The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-27
THE CITIZENS CLUB RALLY.
ITS FIRST TURNOUT OF THE CAM
PAIGN 4 BIG ONE.

Spicy Speeches by Messrs. Osborne,
Gordon. FaIIIEant. Hitch. CHS
holm, Manucy and Lester-The Adj
ministratiOn strongly Endorsed
and the Liberal Club Declared to
De Tammany ReorEanIzed and Its
Leaders Characterized as Old FO-
Eies and Enemies TO Progress.
President Osborne 10 Appoint
Committees ON Platform and ON
GERS and Committee of 100 TO
Conduct the Campaign.
The Citizens Club held its first rally OF
The campaign at Odd Fellows hall last
night. The crowd present was various
" estimated at from 900 TO 1,l0o. Many
were turned away who could not gain
admittance.
In enthusiasm and unanimity the meet
ing was all that could be wished by the
most devoted adherents Of the club. The
reported defections were not apparent in
The meeting. The hall was packed as was
also the gallery anu supper room.
President w. W. Osborne called the
meeting TO order and opened IL with a
few remarks on the situation. Another
campaign. he said. is on and the club
had been called together TO discuss the
issues involved and TO settle upon a plat
form and candidates Parties are a ne
cessity in republican form of govern
ment, he said. one man cannot run the
government. even IL he knows
how it should be done He
must have others associated with
him and for that reason parties were
formed. II campaigns were conducted Oh
high plane il would be of great benefit,
he said. in that it would al
low the issues to be discussed.
He thought that every intelligent
voter should come to fl in a spirit of fair
ness and if an argument could be advanced
on either side that should control his vote
IN the interest OF fairness economy and
progressiveness that he should lend a will
ing ear, The other side, he said has
stated that it is willing to pitch the cam
paign on a high plane which means, he
presumed, campaign Of argument and
not of mud-singing. This suits u.s. he
said, and unless we can justify our ev-
cry legislative act by reasons which ought
10 control every right thinking man. we
ought not TO ask his suffrage. As mem
Der of the general assembly. i thoroughly
lndorse every local act enacted by the
last general assembly. i assume all re-
Sponsibilty for their authority, that
ought TO attach 20 me and am willing to
ueiend tnem before the community
Mr.. Osborne took up the subject Of the
commissions. The issue Of commissions
or no commissions was submitted to the
people IN the Willink campaign he said,
land was decided i'm favor of commissions
by majority OF llA IL was a clear,
Gear cut issue. Who says II isn't right?
A chronic bolter and one of his relatives
from bingham county"
Mr.. Osborne compared the meeting with
that at which the Liberal Club was or
EanlZHu- "a rf aF "a ataaf
ing he declared. Nobody came here
with platform, cut and dried in his
pocket Nobody came here with type
written constitution in his pocket or with
a resolution which had been read and APP
proved on Bay street during the afternoon
before. We come her to prepare a plat
form, adopt a constitution and select our
and dried affair"
He called attention to the fact that the
platform of the Liberal Club denounces
all OF the commissions except the park and
tree commission. why is this 2f he asked
II VIII tell you; because that commission
mas no patronage to dispense" The cam
palgn, he said, is the most important one
that has been fought in years. The CITY
mas enjoyed an economical and business
IKE administration and il is for the people
istration continued"
Mr. Osborne announced the meeting
READY Tor business, and he introduced w
w. Gordon, Jr ESQ.
Mr.. Gordon said he was present in re-
Spouse TO the call of duty. In his re-
marks he paid a high tribute to Mayor
Myers and his administration, which, he
said, had saved to the city during 1895
s650eO and az the same time had not de-
creased public improvements. "Resolu-
tons and reforms do not move
backward, said Mr. Gordon, and
IHs political aiteal,s party or faction
commissions as these will find itself buried
so deep after the election that it will take
= patent st1mp-puller to pun them out of
the hole. Mr.. Gorden paid his respects
70 the recent meeting of the
Liberal Club, and what he called
the Russell coalition. He asked
permission of the chair to Introduce the
following resolution. which was granted:
Whereas, The present administration
has by its economical, progressive and bus
mess ike management of the affairs of
the municipality, justly earned the fun
confidence and appreciation of all good
citizens
Now, therefore be it resolved That we
the members of the Citizens Club, and cit
tzens of Savannah interested in good gov
eminent, in mass meeting assembled. do
hereby heartily commend and fully in
dorSe the said administration for the
great saving of public moneys, the many
progressive reforms instituted through leg
islatiVe enactment and the earnest and
faithful manner in which the affairs of
our city have been conducted
Chairman Osborne said he wished il
understood that he had no knowledge that
such a resolution was to be introduced.
He put the motion, and the resolution was
adopted unanimously
Mr.. J. p Figg moved that the chair ap-
point a committee of five TO draft a plat
form and report DIT the next meeting The
resolution was adopted without debate
The chairman was given permission to
appoint the committee at his leisure
Mr.. j. S Collins suggested that as there
were quite number of people outside who
could not get in the hall the chair appoint
speaker to address the overflow. Some
one suggested that Mr.. Collins do it, Just
then the band struck up tune and Mr..
Collins remained in the meeting.
Dr. falligant was introduced as the
next speaker. The doctor was sarcastic
in his remarks. He related several anec-
ootes at the expense Of the Liberal Club
and its leaders, and closed with a poem
10 the Georgia Boy" The poem
was in praise of the Geor-
Eia boy and his achievements
~ war and in peace, and was enjoyed by
the crowd. 1t was followed by the star
Spangled Banner," by the band
Mr.. R NJ. Hitch was given a very COM
ELEMENTARY introduction by Chairman
Osborne. 1t was Mr. Hitch's maiden po-
litical effort, and he did himself credit.
He opened with an anecdote of the man
who didn't know whether he wanted 10
so to heaven or hell, because he had
friends in both places. He had decided Ia