The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-15
CLIFTON NOW A CANDIDATE.
FORMER sAvANNAHIAN WANTS TO
BE SECRETARY OF STATE.

tire From the Race in Favor OF
Hon. J.. w. Warren-COI. Harding
Refuses TO Comply with the Re-
quest-Manncr of Sending Col.
CandIer's Letter OF Resignation to-
the Governor Looked Upon as PEE
cuIiar.
Atlanta, Ca, Feb. 1.-THE resignation
of Coz Gambler as Secretary of State and
ths appointment of his successor was tho
feature of the political situation at the
capital to-day.
Gov Atkinson did not receive Col. Csnd-
lers letter until late this afternoon,
though the Secretary of State stated he
had mailed It Saturday night
In view of the fact that a copy of tho
letter of resignation was furnished to tho
newspaper organs of the Gambler boom
here yesterday, Gov. Atkinson was rather
particular about the details Of the Incl
dent The envelope in which the lettes
came to him showed that 1t had not been
opened til this morning. 1t was evldent-
ly dropped into the letter box at the cap
tal, which is just beside the door OF tho
Governors office. Why the letter should
have been mailed at all is mystery aE
the executive office. IL would have beer
just as easy to hand 1t into the Governor
in person as ii would have been 70 drop Id
into the box at his door. Then II SEEM
cd little strange that the letter should
have been published before II reached tho
Governor
Another peculiar and significant fact
connected with the letter Of res-
ignation, according TO the views
of the executive Office, Is
that its wording is not the same as tho
wording of the printed copy. This Is ex-
planned, it is thought, by the fact that tho
original letter was written after the copy
that was printed. That is TO say that the
original was not penned until this morn-
Ing though, In the haste to get the matter
before the public 1t was said that the let
ter was written Saturday.
The only explanation of Col Candler's
course In sending the letter through tho
mails instead of handing Il into the Cow
ernor In person, Is that the two have fall
en- out over recent developments in state
politics and the Secretary of State did not
care to meet the Governor. The Governor
does not say so himself, but there is every
reason to believe that he thinks Col. Cam
by putting his letter In the mail box at his
door instead of delivering Il with his own
hand, or by the hand Of one OF his clerks.
as would have been customary, as in fact
has been the case In all designations among
officials at the state house, so far as any
body knows.
This incident shows that the campaign
will start off with bad blood between Col.
Gambler and the present administration,
and hence some red hot times may ba
looked for.
In his letter Col. Gambler gives as his
reason for resigntng that he does not
think II proper 10 hold an Office while
| running for another The resignation
| takes effect March 81. The fact that it's
effect Is SO far Off, nearly two months IL
Is said by the opposition, shows that Col.
| Gambler was doubtless playing TO the
| grand stand when ne took the step. The
| opposition idea Is that the letter was de-
| signed to offset, If possible, the effect OF
| the famous Meyerhardt letter. as II waS
decided upon after a lengthy conferences
| between Col Gambler and his friends in
the Constitution Office last Saturday after
noon, which conference was brought about
| by the sensation created by the Meyer
| hardt letter.
The Atkinson people say that If COL
| Gambler Is so scrupulous about holding
| Office while q candidate for another he
might have got out on shorter notice than
| six weeks. They say further that had
| not it been for the Meyerhardt letter and
the effect II produced Col. Gambler would
not have resigned al all, not at this juno
| ture at least,
Tp to this afternoon the only man who
was receiving any considerable support
| for the appointment to succeed Col. Cand-
! Ter as Secretary of State, was William
clifton Of Darien. The Governor received
a number OF letters ana kilograms from
peoDle ia different parts of the state in
| his behalf.
Several other names have been suggested
10 him, but no special efforts are being
made TO have any of these gentlemen ap-
pointed.
During this afternoon movement was
set foot to secure the retirement OF
Senator Phil Cook and Col Mark Hardin,
the present candidates for the regular
| term, In favor OF Hon. J. w. Warren. the
venerable secretary Of the executive de-
! partment 1t is understood that Gov. At
| kinson would give the appointments TO
Mai Warren II the candidates named
would get out Of the way and allow him
to have the place for the regular term
| without q fight. Maj Warren has been
secretary of the executive department. for
twenty-seven years and Is one of the most
| universally beloved men who has ever
held public office in the state. For the
reason of his advancing years, and his
! eminent fitness for the place his friends
thought the Governor would be doing the
graceful thing to appoint him. and the
other candidates were appealed to on the
| same line But Col Hardin fatty refus-
ed to consider such a proposition, though
Senator Cooks friends here, who arc as
sisting him In his campaign, agreed that
he should retire and leave clear field
for Mai. Warren II Col. Hardin would.
Col. Hardin's refusal blocked the APP
| pointment OF Mai. Warren for the pres
ent. though he may yet get It if he wants
II, for the unexpired term at least II he
should be appointed for the unexpired
term his friends, who are legion all over
the state would rally to him in the con-
test for the regular term.
Judge Spencer Atkinson has received
| a couple of bushels of letters and tele-
| grams since his announcement These
letters and kilograms come from all Sec
tions of the state and are pledges of sup
port to his candidacy He Will undoubt-
ediy make a brilliant race, and to-day,
H.. ~