Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-13
rInsr D1srR1Cr REPUBLICANS.
A Scramble for Nominations Ends in
Set-to Between Opposing Elements
Rnnan Indnrsad for Sheriff.

A Scramble for Nominations Ends in a
Set-to Between Opposing Elements
Roman Endorsed for Sheriff.
The colored Republicans of the First
militia district held a lively meeting in
New Chatham Hall last night, called for
for the purpose of completing the
work of nominating candidates
for Magistrates and Constables, and for
taking some action about the other cam
didates in the field for the coming county
election. A band practicIng in the base
ment during a portion of the meeting en-
livened the proceedings with discordant
airs and made the words of several Of the
loud-voiced orators inaudlble.
Joseph Williams, Chairman Of the dis
trict. called the meeting to order, after
waiting in vain for the arrival of Secre-
tarv Anderson, and Thomas Ferrebee took
the Secretary's place. After he had
alluded with regret to the unpleasant
ness between John Campbell and Capt.
ROYAL at the previous meeting, and eau
toned harmony, j. c. Reynolds was sent
down to interview the band. He returned
and announced that the band ''out OF
respect and Difference to the vast as
semblage had consented to allay all
The meeting proved too lOng-winded for
the band, and it resumed before an adj
jOurnment was taken.
John Savage moved that all the bust
ness which had been done at the last
meeting be abolished. The Chair refused
to entertain the motion, and Savage sat
down, after being ordered to do so, or sub
NIT to being abolished himself.
1t was decided after lively discussion
A. Ararrf crpar -
put in nomination again. Speeches were
limited to five minutes, and DIR. Abraham
MOrdica, A. 5. Gordon and Capt. W. II
Bell were put up to be voted for. Alex.
ander Reynear champlOned Capt. Bell
He replied to a statement made that
Bell was good to doctor horses by saying
| that Mr.. Gordon was good to sell
| chickens. Cyrus L. Brown, who was de
| lighted with the fiYe-minute rule, made q
ringing speech for Gordon. W. FL. Murrill
Endorsed Capt. Bell, and said that Gordon
had been in office so much that il
prompted people TO inquire if he was born
In office. James b. Reynolds declared
that MOrdica was the only candidate VINO
paid his taxes and who could be elected
Derby MacNeal threw a fire-brand into
| the Bell camp by declaring that Capt
| Bells name was not on the registration
/ list, and he was not qualified citizen
| Capt, Royal and Capt. Simmons both sup
ported Bell despite cries Of Hes not q
| legal c1tizen,v and Mack wilkins de-
| clared that he owned property and PAID
taxes.
The work of taking the vote began
| After it had been taken, and before it was
| announced, MOrdica's friends, seeing thai
/ he had been nominated, caught him anC
| put him on the table, but he didn't make
"a speech. The vote was announced as
| Gordon sc, MOrdica 30 and Bell 80. The
| SIOrdica men promptly entered protest
| claiming that he had not been credited
with 10 votes which he had received, and
| a great deal of angry confusion ensued.
| Fists were shaken, and an open collision
| between Reynolds and Secretary
| Ferrebee at one time seemed
| imminent, the former accusing
| the latter of tampering with the
| vote and announcing the wrong figures,
The Chair finally decided that the matter
would have to rest as it had been decided
according to the Secretary's announce
ment. although he did not pass upon the
| question of votes, leaving each man to do
as ne pleased with the matter.
Clinton Williams was then unanimously
nominated one of the candidates for Con-
stable, and for the other place Henry
Brown and Rogers BrOughtOn were con.
testants. Brown was nominated, receiy-
ing 40 votes to BrOughtOn 30.
After this was announced the Chair
man said: ''If Mr.. Waring Russell is in
the back part of the room, we'd like to
invite him to a seat in front. He was here
at the last meeting, L understand"
Mr.. Russell, it was ascertalned, was
not in the room, and the meeting then
proceeded to discuss the Sheriffalty. Alex
ander Reynear took the floor and moved
that the meeting indOrse John T. Roman
for Sheriff.
He was followed by John Simmons,
who was also a Roman man. He had
heard a man say THAT all the niggers
who hadn't been in Jail are preparing to
20 to jail, because they are supporting
Mr.. Russell" He disputed the state
ment that all the negroes were supporting
Russell. He would not vote for him and
many others would not. He warmly IN
dOrsed Mr.. Roman.
Much confusion followed, and amid a
general uproar the Chair put the motion.
1t was carried, and the meeting adjourned
in something of a hubbub, the Russell men
being much disgruntled.