The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-03
MR.. SMITH IN ATLANTA.
His Presence There Starts Political
Gossip.

Eeved that BE IS Laying his Plans
for Further Political Advancement
other Candidates, Some for Cover
nor and Others for Senator. A Batch
ofPolitical Talk.
Atlanta, Sept. 2-Tho visit Of Secre-
tary Hoke Smith to Atlanta this week
he remained three days talking things
over" with his friends when he expected
to get away again the same day
of his arrival-had the effect
of Frightening up gossip in
state politics not little. / do not mean
to say that the stalwart secretary's visit
had any direct political significance
in it, but the fact that with
the same bound that seated him in the
Presidents cabinet and gave him ma
tional prominence he also came into po-
sition that makes him a powerful factor
in state politics as well-for Hoke Smith
holds big handful ST Georgia patronage
in his massive palm. and pa tronage, you
know, helps to make power in these de-
generate days. This being so, his COM
ings and goings are bound to be political
events.
Speaking of the Secretary of the Int
the most important but the one that is
briefest told is that-like all other states
men, l presume-he has become a miser-
ably bad penman.
HIS HANDWRITING HAS CHANGED.
Before he went to Washington he wrote
a fairly smooth hand q used to see his
chirography frequently on the court
records) but the other day when the gov
ernor CHANGED to show me little scrap of
y, he TOW haA loft on n &c
desk at the executive Office
during his absence, did not
recognize it at all, and
in fact could hardly make out the sigma
ture, it was so cramped and irregular.
You would never expect such big, easy
going man as Hol1e Smith to write such
pesky, little hand. But twas ever thus.
Henry Grady developed the same re-
markable-that is to say quite natural
degeneracy in handwriting. Ct do not
intend comparison, because MIR. Grady
was not q statesman, but only an editor)
When he was an ordinary reporter he
wrote plainly enough, but the graceful
touch was a lost art when he became
great editor.
THE SECRETARY IS AMBITIOUS.
The other point have in mind in con-
nection with Secretary Smiths presence
here is that he wants to be United States
senator from Georgia-that is unless he
is nominated for the vice presidency on
the next national ticket. | think know
what 1 am talking about when l say this,
for have my cue from a gentleman who
possesses the secretary's confidence to
such an extent that he knew of his APP
pointment to the cabinet before Mr..
Smith knew it himself. How this hap
pened cannot inform the public, because
It might embarrass Mr.. Smith, myself
and the other gentleman. Bnt it is So
unless the gentleman to whom l refer al
lowed himself to soar beyond the bounds
of veracity. In that case l will ''call him
down, y as gentlemen say among them
selves here IN Atlanta, as soon as I dis
cover him in his true light. Nevertheless,
to all outward appearances, this gentle
man sis 3ron the most friendly
terms with the Secretary of the Interior,
(the only reason he has not been given an
office, is because he does not want one, he
tells me- and when he says Mr.. Smith
asplres first to the vice presidency and
next to the Senate. In the absence of
another precedent, believe him to the
letter. The secretary, so 1 am led to be-
lievo, has distributed his favors with this
end in view. He will, of course, serve
out his term in the cabinet,
and make no effort to succeed Sena-
tor Colquitt this time. But, as am in
formed the secretary will not antagonlze
Mr.. Colquitt if he desires to succeed him
self next year, and in the event of the
senator's RESIGNATION, crowded, of course,
he is re-elected-will bob up as the illogical
successor. Or he will take the field
against Gordon should other plans mis-
carry. The idea sought to be conveyed is
that MIR. Smith will go to the Senate or
know the reason why, excepting always
of course, that higher honor to which
l have referred in speaking
of his ambition. is not conferred upon
him by the national democratic conyen-
ton in 1896.
NO FRESH POLITICAL NEWS.
In the beginning of these paragraphs
said Mr.. Smiths visit had revived politi-
cal gossip 1 might complete my letter by
throwing in lot of this talk, but it
would be little more than rehash of
what has been the rounds a dozen times
already. There is really nothing that is
fresh in political news-in fact
more than half that is sent
call talked" 1t originates mainly in the
fertile brain of the writer. His paper
calls upon him for political news and he
Just sits down, and going over the list of
men whose names have become familiar
IN the political arena, puts them out for
any Office that happens to strike his fancy
and that, too, without so much as CON
sulting the preferences OF his nominees or
considering their qualifications Most
anybody would like to be governor
or United States senator, ana nobody
gets mad at being ''rumored" this way
1t ticl1les their vanity and is a source of
consolation after the ballots are counted.
AT the same time the accommodating
news gatherer has covered himself with
glory and draws his salary with severe
punctuality.
FEW POINTS THAT MIGHT BE MENTIONED.
But there are several points that
have the bloom on them yet There has
been good deal published about |
an alleged combination be-
tween Clay and duBignon |
Ior the governorship and the Senate. Mr.. !
clay was here a day or two ago, and to |
ms friends he appeared to be very much |
wrought up over their report. He will |
not talk to newspaper men about his can
Qldacy because it is too early in the day |
Tor that, but he nevertheless denies the |
alleged combination to others whenever |
Ihe opportunity offers. This is given for |
what it is worth
Another thing that seems to be settled |
IS that Mr. Atkinson viii !
ue gubernatoriaI candidate |
a.so' A dispatch was sent out from here |
several days ago stating that Mr.. Atkin- |
son mad himself said he would be in the |
race. he did mot iOtpud IN no mt ont |