Evening star., 1896-11-09
THE GEORGIA SENATORSHIP
Five Candidates, With Governor Atkinson
Against the Field.
A Democratic Caucus to BE Held This
AfternOOn-BallOtin to Be-
gin Tomorrow.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
ATLANTA, Ga. November Z, 1896.
The fight for United States Senator is
raging. There five candidates, with
Gov. Atkinson single handed against the
field, which embraces Capt. E. P. Howell,
Hal T. Lewis, Steve Clay and James w.
Robertson. A democratic caucus has been
called for Monday afternoon in the hall
of the house of representatives and a de-
cision must be reached before adjourn
ment, or the populists and republicans will
take hand in the settlement of the con-
test when the balloting begins on Tuesday
morning
Gov Atkinson would win hands down
were it not for the fact that his election
to the Serate would precpitate another
state campaign and the democrats of Geor-
gia do not want to go through another right
now. Really the democrats fear that the
populists and republicans would combine
on Tom Watson for governor and elect
him. There is great Gsaffection In the
state among the democrats and thousands
Of them would stay away from the polls
just to punish the politicians for inhictins
another campaign at this juncture. Sec
retary Hoke Smith is helping the governor
through his paper, the Journal. On the
other hand, the Constitution is for the field
and especially for its editor-in-chief, Capt.
Howell. Hal Lewis, the man who attained
fame through his one-minute speech nomi-
mating VIM. J. Bryan for the presidency
at the Chicago convention. is keeping his
possible. and thereby is not antagonizing
the others so much. There has been too
much newspaper interfering for the good
Of some of the candidates, and for good
politics. The sound money democrats are
still hoping that there will be a deadlock
and that Fleming du Bignon, Hoke Smith
or Henry G. Turner will have a show.
There does not seem to be much show Of
are determined to send one of their own
ilk to the Senate. The populists and re-
publcans would vote for the governor in
a minute If they could get chance.
To Concentrate the Fields Strength.
An effort is being made to concentrate
the fields strength on Gen. Clement A.
Evans, who was defeated for governor ty
Atkinson two years ago.
Gen. Evans is more of a sound money
man than of a silverite and that will hurt
his chances. More than that, both Atkfn-
the general for sucker. He is on to
the game Of both and Is sitting steady In
the boat. Chairman Steve Clay Of the
democratic party has very little strength.
gets mixed up in fight for himself. The
others are willing to use him and jolly
him with fair promises, but when the time
comes to ask for reward. he gets lei. He
looks like a sore man today.
Gov. Atkinson is using all the .ppoint-
ments in his power, county judgeships,
trusteeships and everything of that kind
to make votes. 1t Is said that ne made
two votes by arranging a trade through
which one member Of the house gets
friend appointed assistant doorkeeper for
half the session and another member gets
the job for a constituent during the last
half Of the term. Half dozen votes have
been made Of places for pages.
There is practically no opposition to
Charles R. Crisp, for his fathers Inexpired
term in Congress. Every county but one
in the third district has indorsed him.
Col R. E. Lester. the member of Con-
gress from the first district, Is still in
very serious condition. 1t is not prob
able that he will be able to be present at
the opening of the session.