The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-30
FIGURING ON GOTHAM'S FIGHT.
POLITICIANS DISCUSS THE EFFECT
OF GEORGES DEATH.

Little Local Betting On the Mayor
atty EIectiOn-GeOrge Had Many
Admirers Here But They Did Not
Expect Him to Win-Few George
Bets VIII Have TO BE Withdrawn.
The expression, so common In Savan-
nah, that the city is in vital touch with
New York, was probably never Demon
strated more forcibly than by the an
nouncement yesterday of the death of
Henry George. All through the city the
news was received with commingled sur
prise and regret.
Coming as it did upon the eve of the
election of the great consolidated city,
and knowing that the voters and political
managers had been worked up to a high
degree over the contest, it was but nat
ural that all sorts of conjectures should be
formed when the news was received. There
were those who at first thought it possible
that the great leader had been the vic
tim of some kind of undetermined play,
until they learned differently. OtherS,
who had kept up with the movements Of
Mr.. George for the last few weeks, con-
Guided that has death might be attributa-
BILE TO the heavy demands made upon him
in coping with his opponents in the cam
pagn.
By hundreds of people in Savannah, the
campaign now in progress, has been
watched with a vigilance almost akin to
that which characterizes a local election.
OF these observers, it may be said that
there were scarcely any who had not al
lied themselves with some one of the four
candidates. Mr.. George had many enlisted
with his cause. and hence it was the news
assumed much gravity with them.
So far as is known the local betting in
Savannah on the election has been light
in fact, inconsiderable. The situation
seemed to have been so complex and the
number of candidates so large, that the
local lights were somewhat dif1dent about
stalking their money on any of the candi-
dates. There are therefore very few, if,
indeed, any bets on the election of George,
that will have to be withdrawn. While the
dead candidate had many admirers in Sa-
vannah, 1t does not seem to be the general
belief that he stood as the faVorite of the
greater number.
Surmises were heard on all the street
corners, at the hotel Hobbies and at the
rendezvous of the politicians: ITO what
candidat e will Georges managers now be
most likely to throw their Strength" A
difference of opinion prevails and all kinds
of theories are advanced. Among the To-
cad politicians are some who believe that
the Georgites will be compelled to go
either to Judge Van Wyck or select
candidate to make the race which Mr..
George has been wagng so vigorously,
effects nj W
have FASTENED his death. Upon the other
hand, there are those who believe that the
George managers will hold OUT for the
best that's offered. One of Savannahs
foremost election men, said when ap-
preached upon the subject of the posi-
bic candidate to whom the George
strength might be thrown in the event no
one takes the place of the deceased can
d!date:
II will tell you just what think, but
wish to say incidentally that we people do
not have to go to New York to find poll
tics to discuss. We've got an abundance
of politics right here! Still, have been
connected with politics long enough to
know that those, who are leading in the
New York campaign, are not doing so for
glory. There is to be a hereafter. Now
when the George managers are asked to
poll their vote for some other candidate,
the first thing will be- what are YOU to
concede TO us for this vote?" 1t is a very
important matter for the other candidates
to work for all the George vote they can
obtain My opinion is that it will elect
either Van Wyck, Low or Tracy, if thrown
to them solidly. While 1 do not mean to
be understood as saying that the George
managers will attempt to give their vote
to either Low or Tracy. the republicans
yet l know the relation between the
| George forces and Tammany is bitter and
may not be reconciled. Surely 1t will not
be unless Tammany grants concessions"
The local belief is that there will be a
scramble for the George vote, on account
of the supposed disintegration, no matter
| who steps in and undertakes to finish the
work which he had been carrying on so
| aggressively.