Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-15
ATLANTA's LOST GRIP.
The City at Last Awakening to the Fact
that She is Not the Whole State.

that She is Not the Whole State.
ATLANTA, April 14.-It has long been
cherished custom here to look upon and
call Atlanta centre, as to enterprise,
business, commerce, railroads, music,
art, politics, and most everything else.
To the outside observer it has long been
apparent that this magic city is largely
inflated with wind, but the truth has been
slow coming home to the people on the
spot. The time, however, has at last ar
rived and there is a growing conscious
ness in Atlanta that she is losing her grip
on some Of these various specialties. The
music and art centres disappeared some
time ago, and latterly it is discovered
that instead of being a railroad centre
she has no railroad facilities which are of
much value to her. This discovery has
been made since the failure to get the
Georgia Midland, and so it is proposed to
build a paper road straight from Atlanta
to Underwater" In the meantime, fear
ing that other cities will take away her
business, all the mercantile interests here
are crOwding pressure on the Railroad
Commission to have it smash the pool and
take more extensive control of railroad
business. This last effort is expected to
eliminate on April 20, when the COM
mission will have the railroads of the
State stand up in front and show cause,
if they can, why all their traffic agree
ments shall not be set aside, as being in
furious to Atlanta.
THE CAPITOL, HOWEVER, Is STILL HERE,
and so is the artesan well, if Col
Baum is not allowed to escape before he
succeeds IN sinking an engine under the
street that will force the water upward
in constant stream. The politician is
also ON hand, Notwithstanding there has
been an apparent Indifference here on the
part OF those who make show Of run
ming the politics OF the State relative to
the gubernatorial contest, Atlanta will
not by any means be a passive element
in the work of the campaign. Unless
the signs fail she intends to keep the
gOVernorship here. The race is not to be
left to Bacon and Simmons, nor will en-
couragement be given to candidates fur
Their South or above Atlanta. This is the
solution of the recent efforts to develop
Gen. Gordon into candidate. An official
Democrat, not candidate, with whom |
talked to-day, said there need be no UNI
certainty as to Gen. GOrdOn's candidacy.
A conference of his friends held here re-
Gently to discuss the question and to adj
wise him resulted, it is said. in the I'M
broken opinion that he must run.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING
to have the names of these gentlemen at
this juncture, but an inquiry to that end
failed. A further luminous bit of quiet
gossip Is that Gen. Gordon, it is alleged,
has prepared for the press an address in
which ne announces his candidacy and
defines his position on certain questions,
especially that Of the Railroad Commits
sion. For some reason the publication of
. l.a u
deemed inadvisable, and il was withheld
for the present. 1t will, doubtless. be a re-
markable document, and draw the battle
lines for the great political fight that is
near at hand. 1t is not amiss to mention
that one element of strength claimed for
Gen. Gordon's candidacy is the soldier
element. This will be bulged to its ut
most upon the occasion of the visit of
| Mr.. Davis at the unwilling of the Ben
Hill statue. 1t would be a fine piece of
political strategy. Many of the survi-
vors of the fateful struggle will hasten to
| the spot to see, once more, and for the last
| time perhaps the noble old man, the chief
| OF the slOst cause.'' 1t VIII be a time to
warm the hearts and quicken the men,
cries of the veterans of the war. What
ever there is in this l do not know. but
| the average Atlanta politician is full of
| resources and eXpedients, and ii this
kind of tide could be relied on to bear hi
candidate safely TO the house, which
stands opposite our port of entry, he will
not hesitate to launch him then and
there.
THE PRESENCE OF Ex-GOv. SMITH
IN the city for several days has set tongues
to wagging vigorously. 1t is surmised by
some that he has both eyes on the situa-
ton and would not be aVerse to making
fight for his old place. His movements
have been noted and commented upon.
but if be has any serious designs he has
not talked it around with any degree Of
prOmiscuOusness. However, it is pretty
certain that he proposes to make a few
more speeches, and from here VIII go into
North Georgia and address the people at
various points. 1t is not generally be-
lieved that Gov. Smith is INDUCING in
this kind of campaigning for pastime, nor
entirely in the interest OF the Railroad
Commission. The question then is, what
does he mean by it?
SAVANNAH AND ATLANTA
evidently differ very widely in their
ideas of parks. The Atlanta idea is de-
velOpment of but recent date. IL is
nevertheless a remarkable development,
and is immensely satisfying to people
here. Grant Park few days ago was
made comparatively accessible by the
extension of an enterprising street car
line, and hundreds of people have taken
advantage of the opportunity to go out
and view the curiosity. The next Savan-
nah man who comes here will probably
be taken in charge by a committee and
carried out forcibly. After the park has
been picked out of the woods he will be
shown a rare mixture of natare and art
that Will fill him with wonder, but as he
is prOverbally well-bred and refined he
Will not allow this pent-up wonder to
aapana him till no aeaaDaa froun tho oopn