The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-05
MAYOR OPPOSING LIE HARDY.
URGES THE COUNCIL NOT TO ELECT
HIM HEALTH OFFICER.

The Mayors Claim That He Had Not
Found a Single Member of the
Medical Profession FavOrfnG His
Election Answered by DR.. Le-
Hardy's Friends With Letter
From DR.. Read-The Council About
Evenly Divided Between DIR. Lee
Hardy and DIR. CrOwtIier-1he
Mayor VIII Not BE Present TO Vote.
The election Of health officer is proba-
bly, the most important matter which viii
come before the meeting Of the city cOun-
Gil tonight. The contest is plainly be-
tween DR.. J. c. LeHardy and DIT. j. w.
Crowther. Dr. T. T. Lincoln, whose can
didacy was recently announced, waited
until too late, the issue having already
been defined between the two first candi-
dates.
AS stated in yesterdays Morning News
council appears to be almost evenly divid-
ed between the two candidates. II would
be no surprise il each should receive six
votes, and as the mayor is absent there
would be no one 10 cast the deciding vote.
1t is possible that all OF the aldermen Will
not be present, however. The friends Of
both gentlemen we've actively at work
yesterday, endeavorng TO secure doubtful
votes. Some of the aldermen have declin-
ed to pledge themselves, howver, and this
maks the result doubtful.
The feature Of the canvass was the de-
cided stand taken against DR. LeHardy
by Mayor Meldrim The mayor viii not
be present at the meeting tonight, having
gone to Louisville, Ky, where he viii at
tend the meeting Of the National Munich
pal League. He has frequently stated his
intention of attending the meeting Of the
league, even before the matter OF the
health officer came up, and his action is
proof against any charge OF avoiding the
issue. Before leaving the city Mayor Mel
drim addressed a personal letter to each
member OF the board, urging upon them
not TO support DR.. LeHardy and giving
among his reasons that he had not found
a single member of the medical profess
sion, or in fact, any citizen. who had
favored Dr. LeHardy's election as health
officer. Each member of the board re-
ceived one Of these letters, with the ex-
ception Of Alderman Wylly, who is a som
in-law of DR.. LeHardy. He received a
letter from the mayor notifying him OF
the action that he had taken against DR..
LeHardy.
Alderman Wylly said last night that the
mayors action has had no effect in chang
ing any Of the aldermen who had agreed
20 support DR.. LeHardy and he was as
sured of the latter's election. Col n. w.
Dixon, he said, who had made an active
IL
just informed him that he had eight votes
assured.
In answer to the mayors statement in
his letters to the aldermen that he had
found no member of the medical profess
sion who favored DR.. LeHardy for health
ofheer, Alderman Wylly offered the fol-
lowing letter from DR.. ]. 3. Read, receiv-
ed by DR.. LeHardy yesterday:
DR.. J. c. LeHardy-Dear Sir: agree
with you in regard to the quarantine of
the city of Savannah. I have just re-
turned to the city and had no opportunity
10 express my opinion on this important
subject. Having carefully read and con-
sidered the letters of yourself and Dr.
Drummer in the Morning News, agree
with your statements. Respectfully,
James B. Read, NJ. D.
May 4, 1897.
Capt Wylly thought this opinion from
such an eminent authority as DR.. Read
ought to have some effect in ounteracting
the statement that Dr. LeHardy was OPP
posed by the entire medical profession of
the city Il understand" said he, that
the friends Of DR.. Crowther have stated
that he was Endorsed by practically the
entire profession. DR.. LeHardy, after
reading his paper at the open meeting of
the sanitary board in which he stated his
position fully, did not consider il necessary
TO make any canvass OF the members of
his profession and did not do so. Had any
such canvass been made in DR.. LeHardy's
behalf have no doubt that he would
have secured the Endorsement of a number
OF members Of his profession"
DR.. LeHardy was spoken 10 OF the i'm
preston which still exists that he Is an
open quarantine man. The fact that l
have opposed an unreasonable system of
quarantine" said be. does not by any
means imply that am opposed TO quar-
antine altogether. On the contrary. any
one who will carefully read the articles
which have published on the subject Of
quarantine cannot fail 10 see that l have
not only favored quarantine, but have
urged on every occasion that II be made
thorough. have repeatedly called At
tention to the improved appliances In use
at other ports and urged their adoption
here. These improved appliances not only
shorten the detention OF vessels. but in
crease the safety TO the city using them.
! believe that every precaution should he
taken TO protect the health OF our people.
while at the same time no unnecessary
restrictions should be placed upon com-
merce."