The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-08
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WAR DAMAGING POLITICS.
A Lack of Interest and of Registra-
ton Noticeable


A Lack of Interest and of Registra-
ton Noticeable.
If a stranger were Informed that this was
a political year in Georgia, and were sud
denly dropped into some principal point in
the state. he, would be bewildered, no
doubt, to find that politics is about the
last thing that is occupying the minds of
the people.
In fact, it seems that less attention is
being paid to the matter than IL this We're
an off year. The war with Spain is the
one and only topic of conversation and
taken a back seat. Nevertheless, this is
the political year and the elections have
got to be held. Whether it is going to
make any difference with the elections
themselves is another thing; it may be-
come a serious question.
No better idea of the small amount Of
interest that is being taken in politics can
be gathered anywhere else than right
here in Savannah. The county registra-
ton books speak on that subject in stento-
rian tones. The total registration yester-
day was 2,555 out of whom 427 are colored
voters. The number registered yesterday
was fourteen, and the daily registration
has been averaging from ten to twenty
for the last month or more. When the
fact that on May in 1896 at the closing
hour there were 4,S0S voters registered, is
taken into consideration, 1t will be seen
how great slump there has been already.
If the registration in Chatham continues at
the same rate there will not be 1900 voters
registered for the entire year this year.
The total registration in 1896 was more
than $500.
A serious question arises just here in
connection with the primary of June 6
for state house officers. The county exec
utive committee will have to get hold of
some registration lists pretty soon now for
that primary. If they take the reglstra-
ton lists of this year. and base the prj-
mary entirely on them, a great many
staunch Democratic voters Will be cut out.
If other lists are taken it is possible that
some voters who will not be entitled to
vote this year viii be included. Still, it is
better to take the old lists than TO shut
out a number of good Democrats simply
because they have failed to register this
year. 1t has been suggested that the lists
of 1896 be used, which would give all the
voters desired but it has not been decided
yet whether this will be done.
But in line with the original proposition,
the war talk is cutting into political dis
cussions everywhere, and the politicians
who go into the country counties on cleo
tioneering tours, soon find themselves con-
1ronted with questions as to the latest
news from Dewey's fleet, what is going on
at Key West or what they are doing at
Washington. The politicians in this way
are finding small satisfaction in the war.
The one inevitable result will be, If the
war continues for any length of time,
great decrease in the number of qualified
voters. The situation in Chatham county
shows that beyond question, and it is rea-
sonable to assume that it is so in many
other parts of the state. The old-time
1000 and 10000 majorites will not be forth
coming unless The voters wake up.
Right here is a serious question which.
1t has been suggested, Democrats should
consider. The Populists generally are not
a warlike race, and they are not neglect
ing their opportunity. No doubt they are
registering their followers in every part
of the state, and are going to put forward
their utmost efforts.
If everybody waits until the last minute
to register just because there is a war,
the chances are that a great many with
De left off the lists, simply because the
registering officer has not the time to reg
lister them and for no other reason.
Some of the Georgia politicians, unmind-
full of the war, are making tours of the
state, and speaking in the towns and ham,
lets here and there. They get the crowds
sometimes, but half the time the people
who assemble would rather hear those
politicians tell them what the war situa.
ton is tran discuss state issues, a thing
which the average countryman never UNI
derstands. The war is interfering serious
ly with Georgia politics, and if the Geor-
gia delegation has any Influence in WASH
ington and any regard for their comrades
in trouble they ought to appeal to the
President to put a stop to it,
Chairman D. b. Lester of the Democrat
ic Executive Committee of the First Con-
gressional district, has issued a call for
meeting of the committee at Guyton, next
Thursday, May y, 10 fix the date for the
district convention, and to determine the
manner of selecting delegates.