The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-28
ANYTHING TO BEAT ATKINSON.
80 CHANGE IN THE SENATORIAL
SITUATION.

60. Howell Likely to Figure as
,ne ManipuIatOr of the Combine
- DeSeat the GOvernOr--A RumOr
mat CAPT. Howell VIII Withdraw
r.om the Race in Favor of steve
c,ov-Gen. Evans Looming Up as n
cnbernatOriaI Possibility.
,.onta. Ga, Oct. 27.-The situation to-
,,bt with regard to the United States
l.a.torial handicap is practically the
mo as it was yesterday. None of the
.vDec+ed candidates have yet made formal
announcement of their candidacy,
shorpb several have on the quiet told
.ho,r friends that they "are in it," Among
these are Capt E. P. Howell. Gov. Atkin-
son and Col. J. w. Robinson, who arrived
IN tbe scene of action to-day.
uon. steve Clay is also in the same
ooss There seems to be some uncertain
~ about him, however. He has been in
oosa conference with Gov. Atkinson ana
Can't Howell, and although regarded to-
night as candidate there are many who
would not be surprised if he should nos
make the fight. Some of The wise ones
saw that. on the other hand, there Is n
daaI on foot by which Capt. Howell viii
rally his followers to the support of Mr..
Clay, and not make the race himself. in
the event of the election of Bryan, it Is
said that Capt Howell expects something
more to his taste than the senatorship.
But he is in the fight to the finish to de-
feat Gov. Atkinson, and whether he is in
the race or not, he will be the leader In
the field at the head of the anti-Atkinson
forces.
One thing that has given rise to this
view of the situation is the report that
there has been a complete break-off be-
tween Mr. Clay and Gov. Atkinson. Last
night Mr. Clay went to the executive man.
sion and held a long conference with the
governor 1t is understood that he went
there for the purpose of trying to per-
suade the governor not to become a can
ddate. He told the governor, it is said,
that he should not oppose him in this mat
fer after his service to him in his race for
governor, but Gov. Atkinson did not give
him any comfort and the report is that
the result of this conference is that no
matter who is put up to lead the opposi-
ton to the governor Mr.. Clay will be
found fighting on that side, whereas he
has in the past been the stanch friend of
the governor.
The campaign against Gov. Atkinson
was begun to-day in earnest by the ar
gument that if he should cause another
election for governor by being elected to
the Senate this election would cost the
state at least $4,000, to say nothing of the
peril to the party from the combined pop
ulists and republicans. At the first blush.
this caused a stampede among the friends
of the governor, but in a short time he
had counter influences at work, and to-
night this question is largely eliminated
by the announcement that it will be pos
d sibe TO have the election for governor on
4 the same day the special election of
4 judges Of the supreme court occurs,
which is Dec. 16. The legislature will
also be in session at that time, and no
d extra session will be necessary, so that
the special election for governor, which
Did fair to cause a puncture in the gov
ernor's senatorial boom has been salts
1actorly arranged for in the minds of the
governors friends.
Il Ine governor is expected to announce his
candidacy tomorrow. If he is elected to
Inc Senate it is the understanding that he
Will resign the governorship at once so
4 mat the President of the Senate can call
Inc special election for Dec. 16. The law is
that this election shall not be held under
Il lnTty days and not more than sixty days
rom the time the proclamation is issued,
4 so that if Gov. Atkinson should be elected
10 the Senate on Nov. 10, and resign at
once the scheme to join the two special
i. eec,lons would work smoothly enough.
A nome OF the governors most enthusiastic
4 supports argue that it would be a good
4 lqea TO have some issue at stake besides
Il he supreme court at this election in order
10 orlng out a full party vote.
=. IL addition to the solidifying of the At
Enson and anti-Atkinson sentiment to-
4 gay, the most noticeable development has
Oeen in the demand for Gen. Evans as a
suoernatorial candidate in the event of
HoV' Atkinson's election to the Senate
Il = is said tnat Gov. Atkinson will himself
II .S'or Gen. Evans as his successor,
plough efforts are being made to get Gen.
hydhs INTO the senatorial race. The At
AlHaon people say this is being done to
nurt him. If the sentiment here to-day
F. worth anything as a basis for predic-
uon' Gen Evans will be given a walk
Vler Tor the gubernatorial nomination IN
/ 'He event of a vacancy.
good deal has been said of Hon. r.
Derher, who will be president of the
senate as the natural candidate for gov
eIHor IN this contingency, but the know
ns ones say that he would not be avail
soe on account of the fact that he has
s.t nol aIsned himself with the free silver
nllnent, although supporting the Chi
"so Icket as party man. For this
o"soh the prediction is that he will not
tbs la, candidate for the regular term in
we event Of a vacancy. However he has
my strong friends who may urge him
"'0 me race at all hazards