Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-08
The Great Silver Campaign Will
Open in Georgia.
HHE BLACK AND WATSON CONTEST
Uncertain Whether Black Will
Fight on Democratic Lines.
BOTH FOR FREE SILVER

The first skirmish of the great silver
campaign will take place in Georgia, and
probably during the summer. The date
has not been fixed Capt Black, who was
elected to the Fifty-fourth Congress from
the tenth district in that state over Tom
Watson, the populist, will resign his seat
because of serious charges affecting the In
tegrity of the returns, and new election
will be ordered. Black and Watson will
both run again, the former as democrat
and the latter populist. A spirited
canvass Is expected, and especially in view
of the efforts to persuade southern demo-
Gratis to form new alignments on the f1nan-
cial question.
So far as the silver cause in its old phase
is concerned. the tenth district, 1t Is stated,
would afford no fit battle-ground. free
coinage has been advocated there by both
democrats and populists alike. In the con-
gressonal campaign of last year Black and
Watson stood on free coinage platforms,
ard in their speeches championed the Wmte
metal enthusiastically. The prediction Is
that both will stand on free coinage plat
forms again, and that their second canvass
in it's bearing on silver, Will prlhe out eA-
pressioDs of equal fervor from them III az.
yccacy of free coinage. The sentiment VI
the district as to silver, therefore, Is prac-
tioaIly all one way. The republicans are
rot taken into account, being hopelessly IN
the minority.
Capt. Blacks Position.
But what ground will Captain biach
take as to the new party? VIII ne run as
a democrat, urging that the fight FOR SILVER
ba made within the ranks of the old or
ganization? Or as a democrat of what Is
called the progressive school, advocating
the proposed union of the south and west
under a new banner? There seems to be
every reason to believe that he will be
formally interrogated on this point anu
put on record. The new party has lts
friends in Georgia. In fact, one OF the
sigEers of it's manifesto is Georgian OF
recent democratic affiliations. The leadins
the front rank of the silver army, and SO
very prominent, indeed, that the name Of
Editor Evan p. Howell is mentioned In
connection with that of Senator Teller IN
the speculation about presidential ticket
for the bimetallic party. Teller in the west
and Howell in the south, the one at the
head and the other at the foot OF the
national ticket would, it Is claimed, poll
TIE full strength of both sections on the
new issue. Mr.. Howell has not. as yet,
subscribed to the new movement, but ms
OPPOSITION to the eastern leadership or the
democracy is SO pronounced the bl-
metallic leaders entertain lively hopes of
his early conversion to their cause. Should
this take place the effect would be notable
throughout the state, and if before the
time for holding the special congressional
election in the tenth district the returns
and might afford basis for calculation
about the attitude of the whole south next
year.
watson n Thorough POpulist.
Watson and his friends are expected to
occupy their old position. changed, if at
all, only to take advantage of any new
divisions in the ranks of the opposition.
Watson does not confine his agitation to
the silver question. He is populist
through and through, contending for all of
the propositions laid down in the Ocala
platform, and insisting that both of the
old parties have outlived their usefulness
He is. of course, especially bitter against
the democracy, because he was once
member of that party. His feelings toward
it partike of the nature of family feud,
and they have recently been intensified by
the action of the administration in issuing
bonds and establishing avowed and inti-
mate conEec tions with the Rothschilds.
He will dwell upon this in his speeches,
and offer it good reason why the people
should rebuke the democracy at the polls.
The fact that the lines have not as yet
been formed in the district for this battle
leads the politicians to hesitate about fore
casting the result. Capt. Black will labor
urder some disadvantages aside from the
new Phace of the silver question. He has
offended some of his old friends and former
campaign managers by yielding to the
criticism about the November election.
Tnay consider. it is said, that by throwing
up the commission he obtained at that
time and skiing for a new election he has
gene oact: on them and their services. and
appeared % indorse the populistic charge
that his majority then was obtained by
fraud They will, therefore, give way to
new men, who Will conduct the coming
camDaigE for him under his own direction.
Capt. Beck, it Is reported, rejects this
view OF lis resignation. He regards the
district az reliably democratic upon a fair
and open presentation of all questions at
iS5Js between the democratic and populiSt
parties, ald he thinks this can be made to
appsar ct the polls in a way that will leave
no ground for grave charges of any kind.
His majority in November was over 1000.
Nanetnllic Leaders Not Yet Decided.
The bmetallic leaders have not decided
how actively, if at ALL they will partici-
pate in this fight. The question will rest
for The present with the local leaders of
the new party in Georgia. Capt Black
will undoubtedly be called upon to define
his attitude toward the new party and
further action will depend upon his reply.
II ne ln0orSeS the movement, or even
speaks kindly of it, the bimetallic leaders
Will consider that they have scored. If he
declares against it he may be openly op-
posed in some way. But whatever is done
by the new party will be cautiously done
30 much, 1t is seen, cannot be risked on
q mere SE.rmish, gratifying and encourage
Ing as the party will feel if the skirmish
goes in its favor. Meanwhile Gov. Atkin-
son WI he called upon to say when the
SPECIAL election shall be held
Acres:ed for Riding the Mails.