The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-10
THE TALK OF POLITICIANS.
CITIZENS CLUBITEs SAY THEY'RE
PREPARED FOR THE COUP.

They Are Aware of the Lines of the
Coming Fight Against Them, hut
Say They Have no Fears as to the
ReSuIts-Nr. RusseII's Attitude He
ing Talked Of-Meetings Being
Held by Both sides-The Registra-
ton and How IL is Being Watched.
Year for the Making of Citizens.
The members OF the Citizens Club and
its leaders say frankly they are conscious
that a strong fight is going 10 be made
upon them in the coming elections. and
instead Of resting quietly on what they
have achieved they are preparing for it,
The recent caucus in the First district
is only one OF the moves. and there are
others. Councils are being held every
day or two in one place or another, and
an eagle eye Is being kept on the regis
tration, which has reached within a
month more than 200 names. This club
Is the only one so far which keeps a
representative I'm the tax collectors Office
where the registration is going on. This
was done last year. and II was a plan
that proved OF considerable value in the
campaign.
The Citizens Club people say they realize
the warmest fight will come on the cleo
ton for representatives TO the Iegisla-
ture. the desired coup of the opposite
party being to secure a repeal of the laws
which created the commissions, and prac-
tically placed the entire city patronage
in their hands. independent of the compo-
sition of the city council. This manifest
intention on the part of the antis. the
Citizen Club people say, thew are pre-
pairing 10 thWart, and from present in
9 fl.S,.I they do not think they will be
ROUND wanting when the time comes
Meetings are being held, too. by the Cd
ponents of the administration, very quiet
~, II IS true, but they are working never
theiess, and apparently with a fixed pur-
pose-to get the legislature This. il is
understood, Will be part of Mr. Waring
Russell platform whenever his new
party Is formed. Ills apparent purpose is
10 strongly antagonze the admins tration.
but whether he will do il through alliance
with other opposing forces, remains to
The Citizens Club people say they 90
not fear this movement, and they are ask
ing now why there has been 50 much talk
ABOUT the meeting, and yet IL has never
been called. They seem inclined to think
IL mas not assumed any serious proper
tons; They say Mr.. Russell is fighting
TOT the leadership, which he lost so far
as the club was concerned, when the
domination of Maj. John Schwarz failed
TO go through.
The complexion Of the campaign is be-
ginning TO appear, though there are still
some politicians who are as yet unknown
quantities. The indications are that
everything is going to be worked very
carefully, and no doubt q good deal of
political shrewdncss will be manifested.
Every now and then some little thing
crops out on one side or the other, and
the antagonistic element seizes upon it as
campaign material. The number of ciu-
zens now being manufactured out of for
eign material through the courts, is larg-
er than is usual in off years. The number
Will no doubt grow larger as the time for
the closing OF the registration list draws
told 81,
court house is Of one of the recently made
citizens whose alliance is with the Ciu-
zens club. and who, It is stated has been
Young regularly for several years, despite
the fact that he had not taken out his
citizens papers. This was cited as an ex-
ample of several instances of similar lax
| Ivy on the part of those whose
out for those who are not citizens. '''
| year will undoubtedly have a tendency
| to bring out larger registration than
| usual, which will create more work for
| the political student within local faetlonal
| lines. There villa, perhaps be an increase
| in the registration, too. due to the COM
ing local fight as it is understood cam
plentifully supplied, and votes are going
| 70 be registered and counted one by one,
II is likely there will be less difficulty
in getting out a good vote. as there is
! going to be plenty of enthusiasm aroused
| IN every contest of the year whether ma
| uonal, state, county or city. Every one
II
| fraught with portentous results, and
| ground hog cases are going to be every
| day affairs.
Chatham county, however, appears to
be almost solely interested in the local
| nights. 1t is only few who keep up ar
interest in national and state elections,
| and who keep posted on what is being
! done throughout the country The inter-
est appears to be sacrificed to local CON
| f1icts in which altogether too much Bit
terness for the public good seems to be
| stirred up.
l rrsi,
| prominently. will no doubt add to that
bitter feeling: 1t appears that both sides
| are fearing that issue. One at least and
! probably both factions are unaware of
| its strength, what even 1t may have, and
| If 1t allies itself with any one party or
| is even suspected of doing so there is no
| question that party will lose some of the
| votes it would otherwise receive, even
than counter-balance any loss on account
| of il.
&