The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-29
STRUGGLE ON IN FULL SWING.
HOWELL THE FIRST TO FORMALLY
OPEN HEADQUARTERS.

Gov. Atkinson StrOIIs Into the KIm-
ball House Lobby About the Same
Time and Tells the Boys He's I'm
the Fight to Win-His Friends
subsequently, Open Headquarters
For Him Col. j. w. RObertson or
Habershnm County and Hon. Hal
Lewis the Next to Throw Open
Their Doors.
Atlanta. Ca. Oct. 2S.-To-day brought
the regular opening of the battle for the
United States senatorship. The official
announcement of the candidates came
thick and fast, and as rapidly as the man
agement of the Klmball could make the
arrangements, their headquarters wera
opened up and banners flung to the breeze.
Capt E. p. Howell was the first to tack
up his sign in the Kimball lobby, am
nouncing the opening of his headquarters
in rooms 11O-112. This is the parlor over
the office of the Southern Railway Com-
pany, and is the one used by Hon. Clark
Howell when he was a candidate for the
speakership of the House of Representa-
tives some years ago. Capt. Howell was
soon surrounded by a corps of trusted
lieutenants. and throughout the day he
and they kept up the work of undermIn-
ing the strength of Gov. Atkinson, who Is
the common target for the field. The
election of Hon. Bob Berner, as president
of the Senate. was at once regarded as a
victory for Gov. Atkinson. who had put
himself behind Mr.. Berner, while Mr..
Dunwoody was known to be the candi-
date of the combined opposition to the
governor, and this fact only served to
nerve the anti-AtlSinson forces to moro
determined efforts.
Following Capt. Howell, Col j. w.
Robertson of Habersham county threw
open the doors Of his rooms on the other
side of the arcade from Capt Howell,
and hung out his cardboard announces
ment. Col, Robertson has received con-
siderable encouragement from the North
Georgia counties, and is regarded as a
serious candidate.
About this time Gov. Atkinson made his
debut into the Kimball house lobby He
was at once surrounded by the crowd, and
for a while monopolized things. While In
the midst Of the throng, the governor de-
clared his candidacy He told the "boys's
that he was in the fight, and in to win.
After the departure of the governor from
the lobbies his friends opened up their
headquarters in the bridal chambers on
the northeast corner of the big hotel In
this room Senator Joe Brown conducted his
campaign for the Senate, and there also
Gov Colquitt had his conference when he
was paving his way to the Senate. 1t has
been lucky chamber.
This afternoon Hon. Hal Lewis reached
the scene of action and tonight he fol-
lowed the other candidates and opened his
headquar ters.
Hon. Steve Clay is now the only one of
the candidates in the field who has not
opened up shop in regular campaign style
and hung out his shingle.
1t Is said that Mr. duBignon will be i'm
the race at the proper time and that ex-
Senator Walsh Is also a candidate and
Will shortly appear on the scene. The Ricn-
mond delegation is solid for Mr.. Walsh,
and they say that he is an avowed cam
ddate, but so far as can be learned no
one has been authorized to state that Mr..
| duBignon Is one In the scramble at the
present time though his friends insist that
he VIII be voted for.
Gen. Clement A. Evans has not YET
come into the senatorial race. The senti-
ment, which became so apparent yester-
| day in favor of him for governor in the
! event of vacancy, Is growing, and the
| friends of Gov. Atkinson say that he will
| not be a candidate against him, but will
| Gov. AtlSinson's election as senator, as the
man who can attract all the old soldier
| element from the populist party, and by
| that means almost completely nullify
| popullsm In the gubernatorial situation
| II there is a special election.
| 1t Is as yet impossible to tell who OF
| the candidates has the most strength in
reality, although the indications are still
| that Gov. Atkinson has. None of the cam
| didates have as yet opened their books,
| so to speak, and their followers have not
been tagged. After the caucus for judges
and solicitors tomorrow this work will
| be commenced in systematic ORDER and I'M
| O few days the situation will assume a.
shape that will afford a pretty accurate
! view Of the possible result.
| AS at the outset the opposition is stilI
| fighting Gov. Atkinson on the argument
against another election. Even II the
election is held on the same day as that
| for judges of the supreme court they
| say that the danger of losing the state to
combined populism and republicanism IL
| still threatening, especially IL Bryan
| should not be elected. Indeed the argu-
ment Is that In this latter event the party
In Georgia would be utterly demoralized,
ana the defeat OF the democratic candidats
| for governor would be almost a foregona
conclusion.
| Tn addition to this risk the opposition
points out the expense that the election
would entail II not on the state, upon
the Individual members OF the party and
| I'm order TO make this effective, the office
holders, who are always expected to con-
| tribute heavily to the campaign funds, ars
being marshaled against Gov Atklnson's
candidacy. They realize that an elec-
tlon would touch their pockets, and for
that reason are proving valuable aids to-
the field in the plan of campaign which
has been adopted.
Gov. Atkinson and his friends are Moth
ing daunted at these arguments. They
say that II the people want the governor
for senator they should have him even IL
il costs a special election next summer,
when, they argue. It would not
cause any special inconvenice, as
the populists would not be revived
sufficiently then to put up a ight--or, as
one Of the governors enthusiastic friends
put 1t tonight. Atkinson would be cheap
to the state at the cost OF a special cleo
tion alongside of some Of the other candi-
dates il they should serve gratis"
If Gov. Atkinson develops sufficient
strength to secure the nomination, the
democratic caucus viii be held probably