Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-01-17
THE
Character and Incidents Of the Nj
nicipal Contest TO-day-Gsn.
eral Interest and Great
Enthusiasm Prevail.
Bat Good Order So Far at the Ward
POlls-JOhnsOn'S Chances-The
ERemy's DeVioe-COm.
paratiVe Vote.

The municipal election to-day is one
OF the most exciting ever held in this
city. This general interest is due to
many causes, as well as 10 the attitude
Of the respective candidates for mayor
and the political personnel of some Of
the more ardent aud prominent support
ers. For the past three weeks the can
ass has been conducted with zeal and
vigor by the friends Of the three candi.
dates, and in addition to mere individual
effort no inconsiderable sums of money
have been brought into service. The
regular Democratic nominee, John John
son, has for his supporters the unyield.
ing element Of the party, which the ad.
vocates Of Republicanism and the disaf.
fected individuals are wont to term the
unterriGed Democracy" Mr.. Flippin
has the support of the leading white
and black Radicals and the Repub.
lican Office holders, besides a very
large element Of the Front row and other
merchants, as we'll as many citizens who
are pronounced Democrats, and have
heretofore acted with the party. Mr.
Anderson is supported by the new local
organization denominated Working.
mems party" representing in part the
laboring classes, out also containing
much of the political profession. For
the past few days the municipal canvas
has been unusually exciting, and in every
ward meeting after meeting has been held
nightly, addresses made and the most
vigorous ACTIVITY exercised by the friends
OF the mayoralty candidates. The eff
feet and result Of the warm contest re-
mains to be seen in the votes polled to.
day. Up to this morning there was no
lack of betting, the wagers in many in.
stances being large, and the confidence
Of the parties interested seemingly I'M.
shaken. Perhaps no maYoralty con.
test in Memphis in the past has aroused
such enthusiasm, determination and ex-
p~ectation as the present one, due, as above
suggested, to a variety of causes, IN.
necessary to mention in this connection.
AS early as six o'clock yesterday after.
DON the election of to-day began to col.
lect crowds Of people even larger than
those that have thronged the street
corners and public places for the past
week. At night there was a large Flip.
pin meeting at the Greenlaw Opera
House, and much interest manifested in
the proceedings BY friends Of this gen.
tleman. At the Exposition building there
was a good sized Anderson meeting.
Addresses we're made by the Working
mems candidate and others. At the
Flippin meeting speeches were made by
Judge Clspp, Judge Elicit, Josiah Hur
ley (colored), M. P. Jarnigan and Hon.
|. NJ. Hill, the latter being the Republi.
can representative in the legislature.
Judge Clapp predicted ruin and an.
Inhalation to the newspapers that
attempt to override all freedom Of
speech and vote With the word " party"
in behalf Of which be pleaded so elo.
quently and defined with such historic
accuracy when Democratic elector on
the Ti.den ticket in 1876. Mr.. ]. P.
JarnigRn, who fled a bill in chancery to
burst up the city government Of Mem
phiss and made affidavit to the grave al.
legations against Mayor Flippin, did his
best to prove the greatness aud nobility
of Mr.. Flippin. This gentleman, Mr..
Flippin, also made q speech and set
forth his claims for reelection. The
W~orkingmen'S meeting was addressed by
Hon, George R. Phelan, member of the
Legislature from Shelby county. Mr..
Phelan was nominated by the Working
men for the legislature, but be gave no
published answ to this party until he
had received the nomination of the Dem
ocratic party. MI. Phelan made a
good representative Of the Demo.
cratic party 10 the legislature, and
made an able speech, ia which he
spoke Of the Democracy in sweet lan.
guage. The johnson Democrats held
meetings last night in the Tenth, Fifth
and Seventh wards, addresses being made
by prominent citizens, These meetings
closed the canvass for mayor, and this is
the last day Of the races" The beau
tiful, clear, bright day, with its golden
sunshine and balmy air, proves favora-
BILE for the polling of a large vote.
AT an early hour this morning people
began to stir around, and by half past
o'clock small crowds we're to be
seen at and near the different ward
Hacks and horses plscarded with
Flippin, Johnson, and Anderson we're 10
be Sesu in every part Of the city. Large,
well-fed, and healthy.looking colOred cit.
i2ens we're seen enjoying the election
hack ride, while numerous express and
wagons we're also engaged in haul.
ing voters to the polls. Owing to the
financial operations of the lste-day polit.
ical broker the darkey generally gets
out Of the elelion than any other
class Of citizens. In fact the voter now.
adays who places only a monetary value,
Ill IL - I