The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-20
THE COMPROMISE AGREEMENT
A NEW COUNTY EXECUTIVE COM
MITFEE MAY BE FORMED.


Committee, Consisting of Twelve
Members From Each side, Formed
with MIR. II. VI. Conner as Chair
man-The Agreement Reached at
n Conference Between MessrS. Mel
drin, Duncan, duBignon, Osborn
and BnrrOvv-It Does Not Apply TO
Local Legislation and the city
ELECTROMAGNETIC side willing to
Compromise on Those Features.
The two rival democratic executive com
mittees in Chatham are to be dissolved
and new executive committee organized,
to consist Of an equal number of men,
bers of both factions. with Mr.. H. NJ.
Conner as chairman. This is the compro-
mise which has been agreed upon, and
which will be recommended by leaders Of
both sides to the two contendng factions.
1t will doubtless be agreed to, as It does
not affect present local issues Of the city
campaign or contemplated local legisla-
ton.
This agreement was reached at break
fast given by DR.. Duncan a couple Of
days ago in Atlanta, at which were pres
ent DIR. Duncan and Maj. p w. Meldrim,
from one side, and Hon. r. G. duBignon,
MFR. w. W. Osborne and Hon. Pope Bar
row, from the other. The meeting was
brought about through the efforts of Mr..
Conner, who has been endeavoring for the
last several weeks to bring about q
settlement of the differences which
have been agitating the people Of this coun-
ty for the last four years. The conference
had no difficulty in reaching an agreement.
The first step was TO agree that both sets
of delegates to the state convention should
be admitted with a divided vote, the only
condition being that Mr. Barrow should
be chairman Of the delegation, which was
agreed to.
1t was then agreed to recommend to the
two contending executive committees in
Chatham that both should be dissolved
and that new executive committee should
be formed to consist of twenty -four men,
bers, twelve to be named by each side, With
Mr. Conner as chairman of the new COM
mittee. This was all that was agreed up
on so far as could be learned
Mr. Osborne, who returned from At
lanta yesterday morning, was seen by
Morning News reporter and confirmed
the report of the agreement as stated
above. The agreement did not include
anything concerning local legislation or
any compromise on the city election, MI
Osborne said.
Mr. Conner was also seen. He returned
yesterday morning from Atlanta where
he has been for the last several days upon
business of the Central of Georgia rail-
way Mr.. Conner did not wish to be in
terviewed on the subject of his efforts TO
pour oil upon the political waters. He
said, however, that he had realized for
some time the harm which was being
done to the city and county by the con-
tinued political agitation and the bitter
ness engendered thereby, and he determ-
ined, If possible, to bring about some ar
rangement which would put an end to
the political agitation and unite the peo-
pie for the best interests of the city and
county. He felt that he had not been
a partisan, and that he could therefore
approach both sides in proper spirit. He
had made several efforts to bring about
such an agreement Whether the recent
compromise was due to his efforts he could
not say He had been informed of the
compromise and was asked II ne would
allow the use Of his name to carry out
the agreement on the line indicated, and
consented.
MIR. Conner is evidently in hopes that this
compromise on the executive committee Is
the forerunner of a general arbitration and
settlement of the political issues at pres
emit agltatng the people here. Whether he
IS destined to be disappointed remains to be
seen.
Leading politicians on both sides who
were seen did not take favorabiy 70 the
idea Of compromise by any means. Hhe
main issues just now are the approaching
city election and the repeal of the COM
missions, which It has been announced Will
be undertaken by the present representa-
kives in the legislature
"Why should we compromise, said one
well known Liberal leader. I'VE whipped
them in the last election, and we VIII
whip them again in the city election. l
am opposed TO conceding anything. Let
the nght be fought out on its merits. Our
people will never hear to compromise
of any sort"
This seemed to be the sentiment of Lib
eral Club men generally. They believe that
victory is In sight and they do not pro-
pose to be deprived of the satisfaction
of whipping their opponents again.
Citizens Club men who were seen were
equally averse to the idea of compro-
mise.
why should we make any compro'
mise" said one. I'VE have got the COM
missions, and they can't repeal them, no
matter how hard they try. We have al
ready proved that TO them in Atlanta. II
they should win in January, which they
won't, 1t would be a barren victory. we
would still have the offices and It is the
that there is no patronage to be dis
pensed their strength Will fall away from
them You can just put ii down that
Herman Myers will be the next mayor
of Savannah"
The trouble In making any compromise
from the Citizens Club standpoint is that
somebody would have to give up the OH
ces, and as none OF the Office holders are
willing to make sacrifices OF themselves
for the benefit of the rest, there is no dis
position to compromise.
The publication of the rumor in the
Morning News that the Citizens and Lib
erals were about to reach an agreement
on the basis Of a division of the alder
men and the surrender of Commissioner
Willink's office to the Liberals caused a
genuine panic among the employees Of the
commissioners several departments. Tho
clerks in the commissioners office swal-
lowed the bait, along with the hook, line
and poll. They were so disturbed that
they did little else but discuss the rum
or, and II is to be feared that some
Of them did not get much sleep last night.
When Mr.. Gamble. the commissioners
IL r.f..