The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
MAY HAVE A WHITE PRIMARY.
MAYOR AND ALDERMEN MAY BE
CHOSEN IN THIS WAY.

Many Liberal Club Leaders Favor
ObIiteratinG the Negro Vote From
Any Part in the Selection of the
Mayor and COunciI-steps May he
Taken to This End Within a Short
Time-BeIieved 1t VIII Meet With
General Public Approval Regard
less OF Fractional Affiliations.
strong feeling is springing up in Ia
vor of having the next Mayor and board
Of aldermen of Savannah selected at a
primary Of the white registered voters of
the city A number Of the leaders on both
sides are understood to favor it and there
l. hardly a question that it would be
popular innovation with the mass of white
citizens who have been Disguised with the
open purchase of the negro vote by con-
tending factions which has characterized
recent city elections.
There has been some quiet talk among
the Liberal Club leaders on this line and
It would not be surprising if they came
out openly in favor of it, and invited any
opposition TO enter a primary of white
voters to decide who shall serve Savannah
years
the character of the county election, de-
VOID Of most of he Objectionable features
which have marked such elections in the
past with large negro registration and
DOG. sides contending for it, has served 10
aNak n desire to have city elections sim
marry conducted and shut out the hun
dreis Of negro voters who can be bought.
mere is hardly a doubt but that the
mdtiei WIZ be discussed among the party
Itadets during the coming two months, and
tlat something on this line win be done.
heretofore it has been CUSTOMARY to raise
ldiEe campaign funds, aggregatlng $50 900
ut III re the bunk Of which was spent on
me lgnorant negroes for their votes. If
lh's can be wiped out by the adoption of
"hlle primaries 1t is believed that the par
~ advocating it viii certainly lose nothing
pelote The general public.
Nha-rn 4 Charlton of the Democratic
executive committee stat ed yesterday that
70 ms mind the white primary had become
more OF a necessity In Savannah than
e''t before. THE time, l. think, is ripe
tol such a change" said he The public
NsI= Is so disguised with the corTupting
u NE negro vote in the past that it viii,
believe, gladly welcome the substitution
" system that will let the white voters
Vi tae town, who have paid their taxes
anu registered, settle the matter. PR
O'la tickets in the field, If there are two
e'eIy white registered citizen can have
opportunity to express his sentiments
p-u the majority will choose the candi-
uales whose election will then be assured
"'0out further opposition We have got
W come TO white primaries for the settle
"'9h' OF our municipal fights, and The
e e'yA We adopt them the better Person
%lE' j would like to see steps to that end
az lhe next election. IL would not only
w great saving of money, but it would
sa'g us from the humiliation that past
No,'-Nons naturally caus. L.
ar John Power, another leader of the
L5'efal Club, said that he heartily favor
me adoption of a white primary aud
~ satisfied that one could be ARA nged
~ lhe next contest that would be fair
~ ooI IN factions and would establish a
gieaent that would not die. II think.
.g5 51 ne that the people are weary of the
I ways Of doing things, that they vii
o, 800 me a change, such as this, and that
, 80 II Is done there will never be re-
~ 10 the system under which many
-N''ofeos OF negroes were registered anc