Evening star., 1896-10-27
FIGHT FOR SENATOR
Mr.. Crisp's Death Has Complicated
Things in Georgia.
THE Two PROMINENT CANDIDATES
Result of the National Election Nav
Have an Influence.
9TH E RS IN THE FIELD

ATLANTA, Ca, October 26. 1896.
The death Of Judge c. F. Crisp has COM
plicated the political situation in Georgia
wonderfully. In two weeks the election
comes off for Senator to succeed Gen.
John B. Gordon. The legislature meets on
Wednesday of this week. Half the men,
bers are here today. and scores of poll
ticians have come in from all parts of the
state The senatorial race overshadows
everything else. But really state politics
mas been shaping up for this situation for
three months AS stated In The Star last
week, the fight for the presidency of the
state senate between Robert Berner and
Harry Dunwoody was pitched on this very
line. Atkinson was for Berner, the idea
being that Judge Crisp could not live out
his term if elected. and Atkinson was train
ing Berner for his own successor as gov
ernor The death Of Judge Crisp before the
general assembly had elected him precfpi-
1ated the complications little before they
Were really looked for.
Candidates for Senator
Gov. Atkinson will be candidate for the
Senate. That much can be set down as a
certainty. And Capt. E. p Howell OF the
constitution can almost be counted on to
De In it. As yet he has not intimated to
any one. so far as can be learned, that he
talk about him and for him that he can
be safely entered in the list AS to others.
all Is vague Col James w Robertson
one one OF the Bryan electors for the state-at-
idTse Is a possibility. but he is one of Cant
Howelfs closest political friends and If he
becomes candidate 1t will mean no harm
10 capt Howell The latter Is looked unou
Dy the silver men as the head and front Of
tne Tree coinage movement in Georgia He
mas been the fountain head and he stands
nearer Bryan and Chairman Jones than
any other democrat in the state, unless it
be his son Clark. There really seems TO ha
a desire among the rank and file for Howell
IN preference to any Others but the gov
ernor mas coterie of friends who are great
on manipulating. However, there is in
'ernai trouble among the members of the
ring. Steve Clay. the party chairman and
Atkinson are far from being friends. CLAW
wanted to succeed Atkinson and thonpht
.nat the governor owed him support, but
the governor showed plainly his preferences
Tor Berner. Judge Gober one of the brain
lest men in the combination is a Howell
man before he Is for Clay or Atkinson. II
1t comes to show down.
damp McWhorter, another of the old
suaro, IS nghting the governors man Ber-
ner with all his might. Fleming duBisnon
Is mere saving wood. He was strong
stitution fought him last summer for the
United States Senate when he led the gold
cause agafrst Crisp. Where duBienon
would nSht Is problematical. but there are
not be very strong for the governor for the
Senate. In the first place, Atkinson re-
FUSED to appoint his candidate, Wright, to
nne CITY court Judgeship in Savannah last
year. again, the governor Is opposing
Dunwoody, and duBignon is for him And
the governor Is mixing up In some of the
races 1or solicitor and Judge. and. OF course
all the men who are feeling the iron hand
VIII oppose him for the Senate
Ex-senator Pat Walsh could not muster
enough strength to be dangerous, though
ne made an excellent Senator
The Situation Mixed.
On the other hand, the governor has the
support of Joe Terrell, the attorney gem
eral, and a formidable array of men in
minor offices all over the state The Macon
telegraph has been booming ex-Secretary
Hoke Smith for the Senate but he has no
snow In this legislature, and between How
ell and Atkinson he would be for Atkinson
What attitude State Treasurer Hardeman
will take Is guess. He Is setting his pegs
for the governorship himself, and he does
not want to antagoniZe either Atkinson or
Howell Steve Clay has been talked of as
candidate for the Senate. but his race will
strength from the governor, however
If the gold men were to make an earnest
EFFORT Fleming duBisnon would be their
logical candidate They could not, in de-
cency, support any one else because of his
recent campaign for them. So the situa-
tion is greatly mixed II the fight narrows
down to Howell and Atkinson, the con-
test will be as interesting the campaign
of six years ago, when the alliance made
the fight on Cen Gordon, and he won by
joining the alliance and promising to get
their subtreasury plan established by the
government.
By the way. it Is said that he will be in
the race, too. He was in the west leceur-
ing last week The generals forte Is max
ing a speech before a convention OF as
sembly and stampeding 1t. That is the
only chance he would have before this leg
ever. the national election occurs about
three days before the assembly begins to
ballot for United States Senator, and the
result Of that election may have some
bearing ON the senatorship.