Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-18
SECRETARY SMITHS WORK.
Speaking Against Free Coinage Ina
GeOrSia.

Speaking Against Free Coinage ina
GeOrSfa.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ATLANTA, Ca, September IL. 1895.
The hardest working member of Presi-
dent Cleveland's cabinet this summer has
been, unquestienably, Secretary Hoke
Smith. While tine other Secretaries and the
President have passed more or less COM
Portable vacation, Mr.. Smith has been max
ing a campaign in Georgia which is bound
to bear fruit. He is speaking two or three
times a week, ard on off days is in the
court room or his law office
He has spoken at Toccoa, Jeffersonville,
Athens, Rome, La Grange, Cordele and a
nj mber of other places. and is still speak
ing at intervals of enc or two days.
At Cordele, which is the only middle
Georgia point where he has appeared, he
was followed by Representative Livingston
of the fifth congressional district. Mr.. liv-
iEgstcn has since been declaring that the
Secretary said in that speech: Il am for
free coiLag ge, too, but, boys, We can't get
il"
Mr. Smiths friends all say that the con-
text showed that he meant he was for
free coinage by international agreement
but that the latter cannot be obtained. At
La Grange Mr.. Smith consented to joint
6ctate with Judge Longley. That is a
strong silver community, but both sides
claim to have had the best of the joint de-
bate.
This campaign means everything to the
Secretary. If he can carry the state next
year, and get the delegation to the ma
ticnal convention, 1t will be a victory over
the create odds any man ever fought
sir Egle-hal ded in Georgia.
The state machinery is rather against
the administration. Such a victory would
ate to succeed John b. Gordon, provided
the stete goes democratic in the October
election OF 1896. Democratic success in
that campaign is not a sure thing to be.
on, though, SO far in advance. More can
be tcld about it after the extra election in
the tenth district next month.
1t will be remembered that Representa-
tive ]. c. c. Black. who was reelected last
populist leader, charged that his election
was by fraud. Black volun tarily resigned
and agreed to run the race over. The reg
istration has just closed for this election,
which is to occur October 2, and by the
closest calculations Blacks margin is only
500.
If Watson is elected, the chances are that
the popuiSts will elect a governor next
year and control the legislature which
elects the United States Senator. If Wat
son Is defeated, populsm will not be a
menace of 1896
Last year the third party cut the demo-
cratic majority of 1000 down to 25.O0O. If
Watson succeeds that majority may be
wiped out altogether. Hence, fierce cam
paign Is beirg waged. Unfortunately for
Black who is leading Baptist in Georgia,
the A. P. A. is against him, and it is said
to have 500 votes in Augusta. If that vote
is thrown solidly against him, his chances
are bad.
The state has a new registration law, and
it is being tested for the first time in this
campaign. Maj. Black and his managers
announce that they would rather lose in a
fair election than win by fraud Watson,
who burned up his law books five years ago
when he Joined the Farmers Alliance. has
resumed practice; but he is giving every
day right now to a house-to-house canvass
of his district.