The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-12
POPULISTS MADE NO GAINS.
The Big Vote for Their Ticket the
Result Of a Combine.


1000 Larger Than in 1se2-The Pop
ulist Vote This Year Just About
Equal to That of the Republicans and
Populists in the National Election.
Atlanta, Ga, Oct. 11,-As a general rule
figures are considered dry reading, but
here are few taken from
from the official records in the office of the
secretary of state to-day, that will be
found highly interesting. They will have
been awaited anxiously since the day of
the state election and they furnish much
food for thought by the student of the po-
litical situation in Georgia.
Since the day of the election, with its
attendant surprises all interest has CEN
tered in the announcement of the total
vote cast in the state, the official major
ity of the democratic ticket and the real
strength developed by the populists at the
polls. In order to ascertain the vote cast
the Morning News correspondent to-day
made consolidation of the votes cast for
all the candidates for state senator in
each of the "A districts from the official
returns in the Office of the secretary of
state. This consolidation gives an ac-
curate and reliable estimate of the total
vote cast for the two state tickets, and
furnishes the basis for an interesting COM
over two years ago.
The total number of ballots cast for
both populst and democratic candidates
for state senator's was 216,957. OF this the
democratic candidates received 125, ,825 and
the populists 81 0S2, making the total ma
1ority OF the democrats over the popu-
lists 34,743.
When the vote for governor and state
house officers is consolidated by the legis-
lature it will be found that this figure,
34,745, will not be materially changed, as
the majority of the state ticket. MI At
kinson, 1T is conceded ran behind his
ticket several thousand votes, but just how
much his majority over Judge Hines will
fall short of the majority of his ticket
over the populist ticket cannot be told
until the legislatures consolidation. The
| hgures given here are official, with the
exception of six counties, Colquitt, Early,
| Twiggs Echols, Mcintosh and Worth.
| The consolidated returns of these counties
are not yet in the hands of the secretary
| of state. the returns sent to him being con-
| fused and incomplete. The records, how
| ever, for two years ago. show that these
! six counties polled an aggregate of 4,352
| democratic and 2120 populist votes for
| members of the legislature. Their vote
! this year win be about the same, and for
| the sake of the completed estimate, the
| figures of two years ago are used.
! Now for some interesting and
| surprising comparisons 1t has been the
! general impression that the vote pOIled
last week was a very light one, but the
figures show that it was heavier than
usual, In 1892 the total vote cast In the
state election was 209, ,482, as against 2l6,-
907 this year. Gov. Northen's majority
over Col Peek was 71,502, as against a
democratic majority this year OF 34,743
| There was no fusion between populists
and republicans two years ago, and there
was this year, as the figures will show.
| Col. Peek received in 1892 1890 votes
against 81, ,0S2 cast for the populist ticket
this year, a gain of $4,000 in round num-
bers, all of which gain is in black votes
The vote for presidential electors in 1892
shows the real situation. Then the popu-
lists and republicans voted for their own
candidates separately with the result
Populist, 1887; republican, 1896. CIeYe-
| land drew out the full democratic vote
which was 1886, or a majority of 38. JAP
over the combined vote of the populists
and republicans. A significant fact is
that the vote for the populist ticket this
year is just about the combined vote of
the populists and republicans cast for
electors two years ago, it being 81 ,0S2
while the consolidated strength of the
two parties when they had separate can
ddates was 81, 24I.
For the presidential election the total
vote in the state, with 3, ,3i3 scattering
was 223,973, or only about 10000 more than
were polled in the state election last week
while the vote for the state ticket this
year exceeds by 5000 the vote for Gov.
Northen two years ago.
All this is interesting reading in view
of the claim that the democratic majority
has been cut down heavily. Figures do not
lie. The only regret is that they could not
be had early enough to throttle the wild
cries Of the populists in their their throa.s
before they passed their lips.
The Official consolidation by Gov Nor
then and Secretary of State Gambler to-
day, shows that the surrene court amend
ment and the summer session amendment
have been lost while the pension amend
m"nt has been carried.
The supreme court amepdmon- received
56,Sz7 votes for It and 59273 against. being
defeated by a majority of 2,oj2.
The summer session amendment got
25.E-t with 69.@55 eg tlhaI il. b. ing DO
fsated by 3379s voses.
IRE pension amendment received ca 20
ard there were i6,9lJ against 1t, the major
ity ly which it was carrie! berx 17,GsU
1t was reported this afternoon that
Chief Justice Bleckley would resign,
rather than to continue the arduous
duties of the supreme bench since the
amendment to increase the number OF
judges had been defeated When called
upon for a denial or affirmation of the re-
port Judge Bleckley declined to express
himself Tor puDHchtlOn, although his dis
appointment was plainly apparent. 1t is
understood that Judge Bleckley told
Judge Simmons that he could not stand
the work required Of him longer and
would retire.
Since the defeat Of the amendment II
is also said that Judge Simmons will not
be a candidate for reelection.
The duties of the supreme bench as now
constituted and as it win continue for
some time to come. are very trying II
will not be a surprise If Judge Bleckley
should resign at once, and there is much
doubt of Judge Simmons accepting a re-
election.
1t is generally agreed that the defeat
of the supreme court amendment was
due to the candidacy OF Judge
George i. Gober of the Blue
Ridge circuit Every county In hts
circuit voted heavily against the
amendment. the total majority opposed
TO it In the circuit being about 5000. Tho
amendment was lost by only about 1000
Had his own people stood by Judge Gober
the amendment would have been carried.
Whether the charges that have been made
against him are true or not Judge Gober
VIII go down on the records Of tho state
as the man whose candidacy for the az.