The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-28
GEORGIA POLITICS IN WASHINGTON
HOI<e Smith Said TO BE Taking a Fly
err in south Georgia Affairs.


er in South Georgia Affairs.
Washington, Feb. 27-The progress of
the campaign in Georgia is watched with
great interest here in Washington. The
complications which surround the disaster
in Havana harbor are studied with scarce
ly greater interest than those which have
come to the political situation in the state
since the publication of the famous Cand-
Ter letter, and the Georgia papers are
closely scanned each day for indications as
to which way is the trend of events
1t is notable fact that while all of them
condemned the Gambler letter as one of the
worst political mistakes that have ever
been made in the history of the politics of
the state, the general belief among the
Georgians in Congress, and out of it, is
that Gambler is going to win. Especially is
this the case since Berner so Unexpectedly
entered the race to take the wind out of
the sails of the Atkinson boom, and to di-
vide with him the anti-Candler sentiment.
Berner's letter is generally regarded as
an especially able document even by the
men who do not agree with his views and
who say that it's evident purpose was to
force the railroad question to the front il
possible, and thereby overshadow its au-
thors position on the money question
are especially close to Mr.. Berner, who
seems to have been hoeing his own row
in the past, they do not hesitate to bear
testimony to the strength of that letter
and the shrewdness displayed by Berner
in getting it, before the people before At
kinson did his.
There is no tendency to belittla the
chances of Judge Atkinson who is liked
personally by everybody and whose posi-
on IL tFA,- .f.
dorse. There is, however a strong ten
dency on the part of those familiar with
the situation to smile at the efforts made
by some of the Judges friends TO cover
up the fight that it is intended to make on
Fleming duBignon for the control of
South Georgia. The denials of these gen
tlemen are to be expected but their pur-
pose in this respect is thoroughly under
stood by Mr. duBignon's friends here
This desire to down duBlgnon IS said to
be the strong link that binds ex-Secretary
Smith and his newspaper to the Atkin-
son cause
About the time Prison Commissioner
Beach made his visit TO Washington 10
see what he could get out of the Georgia
senators, Mr.. Smith was also here IT
may have been mere coincidence Rut II
was noticed by those of the Georgia dele
ton who talked with him that he was
loud in his praises for Atkinson as the
coming man in South Georgia politics 10
the disparagement of Mr. duBignon: and
that, whereas, he had on a former visit
talked strongly of his support of Col. Can
der, and had given the impression thar
he was that gentleman's chief adviser he
was on this latter visit openly for Atkin-
son.
Naturally, this change of front crsared
talk, and there was much speculation oe
TO the reason for IL. The general inter
probation placed upon the change bv those
familiar with Georgia affairs was that on
position to duBignon was the binding tie
There never has been any love lost he.
tween Smith and duBignon Il is a mart
of the talk that this was due TO Mr.. an
Bignon's insistence on running for the SEN
ate at time when Mr.. Smith thought he