The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-19
GAMBLER AND THE CHALLENGE
HIS FRIENDS OPPOSED TO THE
JOINT DEBATE IDEA.

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xinsOn's OHer-Candler's Answer
TO Be Given To-day or on Monday
Gambler Looked Upon as Weak in
Joint Debate as Compared Win
His RivaIs-NO Word Received
From Tom watson.
Atlanta. Ga, March Ex-senator R. L.
Berner to-day wired an acceptance oil
Judge Atkinson's challenge for joint de-
bate from his home at Forsyth. Judge At
kinsons letter, a copy Of which was print
ed in these columns, having reached HIM
there.
Judge Gambler also received his letter to-
day. but for the present he is non-commit-
tai as TO whether he will accept or not 1t
Is understood that he wishes to confer
with some of his friends and that his an
swer will be given tomorrow or Monday
Some of Col Gamblers most influential
friends and advisors are out and out OPP
posed to any joint discussion of any kind
They justify their opposition upon the
ground that such debates never do any
candidate any good and always create dis
sension and strife in the party ranks
In the committee meeting yesterday the
Candlerites fought the joint debate idea,
a resolution condemning 1t being favored
by them. The Atkinson and Berner men,
however, openly say the reason that the
Gambler men are Directing to a joint de-
bale is that Col. Gambler is not a match
for his opponents on the stump.
As indicative of the feeling on this subject
an incident of the committee meeting is
good Illustration. Boykin Wright an ar
dent Gambler man, was making fiery
Gambler speech, in which he declared that
his candidate was able and willing to
meet any opponent on the stump; that he
had made a glorious record as fighter
in the old Ninth district.
At this juncture Mr.. Whitney of Doug
las arose and asked Mr.. Wright if Coz.
Gambler had ever met Emery Speer in
Joint debate when he was campaigning
against him In the Ninth district.
As a matter of fact, Mr.. Speer chai- |
lenged Mr.. Gambler TO joint debate, and
he declined to accept it, and this put the
laugh on Mr.. Wright of Augusta. The |
candidates are preparing to take the field |
TO do the pyrotechnic part of their cam
paign.
ing on rapidly for the past month and the |
managers of both Col. Gambler and Judge |
Atkinson here say that their affairs are /
in good shape. Little is known here of /
the work being done by Mr.. Berner, as /
he works from his home in Forsyth. 1t Is /
understood that he intends to do most of /
his work during the tour he is preparing |
to make through the state, which tour
will carefully avoid the city people. Both /
Mr.. Berner and Judge Atkinson are MAX
ing up programmes which will in some |
instances cover two and three counties |
in a day, speaking morning. afternoon and /
night. They intend TO get before many /
people as they can. While they favored |
a later primary at the meeting of the COM
mittee, it seems that they are pretty well |
satisfied for what they lose in time for
speech making, they expect to make up for
in the use of the cry of 'snap judgment"
The claim will be made that the Gambler |
men stocked the cards against them in the
committee.
AS already stated in the report of the
committee meeting, there was a great deal
of bitterness manifested, although the
Gambler people are trying now to make it
appear that everything was lovely and |
harmonious With the cry of snap judg
ment and slate being used on the stump, /
this acrimony As likely TO be increased TO
a state of party soreness that will be hard |
TO heal after the nomination.
Up to the present no word has been re-
ceived here from Tom Watson Repeated |
efforts have been made to get at him for /
interview purposes, but without avail, and {
it is therefore not known whether he in |
tends to accept the Populist nomination or |
refuse it. Those who are advancing the |
prediction that he will accept, point signifi-
cantly to the fact that the Populist con- |
yention was absolutely dominated by Maj. |
Charles f. McGregor, who bears the title /
of Mr.. Watson's mouth piece. 1t was Mr.. /
vino told the convention that Mr.. /
Watson had said he would not refuse the |
nomination and thus stampeded the con- |
vention to him. Also when the platform /
was being made the fight against the /
anti-barroom plank seemed about to sue
coed. MAJ. McGregor brought the conven-
ton to terms by declaring that Mr.. Wat |
son could not be induced TO run with |
that plank in his platform.
Friends representing Congressman Car |
ter Tate and Howard Thompson, who is |
running against him in the Ninth district |
met here to-day at the Kimball House and |
tried 10 arrange a series of joint discus |
sions. After three hours conference how |
ever, they failed TO agree and Mr.. Thomp- |
sons challenge to Col. Tate is now off. |
They could not agree upon the terms of |
the debate, Mr.. Thompson's friends insist |
ing that the right of either candidate to |
make outside speeches be. recognized and |
Mr.. Tate's friends holding that this was
a matter with which only the candidates |
themselves had any right to deal.