Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-26
THE STORMS CENTER
Fight Over the Money Question in
Georgia.
SECRETARY SMITH LEADING One side
Evan P. Howell Directing the Sill
yer Forces.
POPULISTS ARE LYING LOW
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
ATLANTA, May %, 1896.
This is the storm center of the political
campaign IN the south Atlantic and gulf
coast states Alabama to the west, and
South Carolina to the east, and Tennessee
to the north, have acted, and all have de-
clared for free coinage of both gold and
silver at 16 to l. Here in Georgia the fight
is still raging and oil continue until June
6, the date of the primaries. Secretary
Hoke Smith is the virtual general of the
campaign for the gold standard in Georgia,
and he has able lieutenants. His old po-
litical adversary, Capt. Evan p. Howell,
editor of the Atlanta Constitution, is di-
recting the fight for the silver forces. Last
week Senator Ben Tilman and Represen-
tative Joe Bailey spoke here for one side,
and Representative Patterson of Tennessee
spoke for the other side. Tillman had
three times as many to hear him Bailey
had and Bailey had a third more than
Patterson drew. Bailey really made con-
verts. Neither of the others did. Bailey
shook the faith of some of the most active
workers in the Young Mems Sound Cur
rency Club. and won from it some Of it's
most valuable members.
Fight In Fulton County.
The fight of the state is over this CFul-
tom county. The opposition to Mr.. Smith
is determined, if possible, to mortify him
by carrying the county for silver and If
they do get the convention they will rub
it In hard. Howell has the county ma
chinery, which is marked advantage.
He declared last week, at the Bailey meet
ing, that If the gold standard faction should
turn down the silver delegations from
Nebraska and Illinois in the national con-
vention, he would take to the woods" the
inference being that he would go to the
inn in nnrio hi hoe
been construed TO mean a threat to bolt,
and the opposition to him announce that
they will challenge his vote in the primaries
on the ground that he Is not loyal demo-
crat. But as his committee appoints the
managers of the election, 1t is not probable
that the challenge will deprive him of his
vote.
Representative Lawson recently said that
Henry Clay could not check the silver tide
in his district, the eighth, Georgia. 1t
seems that Judge Lawson is doomed to de-
feat for denomination. If the silver can
didate, VIM. Howard, is nominated the
populists will not run a man against him,
but will vote for him. There Is an indie
pendent in the race, former Representative
H. II. Carlton, but he cannot win.
Populists Awaiting Events.
The populists are lying low. They hope
for a bolt at Chicago, and whichever side
controls there, the third party people ex-
pect to benefit. They know that they will
get thousands OF SILVER democrats II a gold
platform is adopted, and they count on a
large detection of gold democrats IL 10 to
plank is put in the platform. Judge ]. K.
Hines, who was the populst nominee for
governor two years ago, said today that he
could not accept the nomination again. He
claims that he was counted out in 1894,
and there is strong evidence that he was,
but there were frauds on each side.
Tom Watson is watching developments
In the democratic party. He Is the leader
OF the Georgia populists, and will be his
partys caucus nominee for the United
States Senate. The populsts will not hold
their state convention until after the demo-
cratic national convention.
Mr.. Crisp Confident.
Ex-Speaker Crisp. who is at home direct
Ing his campaign for the United States Sen
ate to succeed Senator John B. Gordon,
says that he will carry enough counties,
June 6. to insure him the nomination by
the party caucus when the general assem-
bly, meets. But the gold delegates may
pursue the Kentucky plan and stay out Of
the caucus. This Is expected.
Governor Atkinson, who is running for
another term, doubts the wisdom of de-
claring in the state platform straight out
on the financial question. There are others
who fear that an unequivocal declaration
either way would cost the party a great
less of votes in the October election. The
gold men are willing for compromise
hut the extreme silverites refuse to yield
anything. They are confident of carrying
the state, and want & fight to the finish.