The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
BERNER OPENS HIS BATTLE.
THE INITIAL SPEECH DELIVERED
AT MONTICELLO.

hh Ate
ery-A Large crowd Ont to Hear
Him-Lower Taxes Declared Inn
pOssible-WouId bankrupt the
state Treasury Rather Than Cut
Down the Appropriation for PEN
siOns-Opposcs Exemption From
Taxation to Induce Manufacturers
to Come Into the state.
Monticello. Ca, March 12.-Hon. r. L.
Berner opened his campaign for the gov
ernorship in this, his native county, to-
day.
He was greeted by large and enthus-
iastic audience, most of them wearing
Berner badges, and his speech, which it
took three hours TO deliver, was a mas
terpiece of eloquence and oratory. From
the effect it produced upon his home poo
pie and the many visitors from other
places, it may well be predicted that SEN
ator Berner will be a much more potep-
tial factor in the impending contest than
the others have thus far been inclined to
concede.
From here Mr.. Berner will continue his
speech-making campaign, visiting every
county in The state, if he can do So before
the election takes place.
Senator Berner's speech was largely do
voted TO an application of the pro26si-
tons laid down by him in his letter of
announcement.
lie declared that he was not backed by
the politicians or newspapers, but pro-
posed to so direct to the hearts of the neo.
pie for his support His campaign head
quarters, he declared, would be in the sad.
die
one of the salient parts of his speech
was this: Il was told" he said ''when
1 announced for Governor, that I should
cry low taxes. 1 was ADVISED that ii would
eaten votes and greatly enhance my
chances of election; butt fellow citizens.
dare not tell the people of Georgia that
taxes can be reduced. They, cannot be I'M
less you strike down the common schools.
or the soldiers and widows pensions.
Taxes are lower in Georgia than any 9th
er Southern state. l challenge Col. Can-
dler to meet me upon that proposition. It's
an easy thing to cry low taxes, it is a
catchy phrase; it appeals to men who are
raising scent cotton, but it is not the
truth.
1T is the duty of men running for Of
flee to deal frankly with the people, to tell
them the exact truth and not try to de-
ceive them. I believe il is the states duty
to stand by these appropriations
At the opening Mr.. Berner threw down
what he termed 1.-THE gauntlet of defiance
to monopoly" and took up the banner of
equal rights to all men and all localities.
He followed closely thereafter the lire
| of his platform of principles given the pub
| lie on his original announcement
He explained the causes of the constitu-
ticn wherein no corporation was permit
| ted to make any contract that would les
sen or defeat competition, and the clause
| in relation to taxation.
| "And because" he said, iT have the
! courage TO do this l am denounced as a
wrecker of railroads, killer of factories
and an enemy to development, But, fell
low citizens If to defend the constitution
of Georgia brings these epithets upon me-
| l am proud to wear this badge of honor
and to take my stand with those other
railroad wreckers and factory killers, the
| lamented and pure Toombs HILL Ham
mond and Lewis
Mr.. Berner took up that portion of
J his announcement that related to freight
rates, taking the position that the people
of any town or hamlet, no matter how
thinly settled, were entitled to the same
| rates anu privileges from IdlIOuu COfDO-
rations that were accorded to cities
He spoke of his advocacy of the increase
of the common school fund and the fact
that he had always favored it,
He also reaffirmed his approval of the
payment of pensions to Confederate vet
Grams and paid an elegent tribute to the
old soldiers. Il stand for the $1,000. 900
appropriation he said, 81 have stood and
will stand by it forever. Is there a man
willing to take one cent from the appro-
priation for Confederate soldiers or their
widows In this state?"
NO" shouted his hearers in unison
Taking this as a cue. he delivered an
eulogy on the Confederate soldiers that
at its close brought his hearers almost
to their feet.
Concluding this feature he said: BE
fore one of these heroes or their widows
should go over the hills to the poor house
would bankrupt the treasury of this
grand old commonwealth"
He spoke at length on the question of
exemption from taxation, prefacing his re-
marks on this line by matchless tribute
TO the progress the state has made and is
continuing to make. '1And [ am" he said.
ready 70 contribute to bring about more
progress in any way but could not ap-
prove of the bankers and manufacturers
convention to bring foreign capital here
ana exempt IL from taxation. L am opposed
to 1t scalp and heel. stand for the con-
sttution of Georgia and not this conven-
ton of bankers and manufacturers. L stand
by the first convention and not the last. 4"
He said this exemption Would lessen the
burdens of the rich and double the burdens
of the poor.
He said friend of his in Atlanta had
said: Bob, you are making great mis-
take in bringing this tax exemption bust
ness into politics. I am afraid you'll kill
IT,"
SAID My friend. its already dead,
and continued Mr.. Berner '.ifsI do no
other thing in this campaign / thank God
have accomplished this glorious result
Ny distinguished friend, Judge Atkinson
stands by this convention. stand by the
peoples convention"
j. G. sCHRIEvEa ILL.