The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-29
FEDERAL CONTROL IN DOUBT.
OFFICE SEEKERS ANXIOUS TO
KNOW WHOSE POWER IS POTENT.


The Probability of Buck Keeping
His Hand in the Cause of Consider
able WOrriment-The Influence of
the COIOred Brother Another OBJ
stacIe In the Way of Filling the
States.
The rumor that Secretary Bliss, of the
Interior, will shortly tender his resigna-
ton to the President, and that Maj. ]. f.
Hanson. Of Macon, will be appointed to
the vacancy, is again revived by Wash
ington dispatches. 1t is thought by some
that the change will oe made shortly af-
ter the Presidents return from the Grant
ceremonies, which will be In day or two.
AS is we'll known, Maj. Hanson, while
enjoying the warm personal friendship of
the President he at the same time pos
sesses the confidence of Col. Buck, who
will early in June, leave Washington for
Japan. Col. Buck evidently intends to make
long stay in Japan, as he has sold his
house at Atlanta, and members of his fam
lily have been visiting their relatives in
New England preparatory to a long stay
abroad. While-it was given out at Wash
ington that Walter Johnson would succeed
to the leadership of the republican party
in this state. the assertion is emphatically
made around the departments that Maj.
Hanson is to direct affairs in the future.
Local politicians say there is some truth
in both these statements. Mr.. Johnson,
under Col. Bucks tuition, has detailed
knowledge of political affairs in the more
than 125 counties of the state,-
knowledge which is valuable
and vital in conducting a campaign for
delegates to a national convention to nom
mate a president, and which can only be
acquired by long and faithful experience.
While it is not claimed that Maj. Hanson
possesses this kind of knowledge, it is
believed that he is able to permanently
attach to his party a class of men who
have heretofore voted with the democratic
party. Then again, while not interfering
with small postofflce appointments, he
might show his hand in the selection of
SUCCESSORS to first-class postmasterships
and collectorships of customs, his ultimate
aim being to select white men of promi-
nence and intelligence.
Should Col. Buck stay In Japan four
years and divest himself entirely of the
management of future campaigns and
Maj. Hanson be placed in the cabinet
with the power of virtual appointment to
all positions of any prominence and pc
cuniary profit, a division in the republi-
can party in this state would take place
Immediately, and wires would be laid for
the capture of the party machinery at the
next convention in Atlanta.
The republican political situation
in Georgia at present is tick
lish in the extreme, said
local politician yesterday. The negroes
believe they drew the water and carried
the wood for Mckinley and Hanna, and
were it not for their efforts Georgia would
not have given twenty-four out of a pos
sible twenty-six votes for Mckinley at st.
Louis. At the convention in Atlanta a
year ago to-day the colored brother DOM
mated everything, and with the exception
of Pledger and Frank johnson, the two
colored lawyers of Atlanta, was vocifer-
ously and uproariously for Mckinley.
Even the convention of boilers. headadeb
Wright and Love of this county, were for
Mckinley Deveaux, Rucker Martin,
Wright, Lyons, Love and a host of other
co.ored politicians of high and low degree
were for Mckinley night and day, and the
white men who are now much in evidence
looking for offices coud not be visible to the
naked eye. Col. Buck. Walter Johnson
and Col r. D. Locke of Macon directed
affairs and their fine Italian hand was
seen in nearly every move made that day.
| The Reed men were very active and were
successful in nominating one man out of
| the four-Frank johnson of Atlanta-and
had to be satisfied with that
| 1t was believed then that the man who
aspires to run republican politics in Geor-
| gia must take the colored man in as a
heavy partner. They composed IS per
cent. of the delegates to the convention.
Col. Buck knows this and his friends say
| it is not likely he will altogether relin-
quish his grip on affairs. He is probably
| the only man who can control them and
when he loosens his grip and the energetic
co.ored worker and the white applicant
who never underwent any of the worry
| and labor incident to the selection of del
| egates to a national convention meet in
| the political arena in a fight for office,
| it is predicted there will be such a split in
| the organization, when the colored man
is turned down, that Georgia will not long
| er cast her vote practically as a unit on
the next and succeeding national conven-
| tons.