The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-12
FwIS GIVES UP THE FIGHT.
STRUGGLE NARROws
DOWN TO THREE MEN.

,-,,soo. Clay and Howell the Cam
rdotes TO BE Voted For in the
Coucus TO-dny-The Governors
makers Confident That Over Half
- Lewis Supporters Will Join
rbeir Ranks-The Rival Candi-
1otes Equally Confident.
Atlanta. Ca, Nov. n.-Hon. Hal T.
1ouis announced his retirement from the
.oratorial contest tonight. The ar
nouncement will appear tomorrow morn
,rg IN brief card, signed by Judge John
n Hart. w. B. Burnett and Congress
,,on-elect Howard Of the Eighth district.
rho have been managing his campaign.
This afternoon Mr.. Lewis came to the
oorclusion that it would be useless for
him TO remain in the contest longer, and
ofter q conference with his friends, ex-
rrassed his determnatio to them to re-
fire The card of withdrawal was there
unon drawn up by his managers, who
deemed it proper that this duty should be
performed by them
Mr.. Lewis does not get out of the race
IN favor of any one of the other candi-
dates. His friends are left to act as they
please in making new alliance. In
speaking of his candidacy and his with
drawal tonight, Mr.. Lewis said: Il an
nounced when 1 went into this race that
l was going in the interest of no one
else and in retiring 1 have not even
sought to know the sentiments
of my friends as their next
choice. do not withdraw
in favor of any man, and have made no ef-
fort at all to influence my friends in their
future course 1 deeply appreciate the
loyal support accorded me by those who
honored me with their support and am
perfectly sincere when 1 say that / retire
with no feeling of resentment or of broken
faith toward any body"
Mr. Lewis had a strength of twenty
votes which he could count upon through
thick and thin, though he at one time in
the caucus, received as many
as thirty-two. OF these twen-
ty votes, Gov. Atkinson's man-
ayers claim that he will get more than
halt in the caucus tomorrow, while the
friends of Capt. Howell claim that they
will get as many as Gov Atkinson. They
say that none of the three will reap any
advantage over the others by Mr.. Lewis
retirement The Atkinson people are,
however apparently jubilant over this
turn of the situation, and say that if the
governor gets as many of the Lewis votes
as have been pledged to him tonight it
will put new life and enthusiasm in his
boom.
With the contest narrowed down to Gov.
Atkinson and Messrs. Howell and CLAW.
speculation is now turned upon the next
propable retirement, From expressions
by Gov. Atkinson to-day it may be set
down as a certainty that he will never
Wlthdraw as long as his present strength
SUCKS to him. and he and his friends claim
mat this will be until he givess the word
OF release. This being SO, it must come
70 night between Messrs. Howell and
Clay' ana then after they have fought it
Gov. Atkinson.
MT Clay says tonight that he will get
more votes tomorrow afternoon than any
OF the others and talks as if he felt like a
winner. On the other hand the Howell
people say that there are a good many
men voting for Mr.. Clay who would not do
so II they thought their votes would elect
HlIH' Whlch indicates that they believe that
MI Gay VIII have to get out next and
mat the fight will then be between Mr..
Howell and Gov. Atkinson.
mere IS still a general belief that there
VIII De no nomination until next week.
atter the primaries have been held for
ueiegates to the supreme court conven-
uon' Messrs. Howell and Clay will make
y NAo4L " uOlu lilelr IOUOWerS to-
gether until that time if neither will get
OH the track for the other.
All hands have a desire to put off the
nomination until after the supreme court
primary on Saturday. to see what effect
~ VIII nave. The opposition believes that
II VIII eliminate Gov. Atkinson from
tlie race, While his friends declare that it
Will strengthen him.
Io-day Judge Logan E. Bleckley, who
mas Deen a candidate, got all the other
ednuloates except Capt. Howell together
GOV. Atkinsons office and
Iedu 10 them characteristic proposal for
he settlement of the contest 1t was a
up'que production and was much enjoyed
oy the assembled candidates
Inc House and Senate met in Joint ses-
SION at Z o'clock to-day and took a ballot
tor senator as required by law. Pursuant
W 'ne resolution of the democratic caucus
she members and senators voted for va
t,ous candidates in their respective coun-
Hes ana districts, in order to eliminate the
popuHsts and republicans and prevent an
Lrcuon. AS upon yesterday there were a
for e-'' N'''i''iuA'eS FoeSu
Iuuge Bleckley to-day received the votes
~ ulton county, while the pops divided
SSfTtween Gen. Phillips and Seaborn Wright
aay, 49,, :, II. Hanson Of Macon received the
republican vote.
r. Mr, Clay will make "a supreme effort TO
r ".u m to-morrow's caucus, but it is i'm
tbooaole tboa that any nomination will be made