The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-10
FIRST DISTRICTS BIG RALLY.
MAJ. MELDRIM DISSECTs THE CITI-
ZENs CLUB PLATFORM.


ing TO school Books n stab At
the Board of EdEcation-Its Pur-
pose. He Charged, Is To Make the
school Board n Political Organi-
zatfOn I'm the Interests of the Citi-
zens CIub-He Warns the Club
Against Abusive Threats Made
with the Purpose of Exciting In
discreet Acts - other Speakers
Make Pointed Speeches.
The First District Liberal Club held an
enthusiastic meeting at Hendy hall last
night. Speeches were made by Mai. p. W.
Meldrim, and Messrs. W. c. Hartridge. W.
=. LaRoche. T. L. Hill and Warning Rus
sell.
The administration was roasted and
some good hits were made at the Citizen
Club and its platform.
President J. W. Smith called the meeting
to order shortly before . o'clock. Several
applications for membership were read.
President Smith stated that a list of the
registered voters OF the district had been
prepared with which to compare and
check off the membership of the club. on
the platform with the officers. as invited
guests. were Maj. Meldrim, Mr.. Russell,
=. j
bach. w. p. LaRoche, T. L. Hill and T. d.
Murphy.
Maj Meldrim was the first speaker and
was introduced by the president as "a man
whom we all know and love" He was
given an enthusiastic reception. Maj. Mel
drim said II was his first appearance be-
fore the club. but he was not a stranger in
the district 1t might appear to some peo-
pie as a misfortune he said. but he was
not ashamed to proclaim that he was born
in the First district The president of the
club was his old schoolmate and many of
those present We're his associates. This
statement was received with applause. 1t
might seem like sentiment. he said, but
there would be more or less sentiment in
the campaign.
Maj. Meldrim said he desired to put It
clearly that the Liberal movement is lib
eral in all things. mean. undetermined and
cunning in nothing.
Personally l make no pretense to that
underhanded politics which will make a
promise to-day and break it tomorrow.
Whatever may be done let it be openly
done. This club seeks the daylight. II
defeat come, let 1t come, each man feeling
that he has tried to do his full duty, but
that defeat will not come We may fail
to-day, fail tomorrow, but final failure
IN the great struggle for truth and right,
Mai Meldrim said he had but little ex-
perience in politics. On but two occasions
had he taken a prominent part and then
only in answer to the demand of duty
"On those occasions" he said, Il bore
the standard to victory, and by the aid
Of your strong hearts 1 will bear it to
victory again."
Mai Meldrim warned his audience
against campaign of abuse and against
the abuse which would be visited upon it.
IL VIII not hurt you, he said. In twen-
ty-four hours you will see a campaign
sheet with picture Of your hall headed
the Hall of the Hobos"
Maj. Meldrim said that he had borne a
great many things with patience, and he
warned his audience against the malicious
and insidious attacks which would be
made upon them for the purpose of en-
raging them and causing them to COM
nit indiscreet acts. Clap-trap, hurrah
mob-work, he said, is worthless and
things. Maj. Meldrim said it is
a ara, misrepresentation ,r that the Lib
everything and anybody connected with
the administration. There are men worthy
OF the applause of the Liberal club con-
1T is the little clique which controls the
! city administration for the purpose OF. dis
| posing of the spells of office to which the
| Liberal club is opposed. The real object
! of those in control of the Citizens club is
TO farm out and dispose of the patronage
| OF ONCE
If victory should crown our efforts there
| are men in the administration who would
| not with my voice be put out of the offices
they hold. The Liberal club is not organlz-
/ ed TO clean out the city exchange from cell
| purpose.
Maj. Meldrim called attention to one
| plank in the Citizens club platform that
| relating to school books, which he charac-
| terized as stab in the dark. Frequent
changes in school books are not desirable,
/ nj fc -
| ever. Great progress has been made in ed
| vocational methods and the progress is
| continuous. This continuous advancement
necessltates changes in school books. No
| book should be taught in the schools of
the city, he said when better book can
| be put in its place.
bers of the. board of education and said
that an insidious attack had been
% deeper on Than 5hem That Its purpose is
real purpose is to put the board of edu-
| cation In politics and get il in their power
so as to farm out all these teachers places
| among those who will support the Citi-
zens Club and their allies. 1t is Intended
| to degrade the cause of education by
dragging 1t through the mire of politics.
Its purpose is to turn out men and wo-
men who have served us long and well
and educated your children and mine. and
the Citizens Club"
Maj. Medrdm made an eloquent appeal
to keep education separate from politics
lllS MAY. MeluTlIn Drought up
the subject of the discharge of old en-
ployes of the city and replacing them with
young, able-bodied men. Many of these
old men were veterans, he said, who are
deserving of consideration. 'If they
cannot do full days work, they need
not be given full days pay 1t is against
this. vicious policy Of dividing out the
city's patronage for the benefit of a DO
litical clique that l have raised my voice -
Mr.. w. c. Hartridge responded to calls
and was given an enthusiastic reception.
! He declared that he was not ashamed RI
proclaim himself a native of Savannah,
and that his ideas of her past and her
present were gained here. 1t seemed to
have come to the pass, he said. that the
citizens of the interior could come here
and tell the people who were born here
how its government should be conduct
ed. Mr. Hartridge declared that the
great popular uprising of the Citizens
Club consisted of city officials and city
employees. He reviewed the prom
Uses of the Citizens Club and its
performances and said that instead OF
putting the departments out of politics
they had put politicians in Office ana
endeavored to fix them there. The press