Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-09-12
GOV. ELECT BROWN
CALLS JOURNAL DOWN
Atlanta Paper Gets Inter
eSting Letter.

A sharp rebuke has been dealt the
Atlanta Journal by Gov.-Elect Brown
in letter to that paper. The con-
slant nagging of the journal did not
ruffie Mr.. Browns temper, and the
communication is dignifed, but none
the less cutting. The letter says:
Marietta, Ga, Sept. 3, 1908
Editor Atlanta Journal:
Dear Sir-Returning from a visit
of a fortnight to north Georgia and
western North Carolina, to which
went for rest, | have been shown
several copies of your paper of re-
cent dates | regret to note from
them that in its attempts to discred-
it thes democratic candidate for gov
ernor of Georgia the Atlanta Jour
nal is in serious danger of discred-
iting its own loyalty to the demo-
cratic party.
In my letter of announcement of
my candidacy, published March 18th,
[ used this expression: u have con-
fidence in the people, | have new
er wayered. / have confidence in
their love of fair play, taeir patriotism.
and, in a partisan sense, have conf
dence in the democracy of a decided
majority of them | may add that if
God spares me to have it, my admin
istration as Georgia's executive will
be based upon those words: Il have
confidence in the people"
Yol-do not seem to share with
me that confidence in them. On the
contrary, you seem to think they
constantly need a wet-nurse and
much spanking and strong hand
to lead them. You do not seem to
share their manifest confidence in
me, for of the entire citizenry of
Georgia you are practically the only
one who has seemed to doubt that
the democratic nominee for COVER
nor Of Georgia favors the election
of the democratic nominee for
president of the United States You
are practically the only one who has
chosen to propagate the tenets Of
distrust
On the very day that l accepted
the democratic nomination for gov
ernor of Georgia you sent a re-
porterSto ask me if | was going to
vote for Bryan. The question, ap-
peared so Inherently void of courte-
sy and common sense that / did not
deem it worthy of a direct answer
AS we'll might you have asked if l.,
a member Of the Baptist church, be-
lieyed in immersion.
Now, as a matter of fact, you
know that no citizen Of Georgia, not
even yourself, is going to vote for
Bryan" The citizens of Georgia,
in November, are going to vote for
candidates for electors. Hence it is
for each candidate for elector, not
for me, to answer the question, are
you going to vote for Bryan?"
Again, you know full we'll that
the state democratic convention, on
June 23rd nominated me for COVER
nor, and that same hour that same
convention nominated thirteen can
didates for electors. Yet, you ap-
pear to doubt whether the candidate
fer governor is going to vote for the
other candidates whom the same
convention the same hour nominated
That doubt you express in the teeth
of the fact that | have never voted
against state or national democratic
nominee, Notwithstanding the fact
that I have occasionally failed to
secure my personal preference.S
The>main point of difference be-
tween you and me is that | am conf
dent that the people of Georgia are
endowed with discernment and COM
mon sense while your columns in
dictate that You believe quite the re-
verse A like belief is ever liable
to work disastrous results to those
who entertain it. 1t never pays to
trifie with the people; he is always
safe who trusts them
In conclusion in your editorial
September 4th, in sneering at nv
expression, The rock of the peoples
rights" you say that there are two
such rocks. This assertion is anoth-
er of tho Journals errors. There
is only one rock of the people S
rights That will endure as liber-
tvs abiding place through all ages
But there was a sham rock mot
lreland's but the Atlanta JournaI's)
upon which the Journal took stand
three years ago, and over which the
tidal wave of the peoples disapproval
rolled | had hoped that all demo-
cratic papers would in good
faith abide by the decision of the
party as determined at the polls
June 4th. | regret that the Atlanta
Journal has shown a disposition to
wave the ffrebrand of discord rath
er than to clasp the hand of party
harmony, and trust that it may vet
conclude to give all of the democrat
ic nominees both state and national
not merely a perfunctory, but a cor
dial support.
Very respectfully,
Joseph M. BROWN.