The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-10
ATKINSON AT WASHINGTON.
THE GOVERNOR CALLS on THE
GEORGIA CONGREssMEN.

The object of His Visit Somewhat of
A Mystery to the Georgia Colony.
He Says He is There TO Give His SON
an Opportunity TO See Congress in
SessIOn-The Governor the Guest
of Secretary HOke smith at Din
ner.
Washington. March "A conspicuous
visitor at the capital to-day was Gov.
Atkinson Of Georgia. In view of the
mixed condition OF politics In that state
and the fact that the state democratic
committee has just decided to ignore the
custom Of holding two state conventions.
even in presidential year, and at the
dictation of the free silver element, and
hold but one convention, Gov. Atkinson's
presence here at this time arouses the
curiosity of the Georgia colony. He has
been spoken of as a senatorial possibility,
but he refuses to commit himself on that
subject. To-day he called upon all of the
members Of the Georgia delegation In con-
gress. and chatted with them in friendly
way, but he did not reveal TO his closest
friends his mission. further than to say
that he came TO Washington with his son,
to give the latter an opportunity to see
congress I'm session.
1t is not believed that he will antagonize
Representative Crisp who has already an
nouncod his candidacy for the senate, but
it is believed the governor is celebrating
between a tempting business proposition,
which Will net hun about 5000 per annum,
and a denomination for the governorship.
1t is also said that he may consent to be-
come a candidate for the House OF Repre-
gputatiVeS in the district now represented
by Mr.. Moses.
1t seems more probable. however, that
he will consent to run for the governor
ship again, for he says he is receiving nu-
merous appeals from his party friends
throughout the state to lead the demo-
cratic forces in the state again.
He Is a natural born politician, and he
understands the art Of keeping his own
counsel in a political crisis. This was
shown to-day by the diplomatic way ne
visited among the Georgia colony. Not
| only did he make IL his business to see
| and to converse with the senators and the
representatives. Of his state, but to further
| relieve his visit from any insinuation OF
| partsanship, he accepted an invitation TO
dine tonight with Secretary Hoke Smith,
at the latter's residence OF X street.
All Of the Georgia representatives In
! congress, now concede that the state Will
| surely adopt a free silver platform, for
| according TO the action or the state com
| mittee last Saturday the free silverites
| appear TO be in the majority at the rate
| of about two to one.
The sound money members of the dele
/ cation are not disposed to accept as final
| the decision of the state committee, on the
subject of one state convention, and Rep
| resentative Russell says there will prob
/ ably be a second convention called after
| the national convention is held at Chicago
/ Mr.. Russell does not intimate that there
/ will be a split In the party II the state
| convention should adopt free silver plat
form, and the national convention shoult
declare i'm favor of sound money. Will,
he regrets that the time-honored practice
of holding two state conventions is to bs
| ignored this year. he predicts that the
| Georgia democracy will stand upon the
| national platform adopted by the conven
| ton at Chicago, regardless of the actor
of the state convention called by the state
committee Some of the free silver demo
Gratis in the delegation do not agree with
| Mr. Russell in the opinion that IL is neces
| sary to call a second state convention tC
| ratify the action of the national conven
tion. They contend that In view of the
| fact that the state committee has decided
in favor Of holding but one state conven
ton this year, it would be violation
| of the party principles for any unauthoriz
| ed persons to band together for the pur
| pose of holding a second state convention
| Attorney General Terrell came on will
| Gov. Atkinson to attend some law busi
| ness before the United States supreme
| court and also before the interstate com
| merce commission He will probably b'
| a candidate for denomination, providing
Gov. Atkinson again heads the ticket.
Railroad Commissioner Fort also ac
| companied the governor to washington
to urge before the Interstate commerce
commission a reduction in rates on peaches
| from Georgia and eastern points. The
! rate is now $l62 per car. COMMISSIONS
| Fort holds that the rate would be re
duced to $32 per car.