The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-25
HARTRmGE MEN TURNED OUT
STRONG.
Masonic Hall FILLED to Overlooking
with Them.

with Them.
The Hartrldge meeting at the Masonic
hall was as enthusiastic as a meeting
well could be. There were as many people
present as could get in the hall, with fully
a hundred in the corridor and on the stairs
outside There We're fifty people on ana
behind the stage. in addition to the speak
ers.
The estimates of the crowd varied from
600 to 500. AT the lowest estimate there
were not less than 600 present and counting
those who didn't get in the crowd probably
numbered 100. II was a little after $50
o'clock when Chairman Dixon and the
speakers and other prominent supporters
of MIR. Hartridge marched upon the stage
Among those on the stage were Col. NJ. W.
Dixon, Maj s. NJ. Ryals, Col Peter Reil-
ly, Aeneas Way, Esq. 4. NJ. Cunningham,
Jr., p. II. Gearon, w. F. Reid, c. +. Prem
dergast, Capt T. S. Wyily. George A
Mercer. Jr., Samuel b. Adams, Esq, II.
II. Thomas Hon. J. J. McDonough, w.
b. Stillwell, Capt John r. Dillon. Frank
Hart, d. Y. Dancy, Lee Masters. and 9TH
ers.
Chairman Dixon opened the meeting
with few remarks on the campaign, after
which he introduced Mr.. Hartrdge.
Mr.. Hartrdge reasserted his position
as democrat and said that the charge of
boiling was being hurled at him by men
who understood no more of democratic
principles than their greed for spoil. He
contrasted the position of Chairman du-
Bignon and other democrats with that
taken by Maj. p. w. Meldrim and read
Maj. Meldrims reply TO Mr.. duBignon, de-
clining to address the rally at odd Eel
lows hall and declaring in favor of Mr.
Hartridge as the candidate best fitted to
represent the county
Mr. Hartridge also read Maj. Meldrim's
letter TO him personally, approving the ac-
ton taken by his supporters and severely
condemning the Citizens Club and its
platform. The letters We're received with
wild applause.
Mr.. Hartridge referred to Maj Mel
drlm as a gentleman who had himself
been compelled to appeal from the in
justice Of the executive committee He
discussed the subject of police and fire
commissioners. and said that he was in
favor Of commissioners that would keep
policemen and hremen out of politics.
If Chief McDermott had been attending
TO his duties as chief Of police, instead
of attending political conferences, he.
said, the difficulty with Mr.. J. J. Sulli-
van would never have occurred. Mr..
Hartridge made several good hits at the
commission business.
If the democrats of both factions had
lows hall, ne said, not the strictest one
among them could have taken exception
to II. 1t was time for this hypocrisy to
stop. he said. Mr.. w. w Osborne who
wrote the Advertisement" in the Press,
had on Sunday been IN conference at
negro house with negro heelers. After
discussing the matter further, he SAID,
that the fight was not one. against the
regular democratic organization, but
against che Citizens Club, and that every
body knew II.
Mr.. Hartridga closed his speech by
calling upon his hearers to stand together
in the fight against corruption, spoils or
ganization and special legislation.
Mr.. 7. M. Cunningham, Jr., was
the next speaker He attacked
the citizens Clubs and charged that
( plunder and quoted the assertion of MIR
J. s. Collins IN the last campaign that
( they would clean out the city exchange
said that he did not like the Citizens
1 Club its men or its measures; he de-
/ spised both
| Mr.. Cunningham speech was interrupt
] ed by a difhculty which occurred at The
door. Theodore Basch had come up the
/ steps. Some Of the enthusiastic Hartridge
men at the door declared that he was a
spy, and insisted on putting him out
I which they did.
Mr. Aeneas Way was the next speaker
/ Mr. Way said that it was not" His audi
ence agreed with him. He read in the pa
| pers, however, he said, that there was a
cold wave coming He thought II would
strike the Citizens Club by this afternoon
and that they would al go nome shiver,
/ ing and Quaking. Mr.. Way gave his idea
Of the Democratic party as contrasted with
I that which the supporters OF Mr. Winhnk
1 seemed to hold. The officers of the party
I were its servants, not its masters, he
/ said
Mr. Way said a howl had been raised
/ against Mr.. Hartridge that he had appeal
ed to negroes for their votes The ne
/ groes have made grea- progress since
/ the war" said Mr. Way. when they
| have reached the point where they have
| progressed further than the Citizens Club
! that they are able to choose which way
! they Will cast their votes. then 1 congrat-
ulate them
! on the subject Of the American Pro
tective Association Mr.. Way said that if
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