The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-01
LIBERAL CLUBS POSITION.
RE-sTATED by PRES. MELDRTM AT
LAST NIGHTS RALLY.

the HeeIers-The Board of Educa-
tiOn Not to BE Tainted with Local
POIidcs-The MayOraIity Question.
Who Seeks 1.-THE Weather Kept
Down the Crowd, But Not the En-
thusinsm-Speeches by Messrs.
Morgan, O'Byrne and Russell.
The ugly weather cut short the atten-
dance at the Liberal Club meeting at the
theater last night, but it did not dampen
the ardor, nor decrease the enthusiasm of
those who attended.
The feature of the meeting was the ad-
dress by the president Maj. Meldrim, who
remained in the city for the purpose Of
being present.
Maj. Meldrim was evidently in a very
happy humor and the speech with which
he opened the meeting was full of point
and interest. lie said the meeting was
called for the purpose of emphasizing the
fact that to-day is the first day of regis
tration for the city election. Maj. Mel
drim's reference to the last meeting of the
club at the theater, previous
to the recent election
was greeted with applause, as were also
his references to the hard work Of the
night preceding and the day of the cleo
ton. He spoke highly Of the good
conduct and self-control of the workers.
A city which had so many earnest, self
contained men as were lined up that day
in behalf of the Liberal Club has in its
future much of hope as it has in its past
much of glory. He was satisfied, he said
that in the future, as in the past, the men,
bers of the Liberal Club will be as earnest
and as determined to do what is right and
honorable.
Maj. Meldrim said he had not, as far as
he knew, said a single word during the
campaign which would tend to degrade
The members Of the Liberal Club would
continue to pursue honest tactics, he said,
and would continue to live up to the name
of their club.
Maj. Meldrim said that in the recent
campaign there was an effort on the part
of the club to create new offices or to fill
old offices with new men. He
wanted to impress upon every one
that the policy of putting out of office
old and tried officers who had given sat
isfaction, is foolish and unbusinesslike.
The objection to the present administra-
ton, he SAID is that it has failed to carry
out its claim to be a business administra-
ton. He supported it in this belief 1t
could not be said to-day that its con-
duct had been that of a business admin
istration. Only recently, on a certain
day in Atlanta, he said, could be seen
nearly all the heads of the city DEPART
ments, the clerk of council the superin-
tendent of water works and others, en-
gagged in political work Was this bust
nesslike? he asked. Instead of being at
their posts, discharging the duties for
which they are paid, they were 300 miles
away, like heelers around a legislative
body.
The crowd greeted this statement with
great applause.
Look at the men who have been put
in office. the men who have been placed
on the commissions, said the speaker. ~
do not want to be unkind, but would
any business man have selected these
men to take charge of his affairs and con-
duct his business for him."
Maj. Meldrim said that the commits
siors were secured under the guise Of
taking the departments out of politics
but never in the history of Savannah had
the departments been more actively in
politics.
NV nc are the commissioners, Major?"
inquired some one in the rear of the hail.
''They are all A. P. AS"
The crowd called on the party to sit
down, but Maj. Meldrim said that the in
terrupton was in good taste.
Il have no doubt that some Of the men
who compose the body of the commissions
are members of that association" he said.
He warned his audience not to be deceived
by the assumed attitude of dissolution
on the part of the A. p. A. 1t would be
reorganzed ne said, but it would be bet
ter organized, more secretive and more
dangerous. On this point, he said. that
there are men in the A P. A. who are
undoubtedly sincere who believes that
the public school system of the country is
in danger, and that by joining the organi-
cation they are uniting to defend it,
They are in error, he said. The public
school system has never been in danger.
He believed that the men who were so
deceived had discovered their error, and
that they would not be found arrayed
with this organization hereafter.
Maj. Meldrim touched upon the public
school system, and outlined the position
of the Liberal Club towards it. The club.
he said, will be found always in the
ranks of the defenders and supporters of
the public schools. 1t believes in the edu-
cation of the children of the rich and
poor man alike. 1t believes in good school
hOuSSS anu SoOu ScHOOi teachers. II wants
pure and moral men and women placed in
charge of the children in the schools.
Above all things, Maj. Meldrim said, the
Liberal Club is opposed to any move
ment which will place the faint of local
politics upon the board of education.
Abiding to the mayoralty question and
some statements which have been made
concerning Liberal Club candidates, Mai.
Meldrim said: Let this be the motto of
the Liberal Club: Let no man be YOUR
standard-bearer who seeks it,"
This statement was greeted with an
plause.
He advised them to let this matter be
so carefully weighed that when some
worthy citizen should be asked 10 lead
them to victory, that it would be said
the man and the occasion had met. There
had been no deal or trade for the rnayor-
atty or for any other office he said. Thev
could rest assured of that.
Maj. Meldrim's statements were reeeiv
ed with lively applause. A colored man in
the gallery attracted attention by his ex
CARNATIONS of Oats right" Praise God"
etc.
A man who could not be trusted in pri-
vate affairs could not be trusted in public
office, Maj. Meidrm said. The hypocrite
in DOltticg Is as had a tho b,,,o'a.st. a..