Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-01
A DEFENSE or MIR. WILSON.
How He Came to be Nominated at
Friday Nights Mass Meeting.

Friday Nights Mass Meeting.
Editor Morning Netcs In order to
place in the proper light the position of a
gentleman who. confined TO bed OF ILL
ness, cannot defend himself, beg to tres
pass on your space.
Three respectable citizens, Messrs.
Baker, Dixon aud Davlln, as com
mittee from the knights of Labor, waited
on Mr.. John W. Wilson and informed
MN that his name would be presented by
that body TO the mass meeting OF the
Democratic party as fit and proper per-
son for Representative.
That meeting was regularly called by
the Executive Committee Cf the Demo-
cratic party, every preparation was duiy
made, the chairman OF the meeting him
self announced that 1t had been called by
the Executive Committee, and expressing
the hope that the action of the evening
would be ratified at the ballot box. That
1t was mistake to have called an open
air meeting may be true, and that per-
sons not Democrats may have voted may
be equally true, but the call for the meet
Ing was by authority, the proceedings
regular, the vote both by the sound OF the
voice and on the division fairly taken and
the result declared oy the proper Othcer.
The side with which the writer voted
was defeated, judgment was rendered
against us, but no one has attacked the
integrity of the presiding officer or the
fairness Of his decision.
1t was under these circumstances, when
MIR. Wilson was at home seriously i'll,
that he was nominated. That he regrets
this unseemly contest no one who knows
him can doubt, but should he withdraw
because a large number of eminentlv re-
spectacle gentlemen declare that the
regularly nominated ticket ''is not re-
spectable?"
The writer has known Mr.. Wilson from
his bOyhOod. He may be poor, and with
out the aid of family influence or cOrpOr-
ate power, but he is, and has always been,
honest, industrious and honorable. lie
is a temperance man, in that he does not
use intoxicating liquors; but ne is OPP
posed to State prohibtory laws, believing
that each locality should control its own
domestic policy. He is a consistent men,
Der of the church, but does not Obtrude
bis views upon others. he is young
man, but the years that he has given to
the support OF his fatherless little sisters
and to his struggle in life have cultivated
his heart and strengthened his intel
lect. Unaided he has struggled
as few young men have ever
been forced to do. He would resign his
allay party dissensjOns and prevent the
unseemIy cOnflIct between capital and
labor, provided he could do so with honor
to himself and justice to others. But for
him to say TO the Democratic party, 81
despise your nomination." and to the
knights of Labor, Your ticket is not
respectable" would be for him to do that
which no good Democrat or fair-minded
man would himself do.
1t is understood that Messrs. Gordon,
Reilly and Hartridge have consented to
become candidates. These gentlemen
are Democrats, and so also are Messrs,
Russell, Ashby and Wilson. The result
will be O conflict that should, by all
means, be avoided. Let, then, the EXecu-
tive Committee, which meets to-day, de-
wise some plan Of reconciliation. There
ought to be enough conservatism and pat
riOtism left to solve the problem. The
writer believes that Messrs. Russell,
Ashby and W ilson do not wish nomina-
nation if unfairly obtained, and that,
sinking personal considerations, they,
with Messrs. Gordon, Reilly and Hart
ridge, would agree to anyfa and hon
orable adjustment. ANXIOUS.