The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-15
Gordon's opponea.

Gordon's Opponent
The selection of Mr.. Calhoun By the op-
ponents Of Gen. Gordon as tasir caa1i late
appears to have caused surprise in Atlanta.
1t ought not to have done 50. Il has bsea
evident for a month or more that Mr. Cal
houa was the head and from, Il thu ODD 81
ton. IL tho inside fac-s could be
/ obtaiosd It would appea-. 4 Jub:less.
that tue ALLEN = leaders agreed
/ to give him the su9p)r- Of the alliance
/ members of the legislature even before ne
/ WIRE tie letters signed ''Gs)rgian,7 pro.
/ vided they were able to do 50, and that he
has done more than any one else u organ
lie the oppoNtiOl 20 Gel. Gordon. He Is
very ambitious man, a1d when Gen.
Gordon made that speech before the ALI
ance convention in Atlanta last August,
IN which be c-itici5ei the suO-s-els1-y
| Plan, be thought he saw opportunity,
probably, 10 secure the sen1torship for him
self. From things that have cropped out
since the campaign agains. Gen GlrI1n
began it looks as If be consulted with the
alliance leaders Immediately alter that
| sDesch, and reached an understanding with
them, and with their assistance organized
the campaign that resulted in his being
made the recognized candidate of the op-
position.
1t ispretty safe to say, as the MORNING
NEWS pointed out 10 its Atlanta dispatches
last Monday, that the calling to Atlanta of
number of prominent men from different
parts OF the state and placing OF them be-
fore the Glliaacemel as senatorial candi-
de,es was scheme to draw away from
Gen. Gordon some Of his strength. and not
bona Jide attempt to make one of them
the candidate Of the opp )sition. 1t looks
now, as it did then. as if it was the under
standing ell along that Mr.. Calhoun was
to be the candidate.
All things considered, Mr Calhoun is,
perhaps, the strongest candidate the opoosi-
ton could have named, with the exception.
possibly, of Mr.. duBiguon TIE latter.
however, it is well known, would not have
consented to become a candidate against
Gen. Gordon.
But Mr.. Calhoun's strength is not in his
popularity with the legislature. It doubt
full if many of the members of that body
had ever seen him before il becan ne under
stood that he was seeking the senator ship.
His strength is little. if any, more than
what the alliance leaders are able to give
him. Without tae help of those leaders he
would not in all probability, be able to get
dozen votes.
But are the alliance leaders ablo to give
him the votes of the great majority of the
alliance member OF the legislaturel 1t
does not now look SO. There are alliance
members who viii no. be- led by the alliance
leaders. Indeed. there are great many Of
that kind. They do not see why they should
give the best office in the gift of the legis-
lature to one who has never done anything
for the state. has taken no part in her pub
lie affairs, aud who spends very large
part of his tiule in New York as general
counsel for great railroad corporation.
1t is admitted that be is an able man and
wealthy oae, but it would seem as if the
alliance msmbers, II they did not choose an
alliancsman for senator, would at least,
favor man who is thoroughly identified
with Georgia and all her interests.
Gen. Gordon is known to everybody in
the state, and his fitness for the position of
senator is generally recognized. Mr.. CAL
people, and was comparatively unknown
youag lawyer of Atlanta until he became
prominent in the last Central railroad deal,
in which, it is alleged, he was fortu nate
enough 10 make quite a large sum of
money.
Now that he is pitted squa~ely and
openly against Gen. Gordon it will be seen
whether the alliance leaders can bring the
alliance members Of the legislature to his
support. 1t is pretty safe to say they can
not. The alliance members have been doing
great doal Of thinking with reference to
the senatofshi3 since they have been in
Atlanta, aud the Indications are that toey
are not going to permit themselves to be
used to further the schemes of a few alliance
leader.