The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-16
COL. ESTILL OFFERS PROOF.
MS ALLEGATIONS OF IRREGULARI-
TIES IN THE PRIMARY sUs-
tanned.


Knew What Was Going On-some
comment on the Brown Letter
with a Few Facts.
savannah, Ca. June 16, 1902.-To the
democratic Voters of Georgia: In an
swer to the statement furnished to the
newspapers by Hon. ]. NJ Terrell, in
which he undertakes to reply to my
letter of the 18th addressed to Hon. E.
T Brown, chairman of the State Dem
ocratic Executive Committee, 1 would
state that no charge has been made
against Mr.. Terrell. My letter was a
nrotest against the methods used at
the late election. That 1 am right in
what I said in my letter to Chairman
Brown is easily provable. Mr.. Terrell
and the newspapers that have criti-
cised my letter of the 18th do not know
the facts.
To prove the charges that 1 made in
regard to the way the primary was
managed, let me quote in extenso the
letter 1 received from Chairman Brown
under date of June 2:
Atlanta, Ca, June g 1902. Hon. ].
H. Estill, Savannah, Ga. Dear Sir
Your letter of Saturday received to-
day. and 1 have carefully noted what
YOU state in regard to the circular and
the ticket.
LAS to the circular of the chairman
from Cobb, Immediately wrote Mr..
CAN'T and herewith enclose a copy of
my letter to him.
81 had similar complaint from an
other county, and 1 wrote the chair
man of the committee of that county
letter to the same effect.
Upon receipt of your telephone mes
sage Saturday, 1 Immediately wrote to
the chairman of the committee of
Miller county. DR.. E, B. Bush,
and am sure that matter
will be corrected. AS to the ticket
enclosed by you'll beg to say that
since the State Committee passed its
rules I have made every effort to pro-
mulgate Them. and have repeatedly
cautioned all parties that if the rules
were departed from, they did it at their
own risk.
Il have repeatedly ruled that the
names of all candidates must be upon
the ballots. which must conform to the
folm of the official ballot as prescribed
by the State Committee.
IF any of the candidates or their
friends have violated these rules, they
have done so with their eyes open and
at their own risk.
Il have said time and time again
there is but one safe course to adopt
follow the rules of the StateCommit-
tee-neither add to them nor take from
then-tney are clear and easily I'M
Geystood
81 have done my best to hold the
SCALE evenly balanced between all the
candidates. and to see that every can
ddate was fairly and honestly treated
and had an equal showing with every
other candidate.
Il have promptly ruled upon every
question submitted to me. and have
ezerted every effort to see that the
State Committees rules were carried
out by the local committees.
After mature reflection upon the
question raised by you as to the en-
closed ticket, l have come to this con-
clusiOn-if these tickets have been gen.
orally distributed, it would be utterly
impossible. within two days before the
primary, to have them all recalled or
IN '"' - 7~n of them. therefore, any
ruling which I might make at this late
I, ~--..~ not ~ final. If the point
Is raised as to their legality the ques-
nil Ill.
ton for final decision. Any ruling
which 1 might make at this time would
In my opinion cause more confusion
than there would be to leave the mat
Ter to come before the convention.
l return herewith the circular and
the ticket.
With high personal regards, 1 am
yours truly E. T. Brown,
Chairman State Democratic Execu-
tive Committee"
It will be seen by this letter that
chairman Brown was aware of what
was going on, and was doing his best
70 enforce the rules laid down by the
state Democratic Executive Commit
lee, but without success.
Now, let me quote the rule:
The names of all candidates for Of
nee must appear on the ballot, the
not wish to vote"
also quote an extract from Chair
man Browns letter to Hon. J. N
Gantt, chairman of the Democratic
Executive Committee of the county of
Coob. In this letter, Chairman Brown
says:
My attention has just been called
10 a circular issued by you as chair
man of your local committee, stating
mat your committee had passed an
order to the effect that any ticket
not bearing the name of the chairman
OF the Executive Committee of your
county in print near the top, cannot
We used, and if used, the same will
De thrown out and the person casting
sucn ballot will lose his vote
respectfully call your attention
10 the rules of the State Committee,
ana the official form of the ballot
prepared and sent out under instruc-
uon of the State Committee.
IN my opinion the ruling of your
eommittee is in violation of the rules
Vi the State Committee, and If the
ruling of your committee should re-
suit in throwing out any tickets,
which in fact. conform to the rules
vi the State Committee and the Of
MEAL form of the ballot as prepared
under the order of the State Commit
zee and the point should be raised,
II might endanger the vote of your
Oouhty in the convention"
chairman Browns letter to Chair
"sh CAN'T was written two days be-