The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-28
ATKINSON HERE THIS WEEK
The Plan to Secure the Delegates From
Chatham.

A Caucus of the Atkinson Members
of the Citizens Club ArranFes It.
The Fact That the Present Demo
cratic Executive Committee Connot
Call the Nominating Primary in the
Way of Its Being Carried Out.
Chairman Charlton VIII Probably
Issue a Call for District Mass Meet
iugs to Choose Committeeman Some
time This Week-The New Commit
tee Provides for the Primary-The
Resolution Adopted at the Mass
Meeting of 1892.
The Atkinson men in Savannah are
preparing TO follow the example Of their
fellows in other counties of the state and
take snap judgment, that is if they are
not forestalled.
A caucus of twenty or thirty of the lead
ing members Of the Citizens Club who
are favorable to Atkinson, was held
night or two ago to take steps by which
the delegates of Chatham county might
be secured for Mr. Atkinson. Several
members of the democratic executive
committee were present. As the Citi-
zen's Club people are in the major
ity in the executive committee the caucus
found it easy work to lay its plans. 1t
was decided that a meeting of the eXecu-
tive committee should be called this week,
and that this meeting should order pri-
mary to be held this week or early next
week to select delegates to the guberna-
torial convention.
Mr.. Atkinson is to be in Savannah this
week. probably Wednesday or Thursday
night, and make a public address at the
theater. The enthusiasm aroused by his
address is calculated upon to arouse suf-
ficient enthusiasm to insure the election
of delegates favorable to his candidacy,
and it is proposed to announce the time
for the primary at the meeting at the
theater Immediately after the address
This is calculated to incline many of the
waverlng voters to Mr.. Atkinson in the
enthusiasm of the moment.
THE INSIDE OF IT.
The reason why such a programme
should be mapped out by the leaders of
the Citizens Club is another story. 1t is
well known that there are several leading
members of the club who are very strongly
in favor of Gen. Evans and who have so
declared themselves. As their influence
would feel bound to exert their influence
in behalf of their candidate, in order to
save dissensiOn in the club and let the
friends of Gen. Evans down easy, il is pro
posed to rush the primary for gubernato-
rial delegates through without giving an
opportunity for the club to pass upon the
question This will save any division on
this subject, and keep down discussion
that might lead to further dissension
among the numerous candidates who
compose its membership. The discussions
already existing in the club are as much
as its leaders can attend TO, without Civ
ing opportunity for further discussions.
The scheme was well laid, but it got
out too soon. The present executive com
mittee has no right to order primary for
any purpose, aud if it had it could not
order primary for gubernatorial dele
gates alone, but would be compelled to
order a primary for delegates for all pur-
poses, as provided for by the Rockwell
resolution adopted at the mass meeting
two years ago, upon which the present
committee is constituted. This, of course,
cannot be done at present.
PLENTY OF ATKINSON LITERATURE.
Mr.. Atkinson has been flooding the
county with literature for the last sew
eral days Scores of letters have been
received by prominent citizens, soliciting
their support and, it is alleged, they have
made various promises in return. Many
of these letters were addressed to pro
nOunced Evans men and the number that
have been received here have excited
some wonder
While there is no strong sentiment pre-
vailing among the masses of the demo
cratic voters in this county in favor of
either Gen. Evans or Mr.. Atkinson, the
friends of Gen. Evans are confident that
they have majority and that a fair cleo
ton will show this Consequently they
do not propose to submit TO any methods
that would lose the county TO their favor
lite. None of the clubs are unanimous
in this matter. 1t is believed, however,
that the majority of the mem bers of the
Tammany and Democratic clubs will sup
port Gen. Evans, while Mr.. Atkinson is
credited with having a majority in the
Citizens Club The members of the two
former clubs will see to 1t that the execu-
tive committee does not override its pre-
negatives and order a primary which 1t
has no authority TO order. AS the com
mittee would have the management of the
primary, and as the ma ority of the
committee are Atkinson men, the advau-
tage to the latter in pursuing such a
course is evident