The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
POLITICIANS VERY ANGRY.
DU BIGNON SAID TO HAVE SENT
A JAB AT HOKE SMITH.

ais Reference to "the Chief of the
Razorbacks" Believed by AtlaDt-
inns to BE a Thrust Mt the eX-Sec-
rotary Gov. Atkinson Said to
Have Caught the singing Term OF
4Retiring Functionary" Some
PeoDIe at the Capital Hopping
Mad at the Chairman's words and
Believe That the Governor and
Mr.. smith VIII Make 1t Hot for the
Savnnnahian.
Atlanta, Ca, Oct. S.-There are some PEG
ple in Atlanta to-day who are hopping
mad about the remarks of Chairman Is
Bignon Of the state Democratic commit
tee made to the Morning News reporter
lust before his departure for New York
from Savannah the other day.
In discussing the result of the state
campaign, Mr.. duBignon remarked that
he thought everybody was satisfied, ex-
cept the chief of the razorbacks, and his
satellites, and some retiring function
aries" People In other parts of the state,
including Savannah, where II is said there
Is no such thing as a "razorback," may
not know to whom Mr.. duBignon referred
by this choice bit OF sarcasm, but IN
Atlanta the word has been so commonly
used by the enemies Of certain members
of the legal profession, that, taken in
connection with other recent occurrences
In the campaign, 1t was easily understood
TO be a thrust at Hon. Hoke Smith.
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. duBignon have ceas-
ed to be political allies. In fact. there
is no doubt in the minds of those who
know anything about state politics that
they are bitter political enemies, though
formerly they pulled strongly together on
the gold standard side when silver was
the paramount issue in the party.
Along toward the end of the state cam
paign Mr.. Smiths paper. the Journal took
occasion to say some things that were IN
criticism of Chairman duBignon's manage
ment. This was the first open appearance
of the breach, which is destined, the sages
say. to play an important part in state
politics in near future. This criticism was
doubtless what led Mr.. duBignon to refer
TO the "chlef of the razorbacks"
The Atlanta city directory defines a
s'razorbacl1' as a member of the legal pro-
fession who fattens Off anti-corporation
practice, secured by questionable methods.
In Atlanta a respectable lawyer would
rather be called liar or almost anything
else than a "razorback."
If Chairman duBignon had designated
by name his chief of the razorbacks" 1t
would have called for pistols and coffee
Nothing but blood could have wiped out
the insult.
OF course, Mr.. Smith cannot take any
notice of the incident, because the charac-
terization IS anonymous, but his friends
are nevertheless mad about It, and all
doing all sorts of talking on the subject.
They call the remark mean and coward
ly thrust. They say that in the ligat of
recent events, there is no doubt that Mr.
duBignon intended an insult to Mr.. Smith
yet ne was not msEly enough to deliver IL
openly and unequivocally.
So far is known, Mr.. Smith has not
personally discussed the incident. To do
so would put him in an awkward posi-
ton and this has made his friends all
the madden. They do not see how he can
open his lips upon the subject as il now
rests, and yet at the same time the whole
town Is talking about it. certain that
Chairman duBignon intended the Insult
for Mr. Smith.
Mr.. duBignon's other reference to certain
retiring functionaries is also easily under
stood here to be a thrust at Gov. Atkin-
son, who Joined with Mr.. Smith In the crit
lcism of Mr.. duBignon's management of
the campaign, which brought on all the
row.
The Governor has nothing to say about
the matter, but he Is thinking a good deal.
The interview made the breach between
him and Chairman duBgnon still wider,
which means that from now on, the Gov
ernor and Mr.. Smith will engage in re-
lentless war on the Savannahian and all
his followers in state politics. This fight
promises 20 take the place of the fight with
Populism in the state and may result In
a bitter factional division of the party.
The feeling, as far as 1t goes, is already
intense enough for this. The sores have
been opened. 1t remains to be seen wheth-
er they will heal or spread.