Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-21
CHARLESTON POLITICS.
KNIGHTS OF LABOR WORK
THEIR OWN DEFEAT.

UnsavOry Negro RAdIoaI-The Farmers
Movement Not Dangerous.
CHARLESTON, Oct. 20.-The politiciana
have emerged from their enforced retire.
ment during the past seismic period and
have once more come to the front, even Ia
the exclusion OF the earthquake. ThG
Democratic County Convention, after la
boring for six hours yesterday, perfected.
the county ticket, which is to-day the
subject OF town comment. The conven@
tion was an important one in several
respects. 1t was the first DEMO-
cratic convention in Charleston in
which the Knights of Labor took q
prominent part as such, and may ba
therefore coDeidered as sort OF quasi
political baptism of the order. The
knights have three assemblies here and
claim to have several hundred members
in each assembly. There are two colored
and one white assembly, the latter being
under the direction of Mir. W. 2. Russela
who is prominent builder and contract
tor, rice mill owner and something of q
shrewd politician, although owing to his
unpopularity he has never been an office
holder.
THE KNIGHTS.
The Knights obtained foothold in the,
convention by a brilliant coup d. etatI
which deserved better results than werel
attained, owing to an evident lack Of
unity on the part OF their delegates In the
convention. They concentrated their vot@
Ing strength In the Seventh ward, inl
which the Charleston Cotton Factory IS
situated, and actually beat out the ward
politicians in their ward by a handsomel
majority at the Democratic primary eleo-
ti0n. The victory was something in tho
nature of a bombshell in political circles,
but this very victory contributed In a
large degree to their defeat in the COM
Vention. Had these delegates united
upon one candidate for the Legislature!
and had they selected a strong man, thew
could probably nave elected him. as there
was an evident disposition on the part Of
the prominent leaders Of the Democracy
to give them representative on the
ticket. Indeed, so strong was this dIspOI
sitIon that when they finally decided to
unite upon one man, and made an appeal
in his behalf, Capt. +. W. Dawson, OF tho
News and Courier, delegate whose in-l
fuence is very great in Democratic coun-
oils, made powerful appeal in their be-
half.
ACCOMPLISHED TOO LATE.
But the effort came at time when alt
the places on the ticket save one had
been filled, and the race had narrowed
down to "A fight between two opposing
factions. The delegation, besides, mada
a fatal blundsr at the opening Of the fight
When the convention had decided to elect
one representative OF the colored race
they made an effort to capture that place
by nominating W. s. Brodie.I
the Master Workman OF one
OF the assemblies, and one OF the
most notorious negro Radicals in the city,
whose connection with the carpet-baN
nj In thn 10
known. BrOdie was placed Ia nomiaa-
tion by them against George M. Mears, a
respectable, lifelong cOlOred Democrat.
who, Of course, beat him handsomelyy
Brodie receiving but five votes, not even
the entire strength Of the Knights
OF Labor voIe In the conventions
Mistake No. 2 was made in
the nomination by the knights OF two
representatives. and the consequent divis5
ion of their strength. DR.. ID. W. Z. Arnaui
a druggist, and John Francis BrItton. al
we'll known printer and politician, were
their candidates. Mr. BrittOn could prObJ
ably have been elected, as he had already
served a term in the Legislature, and has
a pretty strong following.
LITTLE TOO sANGUINE.
SO confident was he Of receiving the
nomination, it is said, that he resigned
the office OF Trial Jusslce which he held
bali tVat Capt. Dawson made the appeal
alluded to, hut, as has been stated, 1t came
too late. Had his name been presented
alone 10 the convention as the represented
tive Of the laDorIng element, there Is nOu
the slightest doubt but that he would
have secured the nomination, as there
is every disposition in the community I'd
recognize the demands of this large and
powerful element. The knights, however.
defeated themselves by want of unanI
unity, ard by the attempt to foist rank
Radical upon Democratic convention.
The legislative ticket is a strong oneI
OF the twelve representatives nominated!
eight are lawyers, two merchants, one
mechanic, and one farmer and ph sicianI
All the county officials were erenominatedt
and Of the legislative ticket six of the old,
members were reelected.
END OF THE PRELIMINARIEs.
This completes the preliminary work
for the fight which takes place on Nov. %
There IL no organized opposition in the
State to the regular Democratic ticket,
although the so-called "farmers' mOve1
ment" Is making a fight in the ranks OF
the party in the shape OF q crusade
against the State University and Citadel
Academy. The outcome Of this ts hard to
predict. 1t Is thought, however, that
there are enough friends OF liberal eduoa1
ton In the Palmetto State to defeat anH
attempt to kill these institutions. An
important feature OF the campaign Is the
fight that is being made In the Seventh
(black) Congressional district against
Robert SmAlls, who has hitherto had the
field to himself. The disaffection among
the negroes against Smalls has become sd
great that it Is thought that Col. William
Elliott, OF Beaufort, one Of the ablest men
on the sea coast, can defeat him, and thus
secure a solid Democratic delegation to-
Congress from South Carolina.
TAXATION OF CHARLESTON.
The approaching session Of the General
Assembly will be an important one in
many respects. In addition to the educa,
tiOnal night, which seems 10 be backed up
heavily by the denominational colleges,
the question OF taxation, as far as Charles
ton is concerned, will have 10 be dealt
with. Charleston pays about One-ffth of
the entire State tax, but the terrible blow
inflicted on her by the recent earthquake
has resulted In depreciation or the
values OF taxable property 10 an extent
toat will form very important consids
GRAFTON in the making up OF the budget tor
the coming year. A man whose house
valued at $4,000 has been destroyed by
the earthquake can hardly be taxed on
$40, 900. This question will have 10 De met
by the Legislature, aud the session prom,
ises 20 be an unusually interesting one.