The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-04
CHARGES HIM WITH A. P. Assn.
c. p. ROssIGNORs ATTACK UPON
COL. WEARING RUSSELL.

zatiOn of the A. =. A., Encouraging
Obtain Membership In It-COI Rus
sell brands the Charges as Tn
quaIiiiedIy False and Comes Back
mt MIR. ROssignOI With Some Inter-
estinE Facts.
| The political sensation yesterday was a
circular prepared and distributed by Mr.
c. p Rossignol attacking County Treas
urer Warning Russell and charging him
with sympathy with the A. p A. The cir
! cular is headed IAN open letter to the
public. Col. Waring Russell and the A. =.
| A" 1t appeared upon the streets about
! dark. Mr.. Rossignol himself directing it's
distribution Several thousand copies. it
is said, were distributed. They were eager
ly gathered up and read with interest
both by the friends and opponents of Col.
RUSSELL.
After asserting that he is a Catholic and
that he is aotuated by his love of the
| church in the step which he has taken,
Mr.. Rossignol says:
Instead of being an enemy of the
| American Protective Association Waring
Russell has been it's advocate, it's friend,
and one Of its organizers in this city. To
him belongs much of the responsibility
for the presence in Savannah a. this time
of this un-American association. He
should be held strictly accountable by tho
Catholic voters Of Savannah for his share
in bringing this organization into exist
ence here and for the support and succor
he gave it until he found that he could
not use it politically for his own advance
ment and retention of Office Catholics
should not be deceived by a few politicians
who are members of their own faith Into
supporting this officeholder.
"On the 18th day of March last, Col
! Warlng Russell was to all intents and
purposes rabid A. p. A. He was more
than in secret sympathy with that order
lie was actively at work assisting in ar
rangements for its introduction into Sa-
Yannah. Two or three men had sent for
Traynor, the national president of the A.
+. A, to come to Savannah and organize
council here Col Waring Russell, the
county treasurer, allied himself with them
and went to work to insure the success
OF the A. P. A. movement in this city
He became one of thirty-hve who were to
be charter members of the first council in
this city. AS an organizer and charter
member he doubtless saw an opportunity
to secure control Of the order and use it
for his own benefit. 1t was believed by
these men that the movement would have
rapid growth here as a result of the
Slattery trouble and would obtain abso-
lutte control Of the political fortunes of
both city and county.
National President Traynor of the
American Protective Association came to
Savannah. The organizers of the move
ment here met to be initiated. to take
the oath. Prominent among those pres
ent was Col. Warning Russell the county
treasurer. Indeed, l might say the most
prominent among them was Col War
ing Russell After discussing the order
and its work. National President Traynor
stated that no professional politician
could become a member of the order
as 1t was against it's law, this being in
tended to prevent the order from being.
used for a politicians own purposes.
Ihere was an awkward pause and then
Col. Waring Russell was requested to
leave, as he clearly came under this pro-
vision. Before quitting the meeting, Col
Russell told those present that he was
heart and soul with them, and that he
could be relied upon to give them every
assistance possible in building UP the
membership of the American Protective
Association in Savannah.
Since that time Col. Waring Russell
has several times expressed a desire to
approaching members and expressing his
interest in the movement, telling them
that he had done everything in his power
to procure members, carrying blank APP
plications in his pocket for use in this
way"
Mr.. Rossignol handed copy of the cir
cular to a Morning News reporter. He was
asked if he had evidence to support the
charges made in his circular.
II have evidence for everything that
say in that circular" he replied. 81 have
the affidavtts of reliable men, which, will
be produced if necessary, testifying to the
truth of what l have stated. l am ready
and willing to shoulder all consequences
of my action in this matter"
| Mr.. Rossignol was asked if he had acted
in the interest of the Citizens club in issu-
ing this circular. He denied that such was
the case and said that his circular was d.
rected at Col. Russell alone.
Col. Russell and his friends were very
| indignant at this attack by Mr.. Rossig-
| mol. Col. Russell was seen by a Morning
News reporter and he declared in the most
| emphatic language that the circular ana
every statement contained in i;
as false. He ednied Mr.. Ros-
| signofs charges in toto ana
in detail Mr. Rossignol acted the part
! of traitor, he said, because he assisted in
| the organization of the Liberal Clue
| attended Its committee meetings and par
| uclpated IN the deliberations.
| His presence there" said Col Russell
was due to his earnest solicitation to me
that he be allowed to help us in the work
we were engaged in. He pretended to be-
my friend. l now charge him with at
| tending these meetings for the purpose
of betraying me and my associates"
As proof of the untruthfulness of Mr..
Rossignol's statements, Col. Russell made
| the following statement:
ION March % last he says I was to
all interests and purposes a rabid A. p.
! A." BY looking over the files of the
Morning News you will ascertain that on
March 10, 1885, the Liberal Club was or
ganized. Mr.. Rossignol was present at
! that meeting and so was l. At least
/ three weeks before that date
the First and Fourth district
| liberal Clubs We're organized !
took a leading part in their meetings. On
March %, 1896, when Mr. Rossgnol says
/ was a rabid A, T. A.. the flies of the
Morning News will show that / addressed
the Fourth District Liberal Club and tina,
| in the most unequivocal terms [ de-
nounced the A. =. A. and referred to my
| fight against the Old know hing partv