Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-16
The Morning News and the Central
Contest.


Contest.
Some ofthe supporters OF Gen. Alexan-
der seem to think that the MORNING
NEWS is not disposed to treat him
fairly in the contest now going on
for the control of the Central. They
are mistaken. The MORNING NEWS has
permitted Gen. Alexander to say to the
| public everything that he desired through
| it's columns.
In communication published in the
Nj oRNING News yesterday, Mai. Hart
| ridge speaks of the NJ MORNING NEWS per-
sistent ''insinuations that Gen. Alexan-
| der and his friends wish to make Norfalk
the terminal point of the Central rail way
system" This is hardly fair statement
of the case. What the MORNING NEWS
/ has said on this point has been based
upon publications in Northern journals
and statements made at Norfolk. These
| publications and statements were suff-
Gent to create a very lively alarm re-
| specting Savannah's interests. The pur-
pose of the MORNING News is to look
out for Savannah and do what it can to
promote her prosperity.
Doubtless Gen. Alexander's friends feel
somewhat aggrieved that there should be
any doubt about the purposes of his back
ers respecting Savannah, but how can
! doubt be avoided when reports that Sa-
vannah is to be side-tracked, as it were,
| lind place in reputable journals at the
great money centres, where Gen. Alex
| ander's hackers are understood to re-
Gidn9 II ia frf1 hot hoC
said that if he becomes President of the
Central he will manage it's affairs in
the interest of it's stockholders, but if,
as is generally understood, Northern
capitalists are buying a controlling in
terest, will they not be the stockholders
in whose interest the road will be man.
| agedl 1t can be readily seen, therefore,
that the uneasiness OF the people of Sa-
vanDah is not at all unreasonable. II is
possible, of course, that Gen. Alexan-
deTs hackers mean to develop the Cen
trail system if they get control of it, and
also promote Savannah's prosperity, but
if that be their sole purpose why should
| they keep in the backgrou ndi Why do
they not step boldly to the front and allay
all apprehension as to their real aims?
The fact that those who represent them
persist in maintaining secrecy with re-
gard to them cannot have any other effect
than to alarm those VINO want the Gen.
trail TO be used to advance the prosperity
| of Georgia and Savannah.
Doubtless Gen. Alexander is sincere,
but how can be know what the interests
of his hackers may dictate week or a
month after they get possession of the
road! II they are capitalists whose only
aim is to MAKE what money they can, is it
probable that they would hesitate to sac
rIfce Savannah's interests If it were dol
lars in their pockets to DO SOL
1t has been said that Gen. Alexander's
hackers are not made known because
| that would expose them to approaches
from the Raoul party. If they are firm
in their purpose, and are buying for IN
yestment and not for speculation, what
objection can they. have to being ap-
preached? If they are afraid of their
| ability to resist approaches of that sort
what hope has Savannah that they will
remain firm in her interest?
While the present management of the
Central may be open to criticism for de-
clining to disclose the list OF stockholders
in its possession, the public will hardly
| forget that Gen Alexander's hackers
| refuse to allow themselves to be made
known, although it is claimed for them
that they own enough of the stock to give
them the control of the road. OF course
they have right to refuse to dis
close their identity, but they ought
not to complain if the thousands out
side of the stockholders, who have
deep interest In this contest, view
with apprehension the secrecy of their
movements, and accept newspaper re-
| ports of their purposes as il the truth of
them were unquestioned. The MORNING
NEWS is one of the Interested parties,
and its aim is not to put the Alexander
party in an unfavorable light nor the
Raoul party in favorable light, but to
do the best it can tor this city and State.