The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-08

The Speaker Nav Be Our Next Gov
eTlOT or Senator.

An Interview Which Shows That He
Is Watching Both Prizes, the Gov
ernorship Particularly He Dodges
Defining His Position in Plain Terms.
Crisp's Reelection as Speaker Don't
Remove Him From Among the Sena-
torial Possibilities.
Atlanta. Ga. Aug. Hon. w. Y. At
hinson. speaker Of the state house of rep
resentatives. and chairman Of the state
democratic executive committee, was in
Atlanta to-day. and this afternoon held
confidential conference with the gov
ernor
Mr.. Atkinson. it is well known, did de
voted work in the recent cam
paign. and the report that he
was to receive a lucrative APP
pointment from Uncle Sam in re
turn for his loyalty, which was sent
out from Washington some time ago, was
received with general approval. But the
gentleman from Coweta has not yet re
ceived the plum that was said to be ripe
for him and this fact is the subject Of
more or less comment by the slate
makers, who have already begun to write
up the next state and senatorial campaign.
"Where is Atkinson That Is the ques
ton, Just as pertinent as what is Blount
going to do?"
AS speaker of tine house and chairman
OF the state committee, Mr., Atkinson has
had splendid opportunity of making
himself solid with the people, and the fact
that there does not seem to be much pros
pect of his being called to the government
service in a way that would meet his &C
ceptance leaves him formidable factorln
the field, either for the senate or the ex-
ecutive chair.
HIS EYE on BOTH PRIZES.
Mr.. Atkinson thinks so himself, and in
conversat iOn at the Kimball to-day said
something which shows that he does not
mean to see both these prizes slip away
without a say so in the matter.
what about the gubernatorial out
lookl" he was asked.
Col. Atkinson smiled significantly as he
replied. people are writing me letters
every day asking me what am going TO
do about that and-well l guess he'll be
elected next year, don't yOu3"
"You mean that they want to know
whether you are a candidate before they
pledge themselves to the other fellow"
"And what do you say in reply to these
letters"
Col. Atkinson ran his fingers through
his curly hair for moment thOughtfully
''Do you think any of the Georgia dele
cation will vote for the unconditional re-
peal of the Sherman actl' he broke off.
Yes Turner"
"Well l don't. | see Senator Gordon
has denied that he said he would do So"
But the governorship, colonel
'Oh, l don't mind saying it, in fact |
would have announced it myself the other
day in a speech which l was TO have made,
but didn't. I am out and out opposed TO
the unconditional repeal of the Sherman
act
"And you say in answer to these let
''The repeal should not be agreed to I'M
less there is a free coinage resolution
tackled on to it; that's my position"
CRIsP's REELECTION.
"On the governorship!"
Exactly"
"Well if it suits you better what effect
will Mr. Crisp'5 re-elestion as speaker
have on the senatorial situation"'
With quickness that shows he has
considered this move very closely, Col.
Atkinson replied: THAT does not take
him out of the lists at all by any means.
His term as speaker expires Just as the
term of the new senator begins"
Don't you think though that he would
have Clnch on third term and would
prefer it to the senatorial toga if he could
get it,"
Not exactly. 1t all depends on what
this congress does, whether or not we viii
have the House next time We are in the
position of the last congress when the re
publicans had a new measure to place
before the country. They were defeated
on that measure. There is no telling
what may happen 10 us, too.
4
be a scrambling candidate, but out of the
multitude who undoubtedly want Senator
Colquitt's seat, it would not be hard for
Judge Crisp to play his hand so that he
would just naturally drop into the race
at the right time"