The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-08
FIELDER ENTERS THE FIGHT
LIVELY OPPOSITION CONFRONTs
CONGRESSMAN LIVINGSTON.

The New Aspirant Challenge the
Colonel to Meet Him i'm Joint De-
bate-The latter Expected 90 Ac-
cept the Proposition With the
PrOvisO That the other Candidates
for His Seat Shall Also BE Allowed
to Take Part in the SPEAKING.
Atlanta, Ga, Jan. 7.-Hon. T. l. F5i.e.
made his formal entrance into the race .0f
Congress in the Fifth District to-dag Die
has been in the shadows of candilaay i.r
several months past but not until to-day
did he slip his cable and get into tae deep
water.
Hon. c. / Brannon announced himself
a candidate some time ago, so thatr.H Ioi-
ton has two favorite sons pitted .-'.a5-
Col. Livingston, and the election nearly
year off set.
Col Fielder proposes that Fulton hold
en- early primary to decide upon her choice.
IL ne loses he will retire and support abe
other candidate against Col. Ilviusston.
The first thing Col Fielder did after p,n-
ming an interview conversation t1at am
nounced his designs on Congress to The
people was to write courteous note ch'l-
longing Col. Livingston to a joint debate
The latter will doubtless accept the pro-
posal when he finds time and then judg-
ing from the way Mr.. Fielder sails into bis
congressional record, there viii be- about
the hottest fight of this political year
This is the way Col. Fielder leads Off on
Col. Livingston in his announcement. 81
TO
Eight years ago when he made his first
race for Congress, he gave as reason
for the retirement of the lamentod john
ID. Stewart of Spalding county the fact
that Judge Stewart had held the place
long enough Judge Stewart had been in
congress for two terms, or -four years
Col. Livingston has been in congress eight
years. My opinion is that the principle ne
applied to Judge Stewart is applicable TO
him, and l trust that his views have I'M
dergone no change on the subject.
From assurances of support received
from all parts of the district I am salts
fed that the people concur with Col. Liv-
1neston in the doctrine then laid down.
while it is true that long service In
creases the efficiency of representative
in Congress yet it cannot be doubted that
to homestead any man in office brings him
and he becomes the master instead of a
servant of the people.
Eight years ago Col Livingston went
before the people of the district and prom
ised that If elected to congress he would
secure the enactment of such laws as
would raise the price of cotton from G
cents to II. After remaining in congress
eight years and having made no effort on
this line, he gives as a reason why he
should be continued in Congress, and the
only reason, that he is the
ranking member of the appropriations
committee. and in case the democrats elect
a majority of the congressman and q
democratic speaker is called to preside he
will be appointed chairman of the appro-
priations committee.
1.-THE complete answer to this is that his
premises are false. Judge Sayre of Texas
and Mr.. DoclSery of Missouri both rank
him on the committee. Besides these there
are many mem bers of the committee who
if they do not rank him in length of serv-
ice, easily rank him in ability, and This
fact will not be overlooked by the demo-
cratic speaker, in appointing a chairman.
Moreover, Col. Livingston served in the
Georgia legislature several terms, and
during a part of that time was the rank
Ing member of committees, but the demo-
cratic speaker never made him chairman
of any important committee. Comparing
my record with his in the legislature, it
is a reasonable inference that my chances
for appointment to the craftsmanship of an
important congressional committee would
be at least as good as his
Col. Fielder is ell-known young law
yer. He was one of Fulton's representa-
tiyes in the last legislature and was APP
pointed chairman of the general judiciary
committee His candidacy for congress re-
moves candidate for speaker of the
House next fall, as he intended to make
that race. but for the more attractive ap-
pearance of Col. LiVingston's scalp-lock.
Washington, Jan. 7.-RepresentatiYe Lon
Livingston has been kept busy to-day dis
cussing the report that Tom Fielder has de-
cided to enter the contest for Congress, and
issue a challenge for a joint debate. Col
Livingston says he does not know what
the intentions of Mr.. Fielder may be in this
connection, nor has he been formally not-
fed of Mr.. FEEDERS candidacy. As to the
question of a joint debate Col. Livingston
says he is willing to meet Mr.. Fielder in
joint debate, with the understanding that
the other aspirants for congressional hon
ors, Messrs. Branan and Blackburn are
given The benefit of any arrangement that
may be made, these gentlemen having an
nounced their intentions to compete for the
nomination in any programme that may
be contemplated. Col. Livingston states
positively that he will enter the contest
with firm determine ton to try and cap
ture votes in Fulton county as well as in
every other county i'm the district The
fact that he is a member Of the committee
on appropriations should prove a powerful
lever in his behalf, for 1t is a position that
carries with it great influence not only in
behalf of his district, but in the interest
of the whole state of Georgia. 1t takes
considerable pull with the powers that he
10 OBSCURE an assignment on that important
committee, and in the event of Col. Living
ston's defeat, Georgia might be deprived
of a representative on it.