The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-26
BOTH SIDES EXPECTED 1T.
THE CONVENTIONS ACTION ON THE
CHATHAM CONTEST.

The Politicians and Everybody Else
Watched Eagerly for News From
the Central City-SOme Bets Were
Made on the OutcOme-TeIegram
Giving Everything That Went On
Came just as Ii HaPpened-The
Citizens Club Expected and the
Liberals say They Are Not WOr-
rfed.
Every politician in the county. and
great many who are not politicians, had
an eye on the Macon convention yester-
day. To say it was closely watched from
start 10 finish would hardly express the
interest taken, that is. the interest. es-
pecially in Chatham county's fight for
the seats in the convention.
The wires We're kept pretty warm be-
tween Savannah and the Central city.
The politicians knew just when Hon. Pope
Barrow was speaking. and what he had
to say; they knew when he concluded
his speech and when Hon Walter G.
Charlton began his reply to him. They
knew also what Maj. P. W Meldrim and
Mayor Myers had 10 say before the com
mittee on credentials, and It was not long
before the telegram came announcing the
result, that al Of the Citizens Club dele
gates had been seated and all of the
Liberal Club delegates shut out.
The situation was watched with eager
interest all day. Telephones in newspa-
per offices and other places were kept
busy answering queries as to what had
been done by the convention. The only
thing that anybody seemed to care about
at all was what had been done with re-
gard to the Chatham county delegates.
The rest had all been cut and dried, and
was practically well known before the
convention assembled.
Several bets were made on the result.
In most cases they were even money
that all OF the Citizens Club delegates
would be seated, or that none Of the
Liberal Club delegates would be recog-
nized. Citizens Club members stated that
their delegation went there with the in
tentlon Of getting all or nothing, and that
they would not listen to a proposition to
divide the delegations and give each side
half the vote II appeared, a the con-
clus-on Of the hearing, thar they carried
out their intention and won the point.
I'VE have never had any doubt what
ever about the result" a prominent Citi-
zens Club man said when the result came
by wire. our delegates were chosen in
the regular way as directed by the county
executive committee. The other side re-
fused TO go In the primary SO there you
are. The party organization has got to
be maintained, and to maintain 1t the par
~ machinery must be recognized. Why
we knew just as certainly what the result
would be as though the matter had been
acted on days ago. The fact of the matter
IS the state convention could not afford
to do anything else. 1t would establish
a dangerous precedent, and that is some
thing which in times like these the party
cannot afford TO do"
on the other hand the Liberal Club peo-
pie say they are not borrowing, any trouble
over the result.
1T was practically what we expected I"
leader said, though we did have some
| hopes that the convention would divide
the vote between the two delegations, and
that is what we thought ought to be done.
However, they treated us far more fairly
and considerably than did the congress
siOnal convention, which went so far as
to shut US out entirely without giving us
any hearing whatever. The result will
not change the vote in any respect in the
October election. 1t VIII not make d diff
ference of a. much as twenty-five votes.
1t was a matter of principle and we
/ fought hard for the seats, and the fact
| that we We're unsuccessful will not cause
us much worry"
The delegations viii return from Macon
this morning, and the politicians or many
| of them Will no doubt take a day off to
| hear in detail the story of what was done,
! and how it was done. The Material con-
vention will come along in a few days
now, and after that is over, the political
| situation viii no doubt quiet down until
| the October election approaches.
Some of the ardent members of the Cit
! liens Club have engaged the First regi-
ment band and will meet the victorious
/ delegation at the train on its return this
morning at o'clock. They merely pro-
pose to greet their delegates with a little
| hurrah in order to express their feelings
at the result Of the contest before the con-
vention.