The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-22
SHARPENING BATTLE AXES.
Az EARLY POLITICAL START on
ALL SIDES.

The Opening Meeting of the Citizens
CluB-Charges of Illegal Registrar
ton i'm some 20O Gases or More.
Records Were Looked Up in COun-
ties From which They Game.
Others said to Have sworn FaIseIy
as 20 Their Age and the Length of
Their Residence in the County.
Ex-SpeaEer Crisp Writes a Letter
on the Senatorial situation 10
Members Of the County Executive
Committee.
The meeting Of the Citizens club and the
supporters of the present administra ton,
10 be held Thursday night. is being looked
forward 10 as the political event of the
present week I'm local politics.
Campaign material is being collected or
has been collected on an sides. and there
viii no doubt be some interesting speech
es. There will no doubt. DE a fun meet
ing as all are looking forward with in
terest to see what viii be done.
The Liberal Club which is opposed to the
present administration has already had its
general meeting and its work is now being
done through organization in districts, and
meetings of the district clubs. The ma
tural tendency of politicians is to claim
everything I'm sight. and a great deal which
they cannot see, and that is what both
sides are doing now. Each faction insists
that Il is in the lead on the registration,
and that it will carry the earth when cleo
tion day comes.
The registration yesterday was about as
1t has been for the last week or ten days.
The number registered was 40, bringing
the total up to g. 729. The average has kept
up 10 about forty for the last two weeks,
both sides claiming a majority every day.
FOO Of los he claim
made by the representatives of the lib
eral party OF illegal registration. The fact
that Mr. Maurice A. Buttimer went be-
fore the grand jury to testify in such
alleged cases was published in the Morn
ing News. The claim is made that there
are from 20 to 80 names Illegally regis
tered, the majority of them being parties
VINO, IL is claimed, have not paid all
their taxes since the year 1871, when the
last constitution was adopted. These par
ties, of course have not lived in Savan-
nah ever since that time, for If such
We're the case their records could be eX-
amined right here, and there need be no
doubt as TO whether they owed back
taxes. But il is understood that investi-
cations have been made quietly, and that
al has been found that certain parties
now registered have not paid their taxes
in other communities in which they have
lived.
Others, it is claimed have sworn that
they were entitled to vote, whereas they
are really under age, while others, IL is
stated, nave claimed they have just come
TO savannah, and proof can be submitted
that they have lived here for years. I'm
der the oath voter is required to take
when his name goes on the registration
books, statements such as these, II false,
would be perjury. The grand jury mas not
as yet taken any action on these matters,
but II Is understood that further investi-
cation win be had.
The campaign has begun rather early.
but this fact may have the good effect
of setting the people to thinking, and II
will give both sides an opportunity to find
out what the people want, ana may result
in platforms being put out which will
state squarely the positions taken and
leave no room for doubt
The situation in state politics is becom-
ing interesting. The members of the
county executive committee have receiv-
ed a circular letter from eX-Speaker
Charles +. Crisp in which he speaks of
his candidacy for the United States sena-
torship, and the coming primaries. The
letter is accompanied by printed copy
of Mr.. Crisp's letter to the state demo-
cratic executive committee, which was
read at the recent meeting at which one
convention was decided on. The letter is
as follows:
House of Representatives United States
Washington, ID. C., March II, le96.-To the
Democratic Executive Committees of the
several counties of Georgia: Gentle
mef-Accompanying this is letter re-
Gently addressed by me to our state exec
utive committee For the reasons therein
given, and for others that will occur to
you, 1 respectfully suggest that at the
primary election to be held June next
the democratic voters of each county be
accorded the privilege of expressing by
ballot their choice for the Office of Unit
ed states senator for the term beginning
March 4, 1897.
Throughout our state, and the country
generally there is a growing sentiment
IN favor of the election of senator's by the
people. The adoption of the plan indI-
Gated Will respect this sentiment and
practically reach the end desired
know you viii acquit me of any i'm
proper purpose in making this suggestion
Wnen you reflect that the only possible
effect of affirmative action upon il viii
be to remit to the people themselves the
duty OF filling by a direct vote one OF
their benefit.
With assurances of respect and the ut
ly, yours, Charles r. Crisp.
As is well known the conduct of the pri
mary elections in the counties is left all
together to the county executive commit
tees There is a sentiment in many parts
OF the state not alone among the sound
money men, but with supporters of sill
Yer against any expression from the peo-
PIE. on the senatorship at the primary
Wmch VIII precede the state convention
Tor the reason that the discussion will
hardly have proceeded far enough at thar
Time TO give the people i'm all parts Of the
state as full and clear an idea of the sit
uauOh as regards all the candidates as
they should have. The objection is not
against an expression on the part of the
people, but to having it made as early ~
that 1t should take place at a later date
as the June primary will precede the
election for senator by about four months
or more, and the discussion on the stump
and otherwise will hardly have been com
pleted at that time
1t is not likely that the executive ooy,,
mite of this county will give any seri-
Gus attention to this letter. and it is ex-
pected mat the June primary here as
we'll as in many other counties will take
place at date later than June 6. So
lar as Chatham county is concerned and
II is understood to be the case wit n
other counties, this primary will deal
only with delegates TO the state and ma
uonal conventions. The state committee
does nothing more than make RECOMMEND
cations with regard to these county pri-
mares, and the county committees fol-
tit.
The situation is being watched with in
terest all over the state, and politicians
ana voters are waiting to see what is
going to happen next