The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-16
THE POTTS TELEGRAM.
MIR. Query Makes Some Further
Statements About 1T.

Statements About 1t.
Macon, March 14.-Editor Morning
News: While I have been engaged
during the week, both day and night,
in the work of the trial of the Dawson
water-worHs case at Dawson, Ca, and
have been giving little or no attention
to the gubernatorial campaign, 1 find
to-day after reaching home and review
ing the daily papers, quite a tumble
of misstatements relative to what is
being called the famous Potts tele-
gram" and to the Hon. R. L. Berner
and myself. These misstatements are
so numerous that it would be quite te-
dious to take them up and deny them
in detail, and do not think that such
course is really necessary.
What l have had to say upon this
entire subject is stated concisely in two
cards, namely, one in the Savannah
Morning News of the 4th inst, and
one in the Macon News of the 10th
inst; which two cards have been extern
sively published by the papers through
out the state. and l do not see any
reasonable excuse for the mass of mis-
representations to which l have re-
ferred. AS the misrepresentation
however, are being extensively read
and are making false impressions
among friends as we'll as opponents, 1
must exercise my right to correct them
as far as possible.
I have made no charge against Mr..
Berner whatever. Mr.. Berner has not,
by letter or otherwise, made any de-
mand upon me whatever, or conveyed
TO me any threat whatever
His letter was forwarded to me al
Dawson, and there was some Ieiay in
the mailing of my reply, but J pre-
sumo he must have received it yester-
day evening or this morning. Mr.. Ber-
ners letter did not contain a request
which was entirely respectful and
which is entirely worthy to be re-
spected and will be promptly COM
piled with, should 1 reach the conclu-
sion that it should be complied with at
all.
There seems to be a bungling effort
to raise issues between Mr.. Berner and
myself in order to divert attention
from the issues between Mr.. Terrell
and myself, but such effort shah no.
prevail if 1 can prevent it.
In the two cards mentioned and in
my speeches, have given publicity
to information, showing Qf that infor-
nation is correct), Mr.. TeTrelps secret
and officious interference with our sem
atoriaI affair in 1885, in order to illus
trate his politics and his prohibition,
and it happens, without any fault of
mine and it may be without any fault
of Mr.. Berner's, that his name, candi-
dacy and attitude in 1896 are material
parts of that information. All of this
information I feel 1 have a right to
use, not only as an opposing candidate
of Mr.. Terrell, but as a citizen of
Georgia and of the Twenty-second sem
atorial district, and especially as an
active participant in the Bib county
Democratic meeting referred to, taking
the part did in it, as l then thought
in Mr.. Berner's cause, and in the cause
of right and of correct politics.
The most material parts of that in
formation consist of the kilograms re-
ferred to. and of what Mr.. Frank NJ.
Potts is alleged to have said in relation
to the telegram, and to the effect that
Mr.. Terrell was the author of it; and
to clear up this matter so that those
who may desire to understand 1t cor
rectlv may be enabled to do so, 1 beg
leave to incorporate a copy of that
telegram, and of the alleged statement
of Mr.. Potts as contained in my card
to the Macon News of the 10th inst.
Atlanta, Aug. 10, 1896.
CT. j. CARING, care Senatorial Hall:
II am positively assured that Berner
will give no trouble to the brewing or
liquor interests of the state. Is it not
unwise policy to delay his nomination?
Answer.
(Signed). Frank M. Potts"
Some time after the date of the
telegram, Mr.. Frank NJ. Potts said
that he did not sign the same; that
j. NJ. Terrell engineered the scheme
with Berner."
Now let me suggest that the material
issues in the present campaign as to
this affair, are as follows:
First, was such a telegram sent in
the name of Frank NJ. Potts to T. j.
CARING?
Second. Was such a telegram re-
ceived by r. J. CARING?
Third. Did Mr.. Potts afterward say
he did not sign it?
Fourth. Did Mr.. Potts afterward say
that Mr. ]. NJ. Terrell engineered the
scheme with Berner, meaning thereby
among other things that Mr.. Terrell
had signed it or sent it?
Fifth. Did Mr.. ]. NJ. Terrell sign or
SEND it?
If Mr.. Potts said in substance that
he did not sign or send it and that
Mr.. j. NJ. Terrell did sign or send it
and these statements were true, it may
also be true that Mr.. Berner had no
knowledge of it at the time, and that
its contents were unauthorized so far
as he was concerned.
To simplify this matter entirely the
real question is, did Mr.. Terrell sign
or send this telegram or have any CON
nection with it, and if so, what con-
nection? OF course the facts as to this
particular question are not within my
own knowledge. but they are within
the knowledge of Mr.. Terrell.
Allow me further to say with refer
ence to Mr.. Berner, that I do not
believe that he has authorized any
thing for publication relative to what
has passed between him and me upon
this subject.
notice what seems to be a desire
among Mr.. Terrells friends to inau-
gurate between his oratorical support
ers and myself, a joint debate: or.
what might be called, under the view
of President Roosevelt as to the battle
of Santiago, captains fight" Mr..
Terrell, when it comes to being absent
from the scene of battle, is certainly
model Sampson, but 1 wish it dis
tinctly understood that 1 am no pent-
up or retreating Cervera~
DUPONT Query.
.