The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-01-13
THE YEAR IN GEORGIA
1t Will be a Busy One With the Boys
in Politics.
MAJOR HANSON FOR GOVERNOR
On a Republican Ticket-The Guber-
material and Senatorial Contest.
How Things Are Lining Up.

How Things Are Lining Up.
The year 1896 will be an important one
politics in Georgia While everything
up to date has been quiet enough, still the
boys have not been sleeping, and the wires
are being pulled very vigorously though
quietly, all over the state. 1t Will be an
important year. not only because between
this ami the year 1897 a number Of import
ant election are to bc held, but it will be
doubly important from the character Of
the contests and the prominent part issues
will play in their settlement
First, of course, comes the goVernorshtp.
While il has been said that nothing IS
certain in politics. still it can be put down
as a certainty that Governor Atkinson
viii be the nominee of his party for a see
ond term. Not only is this party usage, bat
by every right of an able and efficient adj
miuistration of the afl airs OF his othce
has the present governor earned his second
term. He Will have no opposition for the
nomination. There was time in Georgia
when The nomination ended all, bat It IL
different now, for, In the present troub-
lous condition OF public affairs. the nomin-
alton is just the beginning The last cam
paign was a close ana exciting one. and
the democratic majority was so small ass
10 almost place Georgia amcps the list
OF doubtful states S FAR as All observer
the condition OF affairs which would war
rant the belief thai demOcracy's chances
are any better than they were two years
ago. and considering the chaotic condition
OF affairs brought about primarily by the
action and uou-actIon of the national adj
m.ulstration--the outlook can fairly be
said TO be more doubtful, il anything, than
then.
The nomination is one thing-the election
is another. What the popuists VIII 90
therefore enters largely into the review OF
political affairs. They nave as Yet given
no definite idea 20 HON they intend 20
lead the opposition to Governor Atkinson,
but the Indications seem 20 DE pointing
again TO Judge JONES Is. Hines. ot this
city. judge Hines has said that he dId
not want H. hut as an astutc democratic
politician put IL. ale is DOING a powerful
lot of taikin' around and preachiu' around
for man whose political lightning rod
is not up" The chances are that be viii
be again pressed into service. A number
OF his party would like 20 see Tom Wat
son in the race, believing that the visor-
Gus methods OF campaign would give them
more chances in the contest, but Mr.. Wat
son has pcrsistcuty refused to be the can
didatc. However, stranger things have
happened, and should his contest for con-
gress go against MIN, there is a strong
possibility at least, Of his becoming the
party leader.
1t IS a noticeable fact that the populjsts
their leader at least-are not at all dis
heartenod by the reverses they have had.
Ii was believed that the victory Of Major
Black in the tenth would have the effect
of crushing out the last remaining spark
Of populism, but if the members OF this
party are not hopeful. they are making a
magnificent bluf. They seem to believe
that there is strong chance for their gain
ing possession OF the state, and some or
them talk about securing the legislature
and electing a United States senator 1t is
hard to see how they can twist around
their political Judgment SO as 10 figure
out the control of the legislature under any
circumstances but in view Of this talk
and apparent confidence, it is silly TO talk
about their being out of the running.
There is just possibility of "a decidedly
interesting complication in this contest for
the goycrnorship-a complication that
would bring about taste Of old-time con
tests Several of the republican papers OF
the state are booming Major j. +. Hanson,
of Macon, as the man for the republicans
OF the state to nominate, and the men
who control the affairs Of that party are
said 70 look with extreme favor upon the
suggestion. What the major thinks may
be another thing. lie is strong pro-
tectionist, and is never found taking
back seat when that question is an is
sue. so he might perhaps be induced to lead
the republican hopes There is l am as
, sured, more in the suggestion than might
/ appear on the surface. y three-cornered
rght-wouldn't there be fun
The Senatorship.
Though the governorshtp comes first.
vet the great fight OF the year Will be Tor
the seat in the United States senate now
held by General Gordon As the matter
stands to date. there are three gentlemen
who are strongly DESTROYS of this oiice
and are willing to acknowledge it. All
three talked upon the financial question
befora tl,e Iecielature The bold declar-
alton of Judge Crisp in favor Of free sill
yer ard a bimetaliic standard, ana the
/ equally bold declarations of Mr.. duBignon
and Secretary Hoke Smith, in favor Oh
the single gold standard and policy, drew
( the lines of the grert battle.
While national affairs, as they have
| progressed recently, have been TO great
/ extent unmaking the chances of a presi-
/ Dental candidate from Maine, they nave
1 been improving the chances of a senatorial
/ candidate from Georgia. Crisp's magnln-
! cent leadership of the minority in the house
/ of representatives has won the admiration
of every democrat in America. He mas
shown himself simply a marvellous leader
| of the forces which, at the outset offered
| little encouragement. Such a thing as har-
| mony among them was hardly dreamed OF,
| but not only has Judge Crisp united the
| democrats in opposition to republican leg
islation, but he has succeeded in splitting