The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-11


city Administration at the Masonic
HaII-Over 500 People Present-The
First and Fourth District Clubs
Turned out with Full Rnnks-Maj.
p. w. MeIdrim Elected President.
w. G. Cam, Vice President, and W.
y. LaRoche. Secretary of the New
CIub-OppOsitfon to the Commits
sions one of the Main PIanks of the
PIatform-speeches by Messrs. Mel
drim, Cam, LaRoche and Morgan.
The Liberal Club Of Chatham county
was organized at the Masonic nall last
night with a membership Of between SO
and 900 II all those present and taking
part in the meeting can be considered
members.
The attendance was the largest which
ever marked the organization of polit1-
cal club in this county so early in the
campaign. 1t fully came up to the pre-
sictfons OF the friends OF the move
rnent. The harmony of the meeting was
unique There was not a single dissent
ing vote on any motion or resolution.
The general purposes of the club, as
stated by the speakers and the resolu-
lions is to elevate the politics of Chatham
county and the city of Savannah TO a
higher plane than a mere struggle for the
spoils Of office and to unite all good citi-
zens in the interest of just and economi-
cal administration of public affairs.
The club is to be a permanent and not
a temporary organization, as is shown by
The fact that the officers are elected FOR
two years.
The crowd began to gather early. At
O'Clock, just previous to the arrival of
the First District Club, there were in the
neighborhood OF go men in the han. The
First District Club met a its headquarters
in Turner hall and marched to the hall
by may of Broughton, Bull and Liberty
streets, headed by the First Regiment
band The club made a strong showing.
Each member wore a badge. inscribed
First District Club" The number pres
ent with the club was stated at 2e5. John
w. Smith is president. Marching at the
head Of the club with the president, were
Thomas F. Gleason, T. A. Folliard. Will
liam Gibbons, NJ. Hanley, James Mcguire
and others. citizens OF the First district.
The club was received with cheers as
the members filed into the hall.
The Fourth District Club arrived about
hve minutes later. The club assembled in
Wright square and marched to the hall
headed by a brass band. There were just
$50 members in line e. A. Leonard is
president of the club. Justice Samuel
Reynolds, w. T. Reid and a number Of
other well known citizens Of the Fourth
district were in line.
The hall was well filled when the Fourth
began to come in, and most of them had
40 stand. They were greeted with rousing
cheers Alderman Gleason was greeted
with a round of cheers as he entered the
hall. He is the only member of the city
government to ally himself with the new
4ln4f - kfVF trnN ~rA AFE AW aA q
said. Mr.. Waring Russell was in the hall
early and was cheered as he moved from
place to place. Maj. Ryals was greeted
with cheers as he entered and so were
other prominent citizens, especially those
who had been allied with the Citizens
Club in the last fight. There were quite
"a number Of ex-Citizens Club men, who
were evidently in hearty sympathy with
the new club. The gentlemen who have
been doing most of the work in organizing
the movement kept quietly in the back
ground. They were on hand, however.
The crowd was beginning to grow inn
patient when MAJ; Meldrim called Lee the
the liberty of calling the meeting to order
as temporary chairman, and called upon
Mr.. Lewis Mercer to act as temporary
secretary.
Fellow citizens" said Maj Meldrim,
~'the object of this meeting is best ex-
are present here tonight" He then read
the call for a meeting of all citizens OPP
posed to the policy and methods of the
EOlItlCal TacflOn now cOnITOiHnR the city
administration and local legislation"
THE first business said Maj. Meldrim,
sis the election OF a permanent chairman
and permanent secret ary.
Mr. William Gibbons moved the election
of the present chairman and secretary for
the ensuing two years. Maj. Meldrim ex-
plained that 1t was necessary to first
eject a chairman and secretary for that
meeting. Mr.. Gibbons motion was amend
ed TO that effect, and was unanimously
Mr. w. G.. Cam was recognized by the
chair Mr.. Cam said that in order to give
the meeting something to take hold of he
had a resolution which he proposed to
offer, setting forth the position of those
IN opposition to the faction now in control
of affairs in the city. He was called for
ward to the stage and read the resolution,
as follows:
whereas. it is the duty of all good cit
azens to encourage an active interest in
of just laws and the abolition of unjust
ones; to elect competent and upright
men to office; to maintain law and order;
10 reduce taxation to as low basis as is
consistent with proper administration
and necessary improvement; to require
an every department of the city and coun-
Ty the practice of economy and generally
to promote the public welfare There
/. That TO carry out the foregoing OBJ.
5ects, an organization should be perfect
ed, the first requisite to membership
which is ordained by the constitutions
of the United States and of Georgia.
2. That public records and the pro-
ceedings of all courts should be open &c
inspection by any citizen during office
hours, and in the presence of the proper
custodian.
g. That every effort should be made
to give employment to the residents Of
this city, and that in public purchase.
and contracts. other things being equal
our own citizens should be preferred.
4. That law exempting from taxation
for term of years, new industries de
sirous of locating in Savannah, be en-
acted and If any constitutional amend
ment be necessary for that purpose, thel
that such amendment be advocated.
s. That a high rate of taxation upol
capital is an injury to the public, the Dor
rover having eventually to bear the bur
den.
6. That boards of tax assessors, com
Inissioners of police, fire, water and publ
works are unnecessary, expensive an,
burdensone: that they were created TO
the purpose of paying out of the publ
treasury rewards for partisan service. an.
that they are now being used as politica
means to perpetuate in power dominan
faction.
hot xuatar should ha fxa