The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-27
RINGS DOWNFALL PREDICTED.
THE aMEN WHO CONTROL" ARE
GETTING FRIGHTENED.

Col. EstiIIs Campaign Is Having It's
Eneet-His DahlOnega speech Has
Made Wonderful Impression.
His Plain, straightforward state
ment of His Position on Public
Questions Carries COnvictfon-His
stand in the Matter of Pensions
and Public schools Meets With
General Approval.
Atlanta, April 26.-The downfall of
the political ring is beginning to be
predicted by the politicians outside OF
it and feared by those within that one
time magic circle. And the recent cam
paigning of Col. j. H. Estill appears
TO have more to DO with these chang
ing views than any other feature Of
the situation.
There is no doubt that Col Estills
recent speech at Dahlonega has made
a wonderful impression. 1t has been
a subject of general comment among
those who keep pace with politics,
since its publication. People here who
have read it have marveled at the
combination of simplicity and sound
sense through which Col. Estin so
clearly conveyed his views on state
issues.
Il am surprised that Col. Estill has
not made speaches before, remark
ed a well-known capitol official. Il
read his address at Dahlonega, and
must confess it surprised me. 1t was
a plain, Straightforward statement de-
void of all subterfuge, and shows
strength and force of character that
make an able man and which would
make an able official.
at is clear beyond all doubt that
Col Estill stands only for the people
and the peoples interests. No charge
of alignment with faction or corporate
interest can be laid to him, and the
manner in which this has been made
apparent has undoubtedly strengthen
ed him in the race. That speech has
done him a great deal of good, and
now that he has broken the ice, I have
no doubt that he will make others
that will take equally well with the
people"
Col. Estill's speech has been a sub
tect Of general discussios among citi-
zens and voters as well as with those
who are known as politicians, and 1t is
there, it is evident, that it has had its
effect.
II have not seen a better speech
during the campaign that that made
by Col. Estill at Dahlonega," remarked
q prominent North Georgian. HE
does not seek to cloud the issues in
volved in the question of taxation. He
knows and everybody else should know
that a governors powers in this matter
are limited. The governor can accom-
a., he 49,. -
people in this direction that the laws
enacted by the general assembly will
permit. He can recommend and by
his recommendations and by his veto
power he can perhaps hold the legis-
lative power within certain bounds, but
further than this he is powerless.
II like Col. Estins attitude, too, on
the pension question. He has convic-
lions on this subject and does not
hesitate to express them. 1t Is time
for the state to stop paying pensions
to those who do not need them.
know several men in Georgia who are
drawing pensions from the state and
yet who have bank accounts running
up into the thousands. am told one
man gives his $50 pension every year
to his wife to buy jewelry with. Its
time this sort of thing should be stop
ped and / want to see a governor who
viii have backbone enough to make
every possible effort to see that it is
stopped
''Col. Estill is right. too, on the public
school question. Our Georgia school
system is far from what it should be.
AS he says, there is very little system
about it. There is no doubt in my
mind that great improvement could be
made in this system without increas-
ing the appropriations for schools a
penny.
THAT Dahlonega speech was a good
one from start to finish, and the man
who made it would certainly make an
excellent Governor. 1 sincerely trust
his campaign will be a successful one"
Recent reports show that the Terrell
band wagon is not anything like as
overcrowded as the politicians have
tried to make it appear. Counties that
were counted as certain in the Terrell
column a month or six weeks ago are
now frequently reported as for Estill
or Guerry, and others, it is believed,
will soon follow suit.