The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-12
culpLEY FAR AHEAD OF CALL.
,,r ALTERS CHANCE FOR RE-
ELECTION RATHER SLIM.

,o.ber Hold His Present High PO-
-,dou in the Railroad World Than
no n senatOr-Bry0n's Speech to
,,oye No Eject Upon the Campaign
same sort of a Railroad COmmis-
.,ou Bill Pretty Apt to Pass.
rsuabassee, Fla, April 11.-"What effect
). Brvans speech likely to have on the
ssratoral contest?"
This is the question that, in one shape
49, another, is to-day being asked on the
l,.ssrs and corners of Tallahassee. 1t is
~ that should not be difficult to answer.
r,s value OF the human voice as a politi-
al factor has been vastly overrated.
s,secbes make an impression, but they do
at necessarily make votes; and 1t will
.,ka something stronger than rhetoric,
toUever plausible it may be, to convert the
o,ti-Call men here or to bring Senator
rsIl and his friends closer together.
Prvan's speech was an old one In the
GREAT crowd that surged and swayed
around the rostrum in Lewis park Friday
night. and stretched far out into the adj
ioinine streets, were men who had heard
those sonorous periods before.
Rrvan looked little the worse for his
nainful ST. Augustine experience, but
smoke for nearly two hours. 1t was cold
NIGHT The bitter wind blew straight into
the speakers close-shaven face-a face
sfnr,Iarlv ike that of the late Junius Bru-
tus Booth. ,-,,-,
os being one likely to prove prolific in
1lrnrisa / am given to understand by
some well-meaning people here that what
ever may be said of the senatorial fight
of Of. there has been no bitterness en-
gendered during the present performance.
II would be pleasant to believe this. There
is enough bitterness already developed to
stock a gall and NORWOOD factory.
Much interest attaches to Judge Ra-
news position on the political checker
hoard. 1t is not generally understood,
and il is quite possible that some of the
gentlemans friends are not quite certain
where they are at themselves. Ra-
ney may have fourteen votes;
of these three are from men
who would have been for Call had the re-
served and austere judge not entered
the race. Should he retire, these men will
fall into the Call ranks-but they can
never carry with them their associates.
On the other hand Mr. Raney's friends
need not delude themselves with the be-
lief that, should Cali succumb to the in
evitable he will turn his strength over
to their leader. Call is not built in that
way. As the case now stands, his vote is
more likely to go to Chipley; and he has
been heard to say in referring to the SEN
atoria aspirations of some of his former
supporters, that he would sooner by far
turn over his strength to Col. Chipley,
who has at least, been an open enemy,
than TO any deserter from his own camp.
The existence here of "a strong Hen
dersonian undercurrent' has been limited
at 1t is not visible to the naked eye.
Col. Henderson's friends declare that he
is not a candidate-that he will not be a
candidate-and that he would sooner be
vice president of the Florida Central and
Pennsular than United States senator.
All Of which has the stamp of validity,
and must, therefore, be accepted at it's
face value.
Taking all things into considerable
Col Chipley is far in the lead and is
likely to remain there Call comes next.
Raney third, and the woods are full OF
horses of darkest hue. OF these last,
Judge Hooker and r, E. Burfords of
Oeala seem to feel their oass most.
The Chipley crowd are not giving out
any figures just now The outsiders are
more liberal and the amateur arithmeti-
clans of the anti-Call school give the PEN
sacoia man 45 votes; Call 49, and Raney,
u. Some of the Call crowd claim Al votes
for their chief, and allow Chipley but 81,
and Raney all the way from IA to "A. Any
body is at liberty to make these abtruse
little calculations, and it must be con-
fessed that the opportunity is being made
the most of.
The work of the legislatures first week
has been chiefly noticeable for the deter
mnation to insist upon a thorough inves-
ugatlOn Of the state treasurer'S office; and
Senator Fuller's omnibus resolution,
which is certainly sufficiently comprehen>
siye, has been adopted by the Senate. 1t
Is only fair to Mr.. Collins to say that he
courts the fullest investigation possible;
and those who know him best will be 10th
70 believe that he has been guilty of ana
hing worse than an error of Judgment
n depositing $4,000 of the states money
10 the rotten Merchants National Bank
4 Of Ocala.
Several bills relative TO railroad rates
nave already been introduced, and Col.
Frank Pope, one of the members from Du-
4 lal county, is said to have come to Tai
n sAassee with commission bill of the
most drastic description concealed about
h person. Senator Tom barley is an
aher active worker in the same direc-
Aon, and some sort of a railroad COM
ession bill is likely to be passed during
E De session.
Many new faces are to be seen among
ne members, but some of the old, famil-
az voices may still be heard ringing
Trough the legislative halls. Speaker
Nays is one member who was here in the
honorable days of 81, and, i'm the words
the song, there are others"
ar. Mays makes an excellent presiding
oncer, and the members have already
Earned to respect his decisions, and to
eatch Tor the sharp tap of his heavy
Inc famous Jockey Club bill is to come
Y again this year. and New Orleans is
lAeiy to reach out heavy hand for the
aCe tracks and pool rooms covered by the
proposed charter. The Crescent City's as
.Iauons will probably be represented here
number Of gentlemen of good presence
auu engaging manners, who will lay great
I,ss upon the moral aspects of horse
aHNs and pool-selling. The local lobby
Sls' however hold other views, and will
ueaVor TO placate the puritanical ele.
'"gLl IN the legislature.
lAe proposed dispensary bill has not vet
o.'H introduced, but some of the members
SHo are familiar with the workings of
aOulh Carolina's famous law, are said
nave taken the matter seriously to
De town IS full NJ nofiticai etriirors