The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-23
COUNCIL MAY NOT PROTEST.
OFFICE HOLDING RES
OLUTIONs TO BE OPPOSED.

Aldermen Differ as to the Expedi-
cncy of such ActiOn--MayOr Mel
drim VIII Submit the Resolutions
From the Commercial Bodies
4 without Recommendation and
Council Must Decide What to Do.
There rs considerable interest in the ac-
ton to be taken by the city council in
reference to the resolutions adopted by the
cotton exchange and the board of trade,
protesting against the appointment of any
negro to the federal offices here, either as
collector of the port or postmaster.
The request for the adoption of similar
resolutions by the city council in the shape
of an official protest is not regarded with
unmixed pleasure by the members of coun-
Gil It places them in a rather peculiar
position. If council fails to act in the
matter after the formal request for such
action that has been made upon it, 1t will
seriously antagonize public sentiment on
the subject, and especially be likely to
estrange the strong business element rep
resented in the meeting which adopted the
resolutions referred to-
On the other hand, council has a large
colored constituency, whose support prov
ed valuable in the last campaign, and VINO
may be needed again. Not only this, but
these colored constituents can claim their
right to have their interests and desires
regarded by the men whom they helped
10 put in office. Looked at from all points,
the question is very compromising one
for council to deal with it. The political
bearing of the resolutions did not seem
to occur to any one present at the meet
ing at the cotton exchange Monday, and
Al e Ill 1,,xv., sT-f
walked up to the full effect of the thlng.
THE meeting had no right to make such
a demand upon council" said one mem
Der of the board yesterday. ut looks just
like a Citizens Club trick, though L do
not think anything of the kind was in
tended. l do not think such action by
council would have any effect, and do
not think 1t is any of our business If Mr.
Mckinley, after the courteous and hospi-
table manner in which he was treated by
our people on the occasion of his last
visit here, and knowing our feelings in
this matter, can justify himself in APP
pointing a negro to a public position here
then nothing that the citizens or any Of
fetal or commercial body can say will have
any effect"
Alderman Hull was especially emphatic
in expressing himself upon the subject
you can just quote me as saying" he
said, that 1 shall oppose the Endorsement
by council of the resolutions adopted at
the meeting at the cotton exchange Mon
day and 1 shall use every means in my
power to prevent the adoption of any sim
liar resolutions by council. The meet
ing should never have made any such re-
quest upon council. 1t is none of coun-
ellis business. We are elected to represent
the whole people and not any portion of 1t.
The whole business is likely to have bad
effect. Any condemnation of the negro
on our part will simply have the effect OF
making the President more determined in
his position, if he has any intention at all
of appointing negro to office here. The
whole thing is poor policy. The Presi-
dent will be put in the position OF choosing
between being guided by the wishes of
white democrats or black republicans, and
he will be compelled to stand by the negro.
1t would have been much better to adopt
other means of opposing Deveaux's APP
pointment."
ITS a nasty position for council to be
in, said prominent Liberalite, not
member of council. 80 far as Col. De
veaux is concerned there Is no reason why
council should not oppose him. He is no
friend of ours and has been a strong ally
of the Citizens Club. L would not like to
see a negro appointed to the custom house
or the postoffice, but it would be a good
thing for the democratic party. 1t would
give these gold standard democrats who
voted for Mckinley or for Palmer the very
fellows who composed the cotton exchange
meeting, a dose that would make them
sick. 1t would teach them what the re-
publican party means in the south, and
next time you would see them all voting
the straight democratic ticket"
1.-THE Liberal Club administration got
about 800 negro votes" said one gentle
man, land If the present council should
pass such resolutions as are asked for all
the negroes would be down on them, and
If they refuse to pass such resolutions, 1t
will naturally make the Irish, or a part of
that element at least, mad. 1t looks to
me as if it might have been a shrewd trick
on the part of some Citizens Club man.
However, it seems TO me that 1t puts the
administration of the city government in
somewhat of an embarrassing position to
say the least"
Another gentleman who gives these mat
tiers some consideration did not take the
same view of the case.
There is no reason" he said, "why the
resolutions should not be passed. AS far
as the negro vote in Savannah is concern
cd it takes money to get the bulk of it,
and the passage of such resolutions would
not make any difference one way or the
other The faction that happens to have
the biggest pile to distribute among the
negroes at election time is the faction that
will get the bulk of their votes. believe,
however that there are between IS and
100 negro voters in Savannah who would
not sell their votes; but as for the balance
of them they are out for all the money
there Is in it, Resolutions by the city
council. or no resolutions, the bulk of the
negro vote will go next time where there
is the most money to buy it."
Mayor Meldrim was asked when council
would act upon the resolution, and what
action would likely be taken.
1.-The resolutions will be submitted at the
next. regular meeting of council, Wedres-
day, Dec. 29,'' he said. Il shall simply
lay the resolutions before them and leave
council to act according 70 its Judgment"