The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-16
MELDRIM MAY MAKE THE RACE
EXPRESSES HIS WILLINGNESS TO
AGAIN RUN FOR MAYOR.

Ten Days FrtOr 10 tue Eiccho".
Says He May Accept denomination,
But Will Not BE sidetracked-Ese-
Iieved There VIII BE Warm Fight
in Liberal Club for MayOraIty Nom
nation.
1t may be stated with positlveness that
Mayor Meldrim will accept a renomina-
ton if it is rendered him. This statement
/ is based on talk a represen-
tative of the Morning News had with him
/ yesterday, and also on expressions from
/ his friends, who assert that he is by cour-
/ tesy entitled to a denomination and will be
prevailed on to accept it.
Mayor Meldrim was asked to answer
these questions:
When viii you call meeting of the LIB
eral Club for the purpose of nominating
municipal candidates?
Have you made up your mind yet as to
whether you VIII accept denomination,
provided il is rendered you?
For the past six weeks Nthe local POI
Etical situation has been freely discussed
by all factions. Many have been wonder
ing who the mayoraliy candidates will he,
but the inclination on the part of some
not to express themselves has kept every
body guessing.
When the talk about mayoralty candl-
dates started, the name of Hon. ]. ]. Nc
Donough was prominently mentioned, and
when asked about what action he would
take if called on to run he frankly replied
he was not averse to making the race
The recent developments In the
enforcement of the Sunday liquor laws,
which Mr.. McDonough declared in an in
terview would be one of the planks in
his pla FORM his friends claim, have given
him boom. AS the trend of events seems
to indicate that the people are beginning
TO give some thought as to who will be
candidates. it is not unnatural that Mayor
Meldrims friends are anxious to know
where he stands.
Answering the first question in his ca
pacity as president of the Liberal Club,
Mayor Meldrim said he could not see the
advtsability of putting a candidate for
Mayor in the field weeks before the eiec-
ton. A long campaign only gives rise
to much bitterness, he said, which it Is
his intention to avoid as far as posi-
bic. For this reason he thinks ten days
prior to the election ample time in which
have sufficient time to conduct an agrees
i've campaign. 1t does not seem probable a
nomination win be made before Jan. /.
Il am aware of the fact" Mayor Mel
drm said, in answering the second ques-
ton, that there is undetermined work go
ing on against the administration. This /
do not apprehend to be against me person.
ally. 1t is my opinion the opposition linds
it's origin with those who are working to
get control of the city government for the
patronage the successful party may have
| at its disposal. This opposition IS always
/ active however, and is sure to come with
| every Official no difference how hard he
may have striven to properly administer
the affairs of his office
IF l consider my personal interests" he
continued Il will not become candidate
for reelection; but / may accept the NOM
ination 10 1t is rendered to me. However,
! it Is too soon TO discuss these matters yet,
and to tell the truth, am not prepared TO
say what l will do. There Is one thing
| win say positively; If there are any who
wish to keep me from running. the best
way to accomplish it is by betting me
| alone"
Mayor Meidrim's friends have doubtless
| appraised him of the fact that his opposi-
lion is active, and that it is in the ranks
! of the Liberal Club as well as
out of It, He was positive
| in his declaration that those who would
ike to see him switched" for another
candidate would not be able to effect this
by an open effort. Mayor Me,drims re-
marks may be construed to mean that eff
! forts to throw him down for another can
! didate, may make his friends more active
in pushing his claims for a denomination.
| They say he is entitled TO the courtesy of
a denomination, and that when the proper
/ ina
fight will be made for him.
Mayor Meldrin's strongest friends may
be said to include employees and officials
of the city government, together with
many politicians. Their activity means an
unusually warm fight provided Mr.. Nc
Donough does not decline TO allow his
| name presented, which as not probable in
view of the fact he is on record as saying
he win make the race If nominated
The issue has been forced by Mr., Nc
Donough, who declared that If elected, he
would see to 1t that the Sunday liquor laws
are strictly enforced. Mayor Meldrim S
! platform his friends say, will not vary
much in this regard from what IL has been
the last two years, as he would of course,
consider his nomination an Endorsement of
his former policies. On the saloon question
he had nothing to say, but in the event the
opposition urges that the administration
has been derehct in inforclng the laws. an
effort viii doubtless be made to excuse the
fault in the claim the po-
lice force has not been in the
Mayors control, and for this reason the
responsibility is shifted to the police COM
missioners At any rate, a spirited cam
paign is promised in the event both Mayor
Meldrim and MIR, McDonough run for the
nomination. The result is anticipated by
the Conservatives with more than ordi-
nary interest.
IF / am not in the race again." Mayor
Meldrim said, Il can retire with the con-
ISOLATION the city of Savannah is IN better
condition than it was two years ago.
There have been numerous improvements
made along all lines, and the public funds
have been spent with that care and pre-
caution which conviuces property owners
the best has been obtained for the money.
II has been period of prosperity. The
cotton receipts at this port have reached
their maximum. while the bank clearings
aggregate figure showing that there