The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-10
THE SPEAKERSHIP CONTEST
OVER THIRTY CANDIDATES. AL
LEGGED TO BE IN THE FIELD.

LEGGED TO BE IN THE FIELD.
With Many This Is simply a Lever
for Recollection. burt Some Eight
or Ten Are In Dend Earnest-Hon
Holland Ellis of Bibb Proposes to
BE n Member of the Next House
and n Candidate for spenker-PeO-
pie of the state Not CIamOriuE for
Joint Debates, and the Attitude
Adopted by Col. Estill and Mr..
Terrell Meets with Appreciation.
Atlanta, Feb. 9.-There appears to
be no doubt about the fact that Hon.
Roland Ellis of Bibb expects to be in
the race for Speaker of the next House
of Representatives..
1t was announced in these dispatches
some days ago that Mr.. Ellis was
contemplating coming to the House and
entering the race for Speaker. Since
that time Mr.. Ellis once gave up the
idea, then took hold of it again, this
time with an evident determination to
enter the Tight.
Mr.. Ellis has made no formal an
nouncement to this effect. but he has
written letters to members Of the pres
eut House. especially those who will
probably be returned to the next Gen
eral Assembly, stating he expected to
be in the race and asking their sup
port.
II have received a letter from Mr..
Ellis" said a well known member OF
the House from South Georgia who
was here to-day, stating that he ex-
n IN "
my support. believe he would make
a good Speaker, and l shall do what
/ can for him in the event he is in
the race"
From all indications there may be
a pretty warm contest for the repre-
sentation from Bibb county this year
Both Hon. T. S. Fielder and Hon. Joe
Hill Hall will be in the race for re-
election, while Hon. l.. ]. Kilburn. the
other member, has not yet decided
whether he will run. The chances are,
however, that he will be in the race
again. so there are already four cam
didates in sight, with other aspirants
almost too numerous to mention.
The speakership contest is going to
be a most exciting one. There are at
least thirty alleged aspirants for the
place. but a great deal of credence is
put in the report that many of them
for the speakership as a lever to aid
them in the primary for return TO the
Legislature. Among those who are
making a canvass of the state now by
letter and otherwise are Hon. Newt
Morris of Cobb county. Hon. Emerson
II. George of Morgan county, Hon.
Fondran Mitchell OF Thomas cunty,
Hon. A. O. Balock of Fayette, Hon.
Fl. M. Franklin of Washington and
Mr.. Ellis of Bib.
Few Are disappointed.
The indications are that few will be
disappointed because of the fact that
there are TO be no Joint debates be-
tween the guberna torial candidates. So
far urgent and enthusiastic demands
for joint debates have been very scarce,
and Terrell county is the only one that
has taken any official action requesting
a. joint discussion of issues.
While there has been no scarcity OF
enthusiasm over the race, it has not
taken the shape of q demand for joint
discussion. A Capitol official, speaking
of the matter, said:
u have talked with a great many
people from all parts of the state on
this subject. and l am convinced that
they would. as a rule. rather not have
joint debates. Col. Estill took the right
attitude when he announced himself as
against them, and am glad to see
that Mr.. Terrell has declined to meet
Mr.. Query on the stump.
u don't care how much contesting
candidates try to be pleasant in such
discussions, personalities are bound to
creep in. and before three speeches
have been made they would be almost
tearing each others hair. This
is political year, and the
people are going to get enough
Of politics without any such
disturbing element as joint discussions
would certainly result in. I don't be-
lieve they would do the party or the
candidates or the people any good, and
] think II fortunate that there is going
to be no more of them, at least not
for the present"
In addition to the reasons stated in
his letter to Mr.. Query declining to
enter joint discussions, Mr.. Terrell is
reported to have said to friends that
another reason why he declined was,
that Col. Estill seemed to have been
ignored altogether by Mr.. Query, and
he did not propose under any circum-
stances TO enter into joint debates with
only one of the candidates.
Mr.. Terrell has not yet replied to
the questions asked by c. r. Pringle,
representing the prohibitionists of the
state. but ii is understood his reply
will be similar to that of Col Estill
Mr.. Terrell is opposed to any inter-
ference with the county elections of
representatives, and as to his attitude
on the liquor question, his friends say
he has fully stated that in his recent
platform.