The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-23
MAI. RYALS' PLATFORM
THE RYALs' CLUB LISTENS TO A
SPEECH FROM ITS LEADER.

SPEECH FROM ITS LEADER.
He Defines the Difference Between
himself and Mr.. Russell-One for Fair
Salaries and Reduced Taxes, the
Other for High Salaries and
Bossism-The Major Answers the
Charges Against Him and Explains
His Connection With the Oyster
Law.
The Ryals Campaign Club held an en-
thusiastic meeting last night at Catholic
Library hall.
The meeting was called for Armory hall,
and proper notice Of the change was not
given. Consequently many people who
started out to attend the meeting turned
back on seeing that Armory hall was not
lighted up. There was very good crowd
at the meeting, nevertheless. The hall was
cold and the crowd waited impatisntly for
awhile for the appearance OF Maj. Ryals
and the officers Of the club, who were bold
Ing private consultation, and
finally Maj Jordan F. Brooks was
called to the chair, and proceedings be-
gun without their presence. A number of
new names were enrolled, swelling the MEM
Dersnlp OF the club 10 over 800.
Maj. Ryals entered the hall at $50 O'Clock,
and was received With applause. He ex-
plsined his hardness on the ground Of the
urgency Of campaign work, and made some
humorous remarks that caught the crowd.
The names Of the following gentlemen
were announced as members OF the execu-
tive committee: G. D. Russell, Mai. J, L.
Warren, lawrence Kelly, Capt. D. G.
Purse. Col. Peter Reilly. P. Buttimer, P.
Lob n I'll -
don, E.iW. OConnor, Capt G. B. Pritchard,
Merritt W. Dixon, George W. Parrish.
John R. Young, D. L. Jackson, E. Nj.
Habersham and r. J. Wade.
The committee will be added TO later.
Maj. Ryals was then called for by the
meeting. It was suggested he give some
statement OF bis position aud he promptly
acquisced.
MAI. RYALs' sPERCH.
Mai Ryals said:
The press has announced TO you that am
candidate Tor treasurer against Mr.. WarinR
Russell, the present incumbent who is a candi-
date for re election. l win state as briefly as
possible the real issues between him and me,
and ask you to decide who is right and who is
wrong, and who deserves your support; on
which side OF this issue you will stand at the
election.
While his political methods. associations and
conduct have not only been dis
tasteful to me, but TO the great ma
iority Of the best people of this county,
nave waged neither personal nor polit-
zeal warfare on him and have sought to avoid
rather than provoke a contest. The issue now
on IS one he has made AS a member Of the
legislature previous to the present one was
handed preseutnent Of the grand jury of the
county, requesting the representatives Of the
county 70 use their efforts to reduce the exorbi-
tant salary and fees of the county treasurer
which were out Of all reason and justice to the
taxpayers, which had ranged from 5000 to
about $500 per year. This recommendation
was wise and just one II had not only the
authority of the grand jury. but knowledge
that $1,000 year was not only enough com
pensatfon for the discharge of the duties but
$1,000 more than the judges of the superior
court receive and $1,000 more than the state
treasurer receives.
THINKS HE HAS HOMESTEAD.
This law. passed by my efforts, applies TO the
entire state and did not affect Mr. Russell's
term OF office, and could not do 80 at all unless
he thought he had homestead on the office
This he seems to think he has, and, unless he 10
misrepresented. boasts that with his wiles as
political manipulation he has fixed the regstra-
| ton so shat he cannot be beaten; that he has
| certain race interests behind him and is in
vIncible.
Now have never raised one question of race
nationality or religion in political campaign.
| Those who do It raise wrong issue. aud are
doing harm to the county and to those who ara
misled into such q course. have voted for
Americans, lrishmen Germans for Protestauts,
| Catholics and Hebrews, without reference to
| thelr nationality or religion, and would vote
| for no man who raises such questions in his
| favor To run for office on this line is to men
ace the peace aud liberty OF che people, and to
divide men in free country on q false and dan
/ gerous issue.
| The real question between Mr. Russell and
| myself in this contest is my carrying out the
Recommendation Of the grand jury and favoring
reduction OF his enormous salary.
THE TWO POSITIONS
He stands for hign taxes, high salary and the
use of money to control elections and thus to
| continue to pose as the dictator Of the good
people OF chatham county stand for ample
| but reduced compensation for this office fair
elections, reduced taxation and no bossism
| This is the question you have to decide Do
You favor this salary reduction which he so
bitterly opposedf am in this race to test your
sense on this question, to see IL you will reward
him for doing wrong, sanction his methods,
| Keep him IN power, or express your approval
OF my course on this question. This is the
| issue. Let the voters decide It. To avoid this
| the friends OF Mr.. Russell, instigated doubtless
by him are raising false issues, aud are clrcu-
lating the most untruthful statements to preiu-
| dice the public against me.
First, they say l am the author OF the oyster
law, which has some opposition in this county.
| The truth is that was not member of the leg
| islature when the law was enacted The mem
beers from Chatham county at the time the Dill
| became law were Senator duBgnou and Rep
| resentatives Gordon, Reilly and Clifton The
legislature, which made the law passed a reso-
| luton authorizing the governor to appoint an
| oyster commission, composed OF three gentle
| men of intelligence, integrity and high charac-
| ter to inspect the territory suitable for oyster
| culture, to examine the law as ID existed and
after consultation with the parties interested to
| suggest such changes in the law, as in their
judgment, would be for the public good
THE OYSTER COMMISSION
| The governor appointed as comm issiopers 7
| L. Warren OF Chatham, X. W. Grubb of McIn-
tosh and James Postell Of Glynn This COM
| mission made a careful report to the governor
| which was part Of his message to the general
| assembly. This report was elaborate and i'm
| partial, expressing not the views of oyster
| growers or oyster Gamers, but of the commits
| sion. The character of the men who made it is
| a guarantee that 1t was intended to be fair and
| impartial and for the general good. / wish it
| had been published in our city papers for the
information Of all the people. But It has never
| been. A bill TO carry out the suggestions of the
commission was prepared.
Before introduced it a copy Of it was left at
| Thunderbolt at the place OF Mr. Henry Ambos
| for the inspection OF all parties Interested and
| such amendments as was desired Twas In.
formed the bill was satisfactory to all parties
| concerned, and on this assurance Introduced
the bill to perfect the existing law. The bill
| was passed without opposition, and not word
| was ever uttered to me against it until it was
| passed. This is the truth, and any statement
| to the contrary is false, and the use of SUCH
| false statements to injure me is INSCRIPTIONS
and dishonorAble, by whomsoever done.
| THE FENCE ISSUE,
II is sought to prejudice some Of the voters of