The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-08
ATKINSON ON A FALSE ALARM.
DEMOCRACY OF GEORGIA IN NO
DANGER OF DEFEAT.

Accuses the Men Who Raise the Cry
of Weakening the Pnrty--The Sem
timeDt Against the Governor on
Account of This False Fear wan
ing-His Opponents Realize That
They Must Concentrate Their
strength ON One Inn.
Atlanta, Ca. Nov To-day has not
brought any material change in the sena-
torial situation. The sentiment against
Gov. Atkinson on account of the fact that
if he was elected there would have to be
another election appears TO be waning, as
compared to what it was during the first
days of the week, and for that reason the
opposition has been redoubling the efforts
of yesterday to bring about consolidation
of their strength In support of one man.
Unless this can be done the general inn
preston is that the governor has the fight
practically whipped, although he has not
enough votes pledged to him to nominate
on the first ballot. The opposition realizes
that the danger lies In the multiplicity of
candidates, as the situation has now shap-
ed up. AT the outset some of those opposed
to the governor thought it would be a
good plan to get as many men in the race
as possible, but since the governor has
succeeded in getting a long lead of all the
others in the number of pledged votes, they
see that when the break up comes he will
more than likely get large proportion of
those who are now supporting the field on
account of local pride and in the hope that
they may be taken care of in local affairs
in case their men can be elected.
Atkinson. 70; Lewis, 81; Howell 27; Clay,
% and Robertson 49, Is the way the vote of
the caucus is said to be divided tonight
One of the features Of the campaign that
has not as yet been given to the public is
the part which the Southern railway Is
taking in it. The Southern, or rather the
attorneys for that company, have made
deadly fight upon Gov. Atkinson. This
has been done for two reasons. the friends
of the governor say, first, because they
fear that he would not suit their views
when it comes to action in congress tend
ing to strengthen the interstate commerce
commission, and secondly, because they
fear that Mr.. Berner would succeed him
as governor and this would be an addi-
tional obstacle In the way Of the South
ern's plans of consolidation. Mr. Berner
has always been fought on account of his
anti-railroad policies, and the Southern's
representatives here did all they could to
keep him from being made president of
the Senate, to say nothing of the fight
made on him in his district when he was a
candidate for election to the Senate. Gov.
Atkinsons successor, IL he should be sent
n 40 ipf
ment of a railroad commissioner and 1t is
said that this is another reason why the
railroad corporations influence is being ex-
erted to keep down a vacancy in the exec
utive office which Mr.. Berner might be
called to fill.
One of the plans which the Southern
railway management has adopted to fight
the governor has been to require all mem
bers Of the legislature to ask for the
passes which have always heretofore been
voluntarily sent to them as a courtesy
by all the roads The members are not
| only forced to ask for the passes II they
set them over the Southern and thus
place themselves directly under oblga-
| tions to the corporation, but the duty has
been assigned to Attorney Albert Howell
to approve these applications and order
the passes granted. Mr.. Howell is the
son of Capt. Evan =. Howell. one OF the
! candidates for the Senate, and is taking
an active interest in his behalf. 1t is
| quite natural to suppose that when a
mem ber goes to Mr.. Howelps Office to re-
| quest pass, the senatorial contest hg-
! ures somewhat In the conversation. fust
as II ala when Col. Pat Calhoun. when
| running against Gen. Gordon for the
| Senate, gave out the passes for the Rich
mond and Danville, he being the attorney
| lCr that combine, as Mr.. Howell Is now
| for the Southern 80"
Gov. Atkinson this afternoon gave out
Eal linn sVtel.
tite IoIoWlhs interview on the situation:
only ask that the rubbish be brushed
away and that the general assernhl,,
pace me upon the same footing as each
| OF the other candidates and consider each
man according to his merits 1 wouId NOT
ask or accept the position did | NOT he
| hSS'e .Hdl was the choice Of a majority
or the people Of Georgia
THE cry raised by the opposlt,on ,ho.
my election to the Senate would incur tie
cost OF another election does NOT toucb ~ !.
question. The question is whom 40 the
people prefer for United States senatar
Inc selection OF a representative for ak
years 70 tne great Office of United States
senator should not be controlled by such a
reason even If an election were neeessar,, =
There Is, however no new election 10 he
| held II l am elected to the Senate NJ,
successor as governor can be elected on
Dec. IT, Wnen four supreme court Judges
are to be elected by the people on tbat
uoy ~ win We just as easy Tor the Deonlp
TO vote for five men as for four. The re-
cess OF three days already taken by the
general assembly postpones its adjourn
ment until Dec. q, and would enable them
/ 10 lnaugurate the newly elected governor
during the present session. The election.
therefore, on the day Of the election OF the
supreme court judges would not incur one
dollar OF additional cost. Talk of danger
| OF democratic defeat is without founda-
ton, and cowardly. We carried the state
in october by $1,000 and in November we
elected our congressman by nearly 10000
almost without effort; and both these VIC
| tories were won against the strongest com
| binauons which could possibly be made by
| the opposition to, democracy. The fact
that no pretense Of opposition Is now made
to the election Of the supreme court judges
is conclusive evidence that we are in no
danger of any serious opposition this year.
| "rhe election Of a governor would only
be a selection to fill an unexpired term
OF democratic officer in a democratic ad-
ministration and the opposition to democ-
/ ra ~ kpnuy that Of