The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-17
GAMBLER AND THE PRIMARY.
HE FAVoRs HOLDING 1T EARLY AND
BARRING NEGROES.

He looks Upon His BoOm rs Being in
Prime Condition Now-Judge At
Linson Very Close Mouthed and
His Choice in the Matter Not Made
PubIfc-CandIer's Foes Claim His
statement That He DOen't Want
Negro Votes Would Weaken Him
against Il PopUiist Candidate.
Atlanta. Ga. Feb ga telegram from
Washington to-day states that Senator
Clay. who is chairman of the state execu-
tive committee, has issued a call for a
meeting of the state committee on March
II. The meeting is to be held in this city
at the Kimball House. At its meeting the
committee will fix the date for the state
convention, provide for the primaries and
arrange other details for the campaign
and election.
1t goes without saying that the execu-
tive committee meeting viii be awaited
with lively interest by the candidates and
their lieutenants. 1t is understood that
Col Gambler is in favor of an early pri-
mary. His boom is considered to be in
prime condition now. and he does not
want to risk anything by vexatious de-
lays. If such a thing were possible pri-
mary next week would suit him better
than anything else. said a friend Of his to-
day in reference to the call of Chairman
Clay.
What Judge Atkinson's preferences are
is not yet known, as he is wary of news
Ia
own counsel well all around.
The main issue before the committee
will be- aside from the date of the con-
vention, the regulations for the primary.
Col Gambler and his friends will insist
upon the primaries being held in all coun-
ties on the same day. The party is COM
mitted to this plan, it having been passed
upon at the Macon convention two years
ago. therefore even # there should be any
opposition to it, which there Will not be-
so far as is now known, it is hard to
see how the committee could do anything
else. The chief ground of complaint by
the friends of Gen. Evans four years ago
was that the county primaries and mass
meeting were manipulated by the men
who control" That is to say, Atkinson
counties were rushed, while Evans coun-
ties were held back. In this way Atkin-
son was given big lead before the Evans
counties were allowed to express them
selves, and in this way the men who con-
trol' euchered the Evans campaigners
If all counties act on the same day this
could not happen again and the course
that four years ago left a sore place in
the party would be done away with.
Col. Gamblers friends will also proba-
bly, insist upon a white primary" The
colonel himself is heartily in favor of
eliminating the negro vote, and if his wish
es are adhered to by his friends. and they
are able TO control the committee, this
proviso viii be inserted in the regulations
for the nomination. Col. Gambler has gone
so far as to say that he does not want any
negroes to vote for him He wants to be
made Governor by the white people of the
state. Oddly enough this position taken
by Col. Gambler has caused some criticism
from the other side. A close friend 10
Judge Atkinson said to-day that Col. Can
cler's antipathy to the negro vote nieht
cause some annoyance in the event of his
nomination, as the Republicans would
hold the balance of power in fight with
the Populists, and if the negroes should
take him at his woFl and vote soldIy for
the Populist ticket, ii would take scratch
ing to get a respectable Democrats n a.
jority.
1t is not unlikely that there will be a
change of chaimen when the committee
meets. Senator Clay, it is said, intends ia
resign as his official duties win not permit
him to give the necessary time TO the
conduct of the campaign Hon. Fleming
duBignon of Savannah, is the man gen
orally expected to succeed him as chair
man.