Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-14
THE ELECTION
Se0n TO be Held for Police and Fire
Commissioner in Place Of NJ.
Burke and for
Two Members of the Board OF Public
Works in Place OF Messrs. Gavin
and LiyermOre, the
Subject of Some Speculation and Great
Deal Of Talk-What is Said for
Possible Candidates.

ment Of the people concerning the coming
city election, when successors TO the eX-
pired terms in the Legislative Council OF
the TaXing-District of Messrs. Burke,
Gavin and Liyermore are TO be chosen !;
but in all of the years OF repOrtorial eX-
perience, it must be said that a more up
hill business was never encountered. 1t
has developed clearly to the reporters
mind that if there is one thing more than
another that man OF business don't like
to talk about, that one thing is a city cleo
ton before the campaign begins, and es-
pecially when under the new form of gov
ernment as administered in Memphis.
Election, blankety biankl What eiec-
ton? Who's runninG| When does it
come Off? Don't know anything about it,
and care blank sight leSs!'
Approaching a well-knOwn Front street
grocer, the APPEAL man was informed by
intimation that names must not be used,
but he was of opinion that Memphis had
the best government the world ever saw,
il good men were put in office, but which
otherwise might become the most oppress-
i've. He found but little to complain of in
the present administration, and rather
than take the chances of making q grave
mistake he favored keeping the present
men there. 1t had been said that it was q
dangerous policy to select individuals who
were in any way, directly or indirectly, in
terested in large corporations, like railways
or manufactures; but the present Council
is made up principally of that class OF citi-
zens, and he could see no evil results. lie
concluded with the ancient legend, ''Bet.
ter let well enough alone"
A prominent bankers first reply was
Politics not quOtable and out of the mar
ket, when applied to city elections" He
alluded TO the unparalleled progress
Memphis has made under the new form
OF government-he inspproachable sewer
and sanitary system, the sudden CONVEX.
sion OF these bluffs from an impoverished
city to grand railway center-the half
way house. as it were, between the Allan
tic and Pacific oceans, and the lakes and
the gulf. All these things he attributed to
honest administration of government. He
concluded by saying there are as good men
out of Office as there are in, but it is a good
rule to hold on to good thing when you
find it, which, being Unexpectedly the re-
porter, means that there should be nc
change.
Another Front street merchant, who
was rather reticent when first approached
war finally induced to give expression tC
an objection to Maj. Burke, but particular
to explain that it was not on personal
with q railway corporation, which he
seemed to think had been invested witt
more rights for nothing than should have
been granted them. But, " he soliloquized
perhaps Burke is not altogether to blame
for that, still it does not look right"
"Who would you have i'll place o
Burke?"
"Oh, don't know. There are plenty o
Just as able men whose interests are ident
ical with the prosperity OF Memphis
whose position in the, city government
would not be construed as Nal. Burkei
has been. | would not object to join
OYerton.'
"Mr. Overton was 4 member OF the orig
inal Council, was he not?'
eyes, and | understand declined a re
election"
"Did not Mr.. Overton antagonize the
sanitary and street improvement to som,
extent"
"Well, | don't know that he did, but, i
so, there were hundreds OF Others-and
am one Of them-who regarded the sani
tary system, when first iuaugurated as al
untried experiment that we had better &c
slow with until its great benefits were sat
isfactorily demonstrated. | don't know
what MIR. Overton's impressions are now
but | can say for myseli-and believe
i Sltdh TIC Htllllllltbl Oi Il very large iiiI
l iority of those who were first opposed
| that it is fortunate for Memphis that tht
work was pushed on us. 1t has proven
not only n great success, but our saliva
I ton. / would not live in Memphis a mo
ment without it. But | merely mention
| Mr. Overton; there are many others jus
as competent, and suppose available, bu
want TO impress you with th'
| fact that il will be a sad day 10
: Memphis when designing men sc
hold nj the Council. Rather than tax
any doubtful ;-lances IN selecting new mei
/ would keep the ol,' ones m d,
\ well-knOwn RIVER man II" "oonueI'
am more interested in building steam oal'
and railroads than | am in politics. Tn,
present members of the Council have don,
a great deal OF good work, and / would ia
vor keeping them there"
Another merchant was willing to tell al
he knew about building elevators and get
ting side tracks laid connecting them will
the vast railway system, but about tn,
election he did not know anything. II,
made il 4 rule to support good men Oilcr
ing for Office, and hoped that none othci
would be recognized in the coming elcc
ton.
Another was very anxious about Presi
dent Eladden's prospects of reelection
and began to elaborate upon the vas
improvements to the streets that had beer
made under his administration, but was
informed by the reporter that IIadden'.
position was not in ieopardy-the changes
il made, would be Burke, Gavin and Liv
ermore when he expressed satisfaction il
way indicating that with Hadden ut the
head he did not care n fig who were hi:
associates, finally concluding that the en-
tire team" was good enough for him.
a number of other prominent business
men were seen and conSersed with, but
among them all not one was found wht
had given the subject sufficient thought tC
be willing to express an opinion other
than that ifa change was made the utmost
care should be exercised in selecting sue
cessors TO the outgoing members who hao
given almost universal satisfaction in the
administration of the city's affairs.