The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-26

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Before to-day ends the star Of the Lib
erals or the flag of the Citizens will be
Wreathed in halo of glory, and the
other viii be shrouded in the gloom OF de
feat.
To-day viii conclude one of the clos
est fought political battles in Savannah
for years. Except within the last few
days there has been very little political
efervescence and excitement. Il has been
rather a campaign Of hard, steady work
on the part of the leaders. getting the
voters in line and holding them there.
The plain truth of the matter is that it
will be a battle of bar'ls. Somewhere be-
tween 900 and 800 votes will be bought,
and the side which buys the largest num-
Der will win the election. OF the 100
negro voters registered a large percent
age are already IN the employ Of the two
factions as political workers, and Of the
total number at a low estimate three
fourths will receive pay for their votes
to-day in some form or other.
The number of white voters who will
sell themselves is probably not less than
800. A white vote does not bring any
higher price than negro vote in an cleo
ton. They are on the dead level II
equality there. The vote buying will be
so shrewdly conducted that it will not be
easy for the grand jury to get at it, that
is. unless the grand jury is really anxious
to get at it.
The next mayor and the next board Of
aldermen of the city of Savannah will be
known, in all probability, by o'clock, if
not before. The polls will close at A
O'Clock. There are twenty-siX names on
the two tickets, and in all probability
there will be many split tickets. Two
hours should be ample time for the man
ayers in the smaller precincts to count
their vote, and an hour TO an hour and a
half longer should suffice for the larger
precincts. Allowing half an hour for the
managers to make their returns the exact
vote for mayor and the winning ticket
should be known by O'clock As the
managers are permitted by law to public
~ announce the result of the vote in each
precinct as soon as they have completed
the count, the result of the vote for
mayor may be known as early as 6
O'Clock. Runners will be in waiting at
each precinct to carry the news to the
respective club headquarters and by that
time the leaders on each side will have a
fairly accurate idea as to whether they
have won or lost. Ideas of the result, up
to that time, Will be mere impressions and
nothing more.
A large number of both the Citizens and
the Liberals made night of it. The Cit
izens had a number of halls hired, at
which the voters were rallied. The crowds
in the nails were entertained until a late
hour by speeches by both white and col
ored speakers, and refreshments were lib
orally supplied, The Liberals also have
several halls hired, at which a large rum
Der of voters were rallied. As the polls do
not open until o'clock this morning, it
viii be somewhat difficult TO keep the vot-
ers penned up until that hour.
Citizen Club leaders stated at midnight
that they had forces Of armed men sta
toned at the headquarters in the outly-
ing precincts for the purpose Of resisting
any attempt TO capture the voters they
had corralled ready TO march to the polls
this morning. No attempt was made by
the Liberals to interfere with the gather
ings. They had their own men well in
hand and the Citizens. they said. had no
occasion to fear any invasion Of their cor
rails.