The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-11
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GEORCIA'S COVERNORSHIP.
The Fight As 1t Is Affected By Clay'S
Withdrawal.

- ~~N%-NAA1NAA 1ANA Il ais tAAb GEOAh4AGAk
Aspirants at the Moment-The Form
er Expected to Have the Backing Of
the Politicians, and the Latter That
of the Old Soldier Element-To Dt-
vide the Church Vote.
Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 10-Hon. A. s.
Clay's letter, published by the daily pa
pers Of the state this morning, finally an
nOuncing that he would not be a candi-
date for the gubernatorial nomination,
generally discussed by legisla-
tors and politicians, and is res
garded as the first gun Of has been
the Atkinson campaign. While Senator
Clay says, in his letter, that his determi.
nation not to make the race, though he
had seriously considered It, is In the in
terest of no aspirant to the gubernatoriaI
office, it Is plainly evident to the political
prophets that Col. Atkinson bases strong
hopes of success uDon Senator
Clay's action. Col, Atkinson is squarely
in the field. He has made no formal an-
nouncement of his candidacy, and may
not for some time yet, but he does NOT
hesitate to state TO his friends his inten.
tion TO make the gubernatorial race to q
finish. Col. Atkinson had his mind made
up some months ago, and the MoRNING
News was the first paper in Georgia TO
announce the fact that he would be cam
didate, the statement coming directly
from himself. At that time Mr. Clay was
regarded as sure TO be n candidate also,
and there is no doubt but that both had
determined to seek the nomination up to
the time the legislature met
THE CONFERENCE.
Then it became plainly evident that ona
or the other would have to stand aside,
and the MORNING News again came to
the front with an exclusive account OF
the conference between the friends of the
two gentlemen for the purpose of arriving
at solution of the situation. In the ac-
count of this conference it was stated
that Mr.. Atkinson had declined TO be the
one to stand aside, and that Senator Clay
would, in all probability, give in. Senator
Clay and Col. Atkinson have, however.
always continued on the most friendly
relations, and to-day are better friends
than ever. IL seems to have been little
game of "bluff, ," in which the gentleman
from Coweta scoOped the pot, so to
speak, for Col. Atkinson has since told
his friends that had President Clay in
sisted upon taking the beld, he would noh
have antagonized him. AT the same time
Col. Atkinson would have made the race
against any other man. But his relations
with President Clay have always been
such that had the emergency 80 arisen he
would have surrendered his own claims
rather than made such contest.
oLAY's HELP COUNTED on.
This close friendship between the
speaker of the House and the president of
t1,saG GN,,,n 70. ,as..
bluff" is what the prediction that
President Clay will turn in and help
the cause OF the man from Coweta is
based upon. Without the opposition of
Senator Clay, Col. Atkinson will bring to
his support the strongest political in-
fiuences in the state. He is fine politi-
clan himself, and will have the backing
of the politicians, which win make tho
contest between himself and Gen. Evans
a peculiarly interesting one. Gen.
Evans has never been in politics, and
so far at least does not figure In any COM
binations on the gubernatorial question.
Gen. Evans is confederate veteran, and
the fact that Col. Atkinson was one of
the '99" who opposed the confederate
home, will probably give Gen. Evans the
almost solid support of the old soldiers as
against Col. Atkinson's sOldity with the
politicians. Gen. Evans is an active
worker in the church and his friends
claim that he Will draw great strength
from this source, but Col Atkinson is
also a consistent Christian, though not a
preacher, and his friends think that he
will stand an even chance on this point.
TO RUN ON LIVE ISSUES.
AS for the soldier vote, it is urged that
the defeat of the gallant Fitz Hugh Lee
in Virginia shows that, if the campaign
is made one of live issues, he has little to
fear from the veterans because his oppo-
nent is one and he is not. Mr.. Atkinson
intends to make the race on live issues
When ne makes his formal announce
ment he will put himself upon record on
all the questions of the day affecting the
people, and there will be quite number
of these questions for the next admins
tration TO answer.
In connection with Senator Clay's let
ter of to-day there is one particularly in
teresting question that is being asked
That is, where does the gentleman from
Cobb figure ia the combination as regards
the futurei He is q man Of ability and
push, hardly the man TO give up lauda-
bic ambition, where he has a fighting
chance, without some strong assurance OF
reciprocity. He is also a politicion of
irst-rate ability and success, aud holds
strong hand with the influences" !" and II
he consented 10 stand aside for another
this time the question naturally is, what
is on the other side of the slater