The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-27
NEWS OF A DAY IN
GEORGIA'S CAPITAL
LIKE SPEECHES ON STUMP
WARM POLITICAL CORRESPOND
ENCE STIRs THE STATE.

There Is Wide Discussion of the
Letters Solicitor General Osborne
Is Writing-One Politician Dis
cusses the Morris-Steed Confer
ence-SRys Steed Was Promised
the support of Morris Friends for
President of the senate.
Atlanta, Dec. 26.-The card-writing
feature of the coming political cam
paign Is attracting about as much at
tention among the politicians just now
as would the appearance of the eandi-
dates themselves on the stump. The
letters of Solicitor General w. w. Os-
borne of Savannah and the replies
they have called forth are being gener-
ally discussed at the Capitol and in po-
lftical circles over the state.
Inquiry was made to-day as to the
features of the conference held a lit
tie more than two years ago over
the House speakership, for the details
of which Mr.. Osborne has called upon
former Speaker N. A. Morris.
Il was not at that conference" said
well known Georgia politician. to-
day, principally because I had no
special business there: but 1 have
heard from several parties who were
present something in a general way
about the details of it. AS 1 am in
formed, and reliably, think. it was
conference between the friends of
Newt Morris and Walter Steed of Tay-
Tor regarding the speakership.
Both sides met and showed their
hands. 1t was discovered that Nor
ris had more members of the House
pledged for him for the speakership
than Steed had, though neither had a
majority. After considerable discus
sion, it was finally decided that Steed
should get out of the way and support
Morris, and in consideration for this it
was promised that Morris friends
would support and endeavor to elect
Steed president of the next Senate.
Il understand that Morris has re-
NAMED faithful to his part of the con-
tract. What his friends have done
l have not been informed. So far as
l have been able to gather that is all
there was to the conference to which
Mr.. Osborne refers, and for the details
of which he has called upon Mr.. Nor
ris."
Respite for WiIifOrd.
Gov. Terrell to-day granted a re-
spite to Whitley Wiliford, the Mitch
ell county negro who was to have
been hanged tomorrow for murder
until Jan. 10 in order that the Prison
Commission may have opportunity to
investigate and see whether the ne
gro should be executed or have his
sentence committed to life imprison-
ment.
Wiliford, who was an escaped con-
Wet from a misdemeanor gang, kill
ed Harmon West, a young white man.
and wounded a man named Cox, a
bailiff, who went to arrest him. 1t
took three companies of militia to
prevent mob violence during his trial.
Suggestion that the case should be
investigated by the Prison Commits
sion and the Governor came from
Judge Spence and Solicitor General
Wooten, by whom he was tried.
To Keep Out the Cotton Terror.
State Entomologist Wilmon Newell
is to-day sending out circulars to all
parties interested, giving the rules
adopted and laid down by the State
Board of Entomology to prevent the
Introduction of the Mexican boil Wee
vii into this state. These regulations
apply principally to shippers, trans
portation companies and consigness,
and to the handling of products
which would be likely to convey the
boil weevil. They are quite stringent
and an inspector will be employed es-
pecially to see that they are enforced.
Had a Quiet Christmas.
Christmas was generally observed
to-day. the State Capitol the City
Hall. banks, and practically all the
stores in the city being closed all day.
Contrary to usual custom the bar
rooms were open. though the city or
dinance requires them to be closed on
Christmas day. The city attorney
held. however, that as this was not
Christmas day in fact, they could not
be required to close. There were the
usual number of DRINKS and disorder
lies, but the police have had the stu
alton well in hand and nothing serious
developed.