The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25
PEACE RULES IN POLITICS.
but 1T MAY BE THE CALM BEFORE
THE TORNADO.

SPoNeh OF AS Ftne MayOralty Prob
nbiIities-May Be No Club Organi-
zatiOn In Opposition to the Admin
istrntion, But "A Direct Appeal to
the VOters-POIicies Not PERSONAL
titles May Govern the City Cam
paign.
If Savannah is not enjoying a tempo
rary political millennium, 1t is as close to it
as 1t is ever likely to be.
1t is doubtful if even the "oldest inhab-
liant" has ever known exactly such con-
dition Of affairs politically as now exists.
Certain it is that no one who has at all
been interested in politics here in the
past ten years can recall a period less
than two weeks before an election when
there was such an absolute deafness, a
calm that the word "lethargy' hardly de-
scribes.
AT this time two years ago Savannah
was .seething cauldron of political ex-
element and bitterness. Conditions then
existed that will probably never be seen
! again. Four years ago the town was also
being turned topsy-turvy by factional
strife, and the fight for the Mayoralty
might be said to have been fairly inau-
gurated before this time. Six years ago
Col. Harmon's friends were grooming him
for the fight against Mayor McDonough,
and evidences of strong feeling were not
lacking owing to the Sunday liquor ques-
ton. Eight years ago at this time condi-
tons more closely approached what they
1 are now Maj. John Schwarz was then
Mayor, and 1t was the general impress
sion that he would be given second term,
with his board of aldermen, and that the
opposition would be scant, If any. That
time, II will be remembered, Mr.. McDon-
ough's candidacy was not announced I'M
til day or two before the election. Ten
years ago Savannah was getting its first
genuine taste of clubism in the control of
local affairs. Several clubs were then
either in existence, or in process of for
nation, and The Schwarz- Thomas cam
paign was about ready to be sprung on
the community, although, of course. the
nominations were not made until later
| than this.
At each of these times county fights
| were in progress. Court house offices were
being bitterly contested for. No parallel.
al least in decade, can be found to this
| close of September with but one ticket in
the field for legislature and county Offices.
ana with the city contest yet to be worked
up This year promises to so down into 10
cal history as one whom the people plainly
showed by their conduct that they had
mad surfeit OF politics and were weary
OF the rancor and strife that many believe
has grown from the institution of clubs
as permanent controlling factors in poll
tics Some believe that never again can
the club spirit be aroused to the extent
that IL has been in the past, and that what
I lfrrlaf ~ A.
come to an end in Chatham.
Political, as well as general public inter-
est, now centers not in the coming Octo-
Der election, the results of which are set
tied, but in the course that will be adopted
in reference to the commissions On both
sides of the old political fence that divid-
| ing Arbitrarily the camps of the Liberals
and the Citizens, there is a division of
opinion. Many former, and still, Citizens
Club men would like TO see the commissions
go; many Liberal Club men would like to
see them STAY as they are, while some
want them brought under Council and still
others are for their unconditional abolish
ment.
A prominent leader Of the Liberals. enc
who was very active ana largely instru-
mental in their success, said yesterday that
he believed there should be a conference
Of the leaders to consider the disposition
| of the commissions. He regarded it as
! inadvisable, and politically indiscreet for
those who had been prominent in the club,
to announce their views publicly now The
proper thing, as he viewed it, was for
caucus to be held where q free express
| ion of opinion could be had and a plan
determined upon that would best express
the views of the majority. While nothag
has yet been done on this line 1t has
! been tntimated that something of the kind
may occur after the election.
On the disposition of the commissions
/ much of the characteristics of the next
! city campaign depend II the commission
are wiped out there may be one of the
old free fights for all the spoils, a prob
able "clean 'em out from basement to
garnet" war whoop on the part of the
outs ard battle to the fin
ish 10 stay where they are by
! the 'ins." If they are retained
either as now or under an amend
ment of the laws giving Council greater
! control of them, the fight will still not
be entirely devoid of the lust for spoils"
whichever party wins the fight would
have much to do with the commissions,
appointing members of them and, if not
directly, at least indirectly guiding many
| appointments where they might do the
most good Such has always been Savan-
| nah's experiences and history has a pc
| oullar way of repeating itself after cleo
tons.
1t will probably be another month and
perhaps well along into November, before
the skirmshing on the lines of the mayor
atty battle begins. 1t is intimated that
there will be no club formed to fight the
Liberal Club, but that a ticket will be
put out on direct appeal to the people,
organization being made for the campaign
alone, and without any large club basis,
as in the past two campaigns. This idea
is said to be favored by quite a num-
Der of those who are likely to be promi-
nent in the fight that Is coming in opposl-
tion to what might best be termed the
administration party"
There has been but little new talk of
parties or of measures, these being mat
ters which will be largely left to develop
themselves. Among the few who are dis
cussed as probable mayoralty timber
though, is Col. Merritt w. Dixon. If
Col Dixon will give them the chance his
friends say they stand ready to do some
vigorous and effective work for him An
element in the Liberal Club of two years
ago is said to heartily favor Col Dixon