The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-07
SENATOR eEIGER's MEMORY.
1t Causes Him to Do Great Injustice
to Himself.


trict, Pembroke. Ga; Slr-I address you
again at your home, where 1 presume you
are, for L see in this mornings News
that you did not vote in the Senate yester-
day on the all-important liquor bill. OF
course, had you been in Atlanta, you GER
tainly would have, voted one way or the
other on this measure, as no one would
think of accusing you of lodging on
subject of so much interest to the wide
spread First congressional district of
Georgia. Therefore, not being in Atlanta,
I take it that you are in Bryan, where
some of the multitude of cares that go
to make up a farmers life have claimed
your attention, and where the tired mind
Of the great statesman may find rest and
repose from the troubles and vexations
that loving and adniring constituency
has imposed upon a faithful and discern
Ing public servant.
Had you not addressed a communica-
ton to the Savannah Press of Nov. 1
would not have trespassed further upon
your valuable time and have again dis
turbed the yearnings of an ambitious soul
did not expect reply to my letter of
last Sunday, for l agree with you in the
statement contained in the last sentence
of your article in the Press. I say with
you, senator. Verify, facts are stubborn
things. This being so, you recognized
the uselessness of attempting to combat
the many facts arrayed against you by
your own record. But because facts are
stubborn things is my reason for further
honoring myself by communicating with
you and thus bringing myself, in the
slightest degree, in contact with the scln>
tllating intellect of brilliant mind.
Let me call to your attention certain
facts that are as stubborn as-let us
say, senator, you are.
l. You stated before the last county
election that in all matters of legislation,
local to Savannah and Chatham, you
would be governed by the wishes of the
people of this county as expressed in
their selection of representative In your
legislative course have you lived up to
your ante-election promises? Let your
conscience answer as to which is the
stubborn fact here
2. You earnestly sought before the cleo
ton to obtain the support of the Liberal
Club voters, and did receive 1t. You said
nothing about their democracy before the
election You recognized them as demo-
Gratis right after the election. Now YOU
deny to them the right to call themselves
democrats. Which fact is stubborn, ="
senator, that they were democrats, ac-
cording to your own testimony, before
and right after the election, or that they
are not democrats now? Whose testimony
shall we believe, Senator-elect Geiger of
October, 1896, or Senator Geiger of Octo-
Der. 1897?
g. You said at the last session that you
would not support the repeal of the Sa-
vannah commission bills, because the
mayor and aldermen of Savannah opposed
such repeal. AT this session, when the
mayor and aldermen earnestly advocate
their repeal, you still oppose the mem
bers from Chatham, because they, the
members, are not democrats" Which
is the stubborn fact here-that you are
resorting to a subterfuge In order that
you might aid your political friends in
Savannah?
4. You were elected to represent the peo-
pie of your dlstrict-the whole people. You
are legislating In the interest of faction
In Chatham, and minority faction at
that. Which Is the stubborn" fact-that
the people were deceived in you?
5. You stated that you knew of nothing
that had happened since the last guberna-
tortal convention that would give the Lib
erals the title of regular democrats.
showed you last week that two demo-
cratic bodies had recognized their democ-
racy, and that you knew 1t. Which is
the stubborn fact--that you were wllful-
ly attempting to deceive the people, or
that your memory is, as you admit In your
letter to the Press, short?
6. In mentioning another fact, senator
I am really sorry for your memory. 1t
needs looking after. You say your mem
ory may not be long, but that you re-
member that several years ago Hon. p
| w. Medium ran as an independent" and
managed to defeat" the regular nominee
for the Senate. Therefore, the conclusion
you arrive at Is that Mr.. Meldrim Is not
| democrat. Let us see about this. You
are quite ready to admit, I am sure, that
In law and in morals one who conSpires
with another in the performance of an
act or q common purpose is guilty though
he may not himself commit the offense. 1t
| then follows that if one runs as an 'inde-
pendent" and manages to defeat the
regular nominee. each and every demo-
| crat who voted for the successful candi-
date is guilty of the crime of Independent
tism."
Now, senator, sit down, and have a talk
with that memory of yours Encourage
it, coddle it, argue with it, persuade it,
| do anything to get 1t to work. If neces-
sary get a bill through the legislature
| creating a Commission" to look after it,
Put your friends on the Commission" and
pay them handsome salaries-that is, let
the taxpayers pay them. Your memory
! certainly needs all this attention for if it
were anything like an ordinary, every day
memory it would enable you to remember
that you supported and voted for Mr.. Mel
drim in that race against the Irregular
In that election your county of Bryan was
democratic. 1t so showed itself by giving
maJorities for the regular nominees of the
democratic party, including Mr.. Meldrim
for senator. In Effinghaen county, the
gentleman whom you would now call the
Irregular nominee" and against whom you
voted. received a majority of 207 votes. In
Chatham Mr. Meldrim received a majority
of 81. Who, then, saved Mr.. Meldrim? IL
you could only get that memory of yours
to working as well-behaved proper men,
ory ought to- you would remember that
you and the other democrats of loyal old
Bryan rolled up for Meldrim a majority
of LAG, and placed him In the seat now SO
much ornamented by having you as its
occupant. Do you think that your con-
stituents in Bryan regard Mr.. Meldrim as
a democrat? They did In 1882; and they
do now. If you don't think so, senator.
quit wrestling with your memory and go
out among them and learn their views.
If you do this, you will also ascertain how
they regard your present course BY the
way, senator, when you get in the neigh
borhood of the tax receiver, fold up that
memory of yours and hide it from view,
a 70 10