Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-15
~@<fI to | X q l
For
llIO OOC I'LL G OOl IL - OkCLO
THE JOURNAL DOES NOT
"sMoTHER" NEWS

To the Editor Of The Journal:
The Journals joint debate is an enjoya-
BILE feature, and 1 wish to express my ap-
probation of your notable fairness and lib
erality toward all the gubernatorial can
didates. but at the same time regret that
few of the other papers have shown an
equal spirit of fair dealing, and it is this
attitude of the press against which I
would warn the people.
/ think the policy declared by the big
dailies-the one of not championing the
cause of any individual candidate most
commendable one if it were carried out
in good faith. 1t were far more honorable
to fight a man openly, however,, in the
editorial columns than to adopt the IN
demanded and much more effective meth
cd of smothering him in the news col
umns. This process of smothering Mr..
Guerry was exposed by a clipping from
the Cobb County Vindicator. which APP
peared in The Journal a few days since.
1t tells that Mr.. Terrell and Mr.. Query
both visited Calhoun. and how the local
paper in writing up the occasions gave
Mr.. Guerry six lines and 2 column or
more to Mr.. Terrell, and then shows that
this Is the course that has been pursued
by the dailies of the state.
Now 1 maintain with the above men,
toned paper that the daily press has not
dealt fairly with Query; that while de-
partisan. they have really fought him In
very telling and not very praiseworthy
manner. Now, as cannot be denied, the
thing that has gained Terrell more sup
port than anything else,-is the impression
that became general some months ago
that his election was certain. and the
papers have given Terrell the best support
he could desire by keeping up this I'M
preston with their smothering process.
Whenever Query makes a speech or his
friends any demonstration some obscure
corner is allotted to it, while Terreli's do
fngs and savings are chronicled in bold
headlines. This is only one of the few
unjust methods that have been practiced
by some hypocritical papers. but L an
glad that there is stiG enough of the old
AngIo-Saxon spirit LETT among US to de-
mand fair play. for, as the Vindicator
SAYS, publicN sentiment has caused them
to mend their course somewhat recently.
The above course has deceived many
who would support Query. for. as they
do not like to cast their ballots in vain,
they will cast them elsewhere, as this
clipping from a South Georgia paper
shows: I'VE call attention to the fact
that some men are about to be deceived
by the saying. Query cannot be elected,
therefore let us vote for Estill. This Is
neither patriotic nor polite; 1t Is decep-
tive. For a Guerry man to vote for Estill
is virtually to vote for Terrell
So. Mr.. Editor, / would admonish the
people not to be deceived by these meth
DDS, for no man has a cinch on the gov
ernorship but Guerry's chances are great
er than any other. for IL is a fact, admit
ted by those opposed to him. that he Is
making rapid strides forward each day.
Does anybody know what Terrell stands
for? True, he says he is rock-ribbed
Democrat. but how can a mans position
on the Kansas City platform affect the
local problems confronting US in Georgia.
True, he says he favors-not very en-
phatic-certain things, and will not op-
pose others II the people, wish them In
other words, his position is a. negative
one. on the other hand, everybody knows
where Dupont Guerry stands.
Some fnsinuations have been made about
Guerry's motives. ] recently had an ex-
ample OF his incorruptibie purity brought
to my notice A friend of mine IN a cehs-
tafngcounty rendered him about hundred
votes from a body of men that were some
what doubtful because of the time the
men were resident in the county. And
though men of known integrity had ac-
cepted them before him, and though they
might possibly determine that county, ne
refused them. May the day soon come
when the people Of Georgia win put IN Of
fee such noble characters as this insteaa
Of pot politicians. Yours respectfully
]. f. CARSWELL-
Hephzibah. Ga.