are not only
| a charge of dishonor against every man
who voted for me in the primaries, bur
| Is an imputation upon the honor of every
| one Of the many supporters OF Gen. Evans
who have accepted office under me. Such
men as Judge Howell Cobb of Clarke,
| Judge Harris of Floyd, Judge Weaver or
| Green. Judge Eve OF Richmond, Hon. c.
| H. Cohen Of Richmond, Judge Perry OF
| Burke, Judge Wooten OF Dougher-
! ty, Judge Jones of Dougherty,
| Judge Bower OF Decatur, Judge
| Harrison of Stewart, Judge Ryan
| CT Pulaski. Judge Wingheld OF Putnam.
| Judge Bennett Of Brooks. Mai. j. w.
/ Warren, Gen. j. Mcintosh Kell and Judge
| John s. Gambler his kinsman, and many
| other of Gen. Evans supporters who have
sought Office under me would not have dis
houored themselves by accepting appoint
4 ~ t,f al .t..<~