Tuesday, 7th April 1914: Cobb County Democrats Ask Slaton To Resign, The Atlanta Journal

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**Committee Declares Governor Should Quit Office to Conduct Senate Campaign**

(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)

MARIETTA, Ga., April 7. The Cobb County Democratic executive committee this morning adopted, with only one dissenting vote out of twenty members present, the following resolution in regard to the candidacy of Governor John M. Slaton for the United States Senate:

Be it resolved by the Democratic executive committee of Cobb County, this day assembled, as follows:

We note that Governor John M. Slaton has announced as a candidate for Senator to fill the unexpired term of the lamented statesman, Hon. A. O. Bacon. We note further that the newspapers quote Governor Slaton as stating that he will continue to hold the office of Governor until after the primary nomination for Senator. We hope that our distinguished Governor has been misquoted in these publications. We feel that Governor Slaton should do as Attorney General Felder has done, step down and out if he is going to be a candidate for the Senate, and not use the office of Governor or neglect duties that the people have elected him to, for the purpose of furthering his political ambition for another office.

Resolved, further, that there is a growing impression among our people that it is the purpose of Governor Slaton, as a last resort, to grant a pardon to Leo M. Frank, who stands convicted of the murder of little Mary Phagan. We are reminded of the fact that Governor Slaton's law partners are the leading attorneys for Frank.

In order to set at rest any undercurrent feeling that it might be the purpose of Governor Slaton to come to the rescue of his law partners, and pardon Mr. Frank after the Senatorial primary, we call upon the Governor to conclusively define his position in this matter by passing up his commission, resigning his office, relieving himself of any criticism, and placing the responsibility upon his successor to deal with this most vital question.

Resolved, further, that a copy of these resolutions be furnished by the secretary to Governor Slaton. The resolutions were signed by T. J. Conner, acting secretary, and J. M. Bishop, chairman.

**"I Don't Know Evidence or Merits in Case," Says Slaton**

Governor Slaton issued the following statement when the resolutions of the Cobb County committee were brought to his attention:

"I do not know the evidence in the Frank case, nor its merits, nor whether it will ever come before me. It is still in the courts, and any consideration of the matter by me would be impossible.

"I was elected by the people and have no right to resign except by their consent. If the sovereign people elect me to another position they consent to my resignation. If they do not wish me to be Senator, I shall continue in the office to which they elected me."

**Burns May Not Submit Report Until Next Week**

Detective Says Men are Finding New Points in Frank Case Every Day

Indications were Tuesday that the report of Detective William J. Burns on the Mary Phagan murder case will probably not be made until the middle of next week, or a few days before the day set for arguments on the defense's extraordinary motion for a new trial, April 16.

The detective says he and his men are finding new points in the case every day, and this evidently is delaying his final report. Burns still declares he is not going to be hurried in the matter, as he desires his report, when made, to be final, complete and strong enough to convince Solicitor Dorsey and everyone else of the guilt of the man he will name as Mary Phagan's murderer.

While still refusing to make a definite statement, Burns continues to indicate in his talk that he will name Jim Conley, not Leo M. Frank, as the murderer. The detective is making his investigation exhaustive and he has already interviewed practically every known witness of importance in the case except Conley and the city detectives. Burns on Tuesday made no effort to see the Negro Jim Conley.

Solicitor General Dorsey is expected to return Wednesday from Valdosta, where he has been visiting relatives, and the detective will then probably call on the state's attorney. Attorneys for the defense Tuesday would not confirm the published report that they have secured a large number of new affidavits which will be incorporated in an amendment to the extraordinary motion for a new trial for Frank.