The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-07
MAY BE A NEW PARTY.
Vacancy on Board of Assessors Said
to BE Causing Some Friction.

Vacancy on Board of Assessors Said
to BE Causing Some Friction.
The commissions appointments are the
political gossip of the day. The indlca-
tons are that the fight for the tax asses
sor's vacancy will be the liveliest in the
lot. Several candidates have been men
toned. The latest but not the least in
probability of success. is Mr.. M. A.
O'Byrne, whose name was being discussed
by the politicians yesterday 1t is said
that Mr.. OByrne has been slated for the
position, and that his appointment may be
looked upon as certainty. 1t is hardly
necessary 10 state that Mr.. O'Byrne will
certainly have a very strong pull for the
place. His prominence in the Liberal
Club and his active leadership in the sew
eral campaigns of recent years undoubt-
eddy give him strong claim for anything
he might ask at the hands of the admins
tration. The friends of Mr.. w. l.. Will
son, however, are said to be urging his
claims very strongly.
The gossip yesterday was that the prob
ability that Mr.. OByrne would be named
for the position, and not Mr.
Phillip Russell is what was
troubling Mr. Warning Russell
and his friends. There are any number
OF dissatisfied adherents of both political
factions, who would readily join in move
for a new faction, especially if there were
any prospect of spois. The rapid rise and
fall of parties has not been an uncommon
thing in Savannah's political history I'm
fortunately for the success of parties
formed on the spoils basis, however. the
commissions still exist and so long as the
majority of the good jobs and 80 per cent.
OF the small jobs are controlled by the
commissions the encouragement for q
party without an issue is not hattering.
A political conference, which may be of
some significance, was held night before
last number of leading spirits met
at the home of County Treasurer War
ing Russell on Jefferson street. The party
did not remain there long, however, but
went to the residence of Mayor Meldrim
where 1t spent some time. The object of
the call, it is learned. was
to impress upon him the advisa bfIity Of
naming Mr.. Philip Russell for the va
cancy on the board of assessors on the ex-
piration of the term of Mr. Chisholm.
The Morning News has already anuounc-
ed that Mr. Russells friends were urg-
ing MIN for this position In fact, for the
last several days there have been rluuors
in the air that new political party was
to be formed and that Warning Russell
would be the organizer. II Is said that he
was dissatisfied with the way things have
been going and that he was growing res
tive, because of the fact that he has had.
little share In shaping the policy of the
Liberal Club since the last election. II
was also said that he was dissatisfied
because he had ascertained that the ap-
pointment of tax assessors would not be
given TO Mr.. Phillip Russell.
When spoken to about the matter Mr.
Russell denied that he had any intention
of forming new party, or that he had
given ground for any rumors to that eff
feet. He discussed past political history
in Chatham with interest, but had little
10 say of recent events.