The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-24
EVANS AHEAD ATHENS.
The General Makes a Much Better
Showing Than At Griffin.

bore off the hOuo~s Of the day. Al griffin
the candidates seemed to be feeling their
way. and the debate amounted to q
sraring match. To-day it was set-to
aud both were vigorous and aggressive,
and the debate was spirited from the
start 10 the Hnisb.
Gen. Evans was met by number Of
his friends at the Victoria hotel
Long before the hour had arrived for
the debate delegations from Hail, Jack
son. Clarke, Madison Oconee and Ogle-
thorpe were pouring in the opera house
An Evans club came from Jackson on the
morning train, headed by a band of
music. and on the same train came one
for Atkinson. while the city band led the
democracy of Clarke
The opera house was filed to its capac-
ity and many stood in the aisles. just
before II o'clock Gen Evans and Col
Atkinson arrived upon the scene, seated
in the same carriage. As the two men
came upon the stage the cheers were loud
aud prolonged. The students fayoriug
Evans and Atkinson occupied different
parts of the building, and Wed with each
other in yelling tor their fayoritcs The
majority seemed i'm favor of Gen. Evans.
EVANS INTRODUCED.
When the applause had subsidized r. l..
Bloomfield arose and introduced Gen.
Evans. Several minutes elapsed before
he was allowed TO begin. He referred
feelinrly TO his ministerial work i'm classic
Athens, and regretted his misfortune in
not being able to claim. like Col. Atkin-
son. her university as his alma mater,
s'but, said he THE state of Georgia is
my alma mater, and If Col. Atkinson has
been as true TO his as ] to mine. then of
him we have nothing to complain
Gen Evans charged that Col. Atkin-
son had been unfair AT Griffin in reading
only a part of his interview and striving
to leave the impression that he favored
letting foreign nations dictate our tinan-
cial policy. ave can go into conference
as a gold and silver country and
not compromise. 7 wish TO know
ii he was not IN favor of such a
conference" As to the issues of the
campaign. he said he stood squarely on
the Chicago platform, that he was in
favor of tariff for revenue only, fair,
equal and as low as possible. Money
should be abundant good, sound and
flexible: and, hence, he favored the free
and unlimited coinage of both gold and
silver on parity as contemplated by the
constitution.
THE INCOME TAX.
Gen. Evans charged Col. Atkinson with
being unfair al Griffin in seeking to leave
the impression by reading his interview,
and adding words Of his own that he did
not favor the income tax. In the inter
view Gen. Evans said the income tax was
as fair as any, and Col. Atkinson, he said,
had added no fairer" He was opposed
TO any increase Of the public debt. to the
issuance of bonds, and favored the repeal
of the 10 per cent tax on state bonds.
When he came to discuss state issues
he said that he too, like Mr.. Atkinson,
claimed a part of the honor in raising his
state TO the proud position She now occu-
pies. For the tutare advancement Of the
state he advocated public education for
all classes, better roads. no competition
between free and convict labor in short.
the Development of the whole state
THE PERSONAL ISSUE.
My opponent makes the issue personal
and says he is the logical candidate. that
he Is the only man in the state who should
be governor and that 7 am the only one
who should not because all my useless
life / have done nothing Perhaps me has
had his attention so long drawn TO him
self that he is incapable of seeing the
works Of other men The whole state
knows part of my services, for they were
with me After those dark days, /, with
others, stood in the breach and
made 1t democrat state, and
now Mir Atkinson says that he
should be made governor, because he
served eight years in the political legisla-
ture He is the first man who has de-
manded Office because he is a politician
and his opponent not one
Gen. Evans read the receipt from At
kinson to the state in full for services in
the betterments matter, which seemed
greatly TO annoy Col Atkinson When
said the general, will the state finish pay
ing of its debt to Col Atkinson2 II was
understood that the party owed him
nothing further when the crown of the
speakership was placed upon his noble
brow.
Gen. Evans paid a beautiful tribute to
the old soldier sentiment. which he said
Mr. Atkinson was endcdvoring to extiu-
guish. Gen. Evans said that had he been
a member of the legislature, he would
have voted to accept the home
The grand peroratiOn moved the entire
crowd, and he took his seat amidst cnthu-
static applause. Flowers were showered
upon him, and he was put in the univer-
sity colOrs.
ATKINsoN's REPLY.
Mr.. Atkinson was introduced by Mr.
Bloomfield. He referred to his connection
with the university and of the people who
had so warmly received him as a penni-
less boy. II was here, he said. that he
had met the woman who had since
blessed his life and hallowed his home
Gen Evans, he said had allowed his
ambition TO lead him on the political
held, and that they must meet as
men. He dismissed the old soldier
question by saying that he had
done more for the confederatcs than had
Gen. Evans. and he defended his vote on
the soldiers home. He entered without
preliminaries into the discussion Of polit-