Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-07
or.RaPING THE DECKS.

The withdrawal OF Captain a. l. La
cey's acceptance Of the candidacy for
Mayor, rendered him by the friends Of
various candidates, is another event OF
some note in this rather eventful can
vass. That mode of agreeing upon a
candidate was something altogether new
and rather misunderstood. At that time
no call had been made for a convention,
and judging from the last two city cleo
tons, mont seemed likely to be made.
1t would be folly for six OF eight Demo-
Gratis to run against one Radical, and
with q view to narrowing down the con-
test it was proposed that some plan be
agreed upon whereby only one would be
pat forward to run the race, the others
retiring in his favor and giving him their
support. All who could be induced 10
admit that they we're candidates agreed
to an arbitrament. Each q appointed
three friends, who met and selected Cap
tain Lacey, subject. however, to the &C
ton Of a mass meeting to be called by q
committee, which the chairman Of the
meeting, Colonel Bickford, was author
izei to appoint. The committee was
neve appointed, aud, therefore, no mass
meeting was called. The conditions
were not carried out and the action Of
the referees was binding upon no one
unless upoa themselves-not even upon
the seven candidates who voluntarily
withdrew. If there was ssy doubt as 10
this matter Captain Lacey has removed
it by Withdrawing himself and releasing
his friends and all who we're in any way
interested from obligations real or in
piled. This leaves everything as
it was before the conference was
held. In fact, the calling of 6
Democratic convention absolved al
concerned from the conditional
agreement made to support the choice o.
that conference. The gentlemen who
submitted their claims thereto are ss free
TO run as if it had never been thought of.
Thus one by one the complications Of
the canvass are adjusted. and the way
will soon be clear for effective and or.
ganized effort. The wards are wheeling
into line, candidates are willing to trust
the people and the people are wide
awake. Those who are not saying any.
thing are doing a deal Of thinking.
There have been, IS q matter Of course,
some differences Of opinion on minor
points, but we believe that The great body
of the people are ready to make personal
preferences su%bseryient to the general
good. The importance Of securing a
frst-class Mayor at this grave crisis in
the history Of Memphis is generally
understood, and the prospect was
never better. While the LEDGER has
positive views, we will not permit them
to stand in the way Of the success and
welfare of the people, and heartily dep
recate unnecessary controversy with our
friends. Our sole aim and ambition in
this canvass is 70 promote the general
good and to see Memphis lead of in q
new era of prosperity. To this end let
as all lend our energies to secure an I'D.
ministratiou that will extricate the city
as far ss possible from present Difficult.
ties. We will need not only on able man
for Mayor, but the best men in the Gen.
eral Council to aid him. The Council
does not harmonic with the present
Mayor, but it is to be hoped the new
deal will produce a marked improvement
in that respect as well as Others.