The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-18
1T WILL NOT BE POSTPONED.
THE CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTION
TO MEET TOMORROW.

Committeeman Saying They Were
Satisfied With the Date Already
Fixed and Did Not Want n Pri-
mary-Nr. WhatIey VIII Serve
With the Delegation Selected at
the Theater Mass Meeting.
The congressional convention of the
First district will meet in the superior
court room tomorrow at Y o'clock. as
fixed by the meeting of the executive
committee Of the district, held May %
Another meeting Of the committee was
called to take place yesterday at u
O'Clock noon, in Chairman G. B. What
ley's Office, for the purpose Of consider
ing the matter of pOstponing the con-
ventiOn. This meeting was called at the
! request of Hon. Alfred Harrington of
Emanuel county, and his friends, who
desired it at a later date, as they stated
so that Mr. Harrington might be heard.
When y O'Clock came Chairman What
ley was at his desk busily waiting. An
hour later he was still waiting, and not
a member of the committee had turned
up. 1t was apparent the members of the
committee would not respond, and as
Chairman Whatley was not a quorum in
himself he did not proceed with the
meeting The call for the meeting stated
that in case any member Of the commit
tee did not attend the meeting, his abb
sence would be presumed to be a ratif-
cation Of the action of the former meet
ing, fixing June 10 as the day for holding
the convention. To all appearances, this
action was ratified by all the counties.
Emanuel county, Mr.. Herrington's home
included. 1t was considered rather sing
ular that the member in his county, as
well as Mr.. Harrington himself, paid no
attention to the call which they request
During the day Chairman Whatley re-
celved communications from members of
the committee for three of the counties.
Mr.. ). H. Jones, committeeman from
Burke county, wrote as follows:
i am opposed to primary, because
l see no necessity for the same, and
hope the action of the committee of May
p, last, calling the congressional con-
NenUlOn TO meet on the 18th inst, to NOM
mate a candidate for congress, will be
Judge H. c. Kittles of sylvania, the COM
mitteeman from Screven county, takes
practically the same position. He says,
in a letter to Chairman Whatley:
If l could be present 1 would vote to
have what has been done to stand. do
not believe the executive committee has
any right to direct the different counties
how they should select their delegates,
or whether of not they should submit the
congressional candidates to a primary.
Screven has already selected her dele
gates uninstructed as to her choice for
congress-, leaving that question with
them, and the county will not go over the
matter again. 1 believe that to again
open the question will only leaCi-to con-
fusion, and l am opposed to it. Please
write me Immediately on Wednesday what
Is done, and whether or not our delegates
shall come on Friday"
The only other committeeman who was
heard from at all was Mr. Sol. Atkins of
Bulloch, who sent the following telegram:
"Statesboro, Ca, June H. 1866. b.
Whatey Chairman, Savannah, Ga: Sat
isied with date of convention. Delegates
from Bulloch will be there on 18th. Sol
Atkins"
In the other cases it is taken for grant
ed, in accordance with the call, that the
committeeman ratify and approve the
action of the meeting of May 90 and the
call for the convention for June 10 is con-
firmed Chairman Whatley sent out
to each of the members of
the committee, asking them to
convention is also published officially in
the Morning News of to-day. The dele
gates will all be on hand tomorrow, at
least all of those who expect to take part
in the convention. Chairman Whatley sent
the following letter last night to Mr.. G.
S. Rountree, the committeeman from
Emanuel:
Savannah, Ca, June II, 1S96.-Hon. G.
S. Rountree, Swainsboro, Ca: Dear Sir
in Difference to the request of Hon. Alfred
Harrington and the people of your coun-
ty in mass meeting assembled, l issued
call for another meeting of the execu-
tive committee, to assemble here to-day
copy of which L sent you in my letter
TO Mr.. HerrlngtOn, and one to each mem
Der of the committee in the ten different
counties composing the First district On
ly three counties responded two by let
ter and one by telegram, each desiring
that the action of the meeting of the
committee of May 20 last, calling the con-
ventton for the 18th inst, stand confirm
ed. These three counties were Burke,
Scriven and Bulloch. None of the other
counties responded either IN person or
by correspondence. The convention,
therefore, stands called for the 18th inst,
and beg that you Will notify the dele>
gates, if they have been chosen, also Col
Harrington. expected you and he would
have responded to the call to-day as it
was made at your cOuntys request. With
kind regards, yours very truly,
G. b. Whatley, Chairman
Just what course Mr.. Harrington win
pursue is not known. 1t is hardly prob
able that he will go before the conven-
ton, though he may be here tomorrow
1t has been stated on several occasions
that he would run Independent, if he
could not secure the primary in the differ
ent counties, which he has been working
for. 1t remains to be seen, however
what action he viii take in the matter.
Chairman Whatley viii call the CON
vention to order at u o'clock noon to-
morrow. He will preside until permanent
organization is perfected and chairman
elected.
Mr. Whatley, it is understood has been
part of many friends to remain upon the
congressional delegation chosen at the
democratic mass meeting held at the thea
ter. 1t will be remembered he declined
to serve, for reasons which he stated
were entirely personal but he has been
urged by many friends, and associate
members of the Liberal Club to remain
with this delegation, and has consented to
do so.
The delegation selected at the theater
meeting will, contest the right to the
seats with the delegation elected at the
primary in which only members of the
Citizens Club voted. OF course. this viii
be matter for the convention to act on
and it cannot be foretold what will be
done in the matter. Liberal Club mem
bers are confident that the delegation
chosen at the theater VIII be recognized
and given at least half the representa-
ton.
Chairman Thomas J. Sheftau of the
democratic executive. committee of the
First senatorial district has written To
the members of the committee in BRYAN
and bingham counties to ascertain what
time will be most convenient for them
for holding a meeting of the COMMITTEES
for the purpose of calling the senatorial
convention TO nominate a demOcra tic &c n