The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-30
ATLANTA'S POLITICAL POT.
.CABBY" HAS A BIG SPOON IN THE
BOILING BROTH.

An Exciting Election For an OF Year
in the Gate City-The baggage
Question "a Potent Factor in Mu-
nicipaI POIitics-C1ndidates Said
10 BE Pledged For or Against the
Repeal of the 25-Cent Ordinance.
A Miniature Tammany Hall Is Or
Sanized.
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 29-The city primary
for the nomination of seven councilmen
and two aldermen. which viii occur on
Oct. %. is now the all-absorbing topic. 1t
has superseded the yellow fever almost
effecuaIly as a matter of public discus
sion. The registration books close to-mor-
row night and for several days past the
small army of candidates have been mar
shalling their forces in a way that threat
ems to break the record for such a con-
test.
As a general thing the election of men,
bers of council in an off year does not cut
much Ice. The states are fixed up long
before hand and as the mayoralitY is not
in issue the candidates have slow time
of it. In the present campaign, however
the number of candidates is unprecedent-
ed. In every ward there are from two to
a half dozen aspirants for seats in the
council chamber and are waging the hot
test fight they know how to put up.
one of the features of the fight which
has a rather amusing side, is the injunc-
ton of the question of rites for hauling
trunks from the passenger depot to va
rlous parts of the city. This business is
done by the Atlanta Baggage and Cab
Company. which has a contract with the
board of control of the union depot, and
is therefore, almost a monopoly
IN the baggage delivery business. Recently
the council passed an ordinance requiring
the company to deliver trunks TO any part
of the CITY at the uniform rate of 70
cents. where as in the past 50 cents
was charged for some distances. The bag
gage company refused to comply with the
ordinance and a case is now pending in
the courts. While this is being settled
however. it is alleged that the baggage
company has undertaken to elect new
members of council who will repeal the
ordinance and let the old rates stand.
This brought forth move on the part
of the opposition, and all the candidates
have been interviewed and committed on
the question, which is the burning issue
of the campaign.
The fight furnishes the element of
good comic opera. Mr.. Jacob Haas, who
Is associated with Mayor Collier in bust
ness. is secretary and treasurer of the bag
gage company, and he claims that the
fight is being waged against the trunk de-
livery business because of a personal ami
mostly toward him, being led by the
friends and adherents of Col. Albert How
ell who was defeated by Mr. Collier for the
mayoralty a year ago. Mayor Collier, how
ever, appears to be on the other SIDE
as he refused to repeal the ordinance
which operated against his business asso-
ciate, although strong pressure was
brought to bear upon him.
Another feature that has lent interest
to the campaign is the organization of
new political club called the Liberal
the avowed object of which is to break
up the ring which, it is alleged, has domi-
mated city and county affairs for years.
The club which is an oath-bound organi-
cation. started out with a large member
ship. Ii is taking an active part in the
fight and bids fair to develop remarkable
strength, being modelled after Tammany
of New York, and spurred to effort by
similar pledges Of reward.