The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-10
COULDN'T FIND THE AUTHOR.
ALDERMAN DAVIS WROTE OVER 4
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE.

An Anonymous Writer'S Statement
in the MeIdrim GuidOn-Editor Car
ter DiscIaims RespOnsibiIity-The
Communication Traced to stenOE-
rapher Cohen, Who Claims 1t Was
Handed Him by a Party whom He
Does Not KnOw-MayOr MeIdrim
Ownes the Guidon, but Has No
Connection with Its Policy or
Management.
A little incident in political circles is
causing considerable talk among those ac-
quainted with the details. The Meldrim
Guidon, a paper published at Meldrlm,
but which devotes considerable attention
to Savannah politics, appeared last week
with an article signed Forest City"
discussion of political affairs generally.
sThe article concluded with an at
tack upon Alderman T. ]. Davis, who has
been one of the most active members of
the present board. 1t criticised Alderman
Davis for his familiarity and apparent
friendliness for Commissioner of Public
Works Willink
1t was not so much what was said how
ever, as the manner in which it was put.
A black letter at the head of each para
graph spelled out the word Rebates" as
much as to intimate that Alderman Davis
had benefited financially by his friendship
for Commissioner Wilink.
The Gudon has been distinctly Liberal
in its tendencies, and those VINO have suf-
fered from its criticisms heretofore have
been members of the opposite faction.
Consequently the attack upon Alderman
Davis caused some surprise.
The attention of Alderman Davis was
called 10 the article. He is not a man to
rest under a charge and promptly
took steps to find the author of the
article. Learning that Editor Carter of
the Guidon was in the city. he sought him
| in company with Mr. Fred M Hull of Mel
drim, Mr.. James NJ Dixon and Alderman
A. s. Guckenheimer Mr.. Carter prompt
! ly denied the authorship or responsibility
for the article The name of the CORE
spondent was demanded of him. He de-
clined, however, to say from whom the
article was received until he could con-
suit his legal adviser, Maj Meldrim. He
was given an opportunity to do So after
which he stated that the communication
had been received from a young man
named Cohen, a stenographer in the en-
ploy of Garrard Meldrim & Newman The
party then sought Mr.. Cohen. He is quite
a young man, hardly more than boy.
Cohen was badly frightened at the APP
pearance of the party and the demand
made upon him for the authorship of the
article. lie was assured that no harm
was intended to him. Had he been fun
grown, and had he acknowledged the au-
thorship of the article, the conclusion
might have been different Cohen denied
all responsibility. He was rather
confused in his statements, but
claimed that the communication had been
| brought to him by some person who re-
quested him to address il to the Guidon,
which he did. He claimed not to know
The name of this person. but said he would
know him if he saw him again. The man
looked like an eX-freman, Cohen said. He
promised to see the man and find out if
ne We're the author of the communication.
Mayor Meldrm, who owns the Guidon,
among various other property at Meldrilp,
was seen by a Morning News reporter.
His attention had been called to the ar
ticle by Alderman Davis, he said, and this
was the first he knew of it.
II own the Guidon'' he said "iust as
own various small houses and other pieces
of property. | lease it to Mr.. Carter and
am In no way responsible for it's conduct
or what appears in its columns. / have
scrupuously refrained from interfering in
its policy in any way"
Mayor Meldrim said he did not think
there was anything in the matter worthy
the attention of Council.
Alderman Davis and his friends are not
satisfied and they express the intention of
probing the matter further. If there is
anyway of getting at the party and dis
covering the purpose of the attack they
are determined to do So
AS chairman of the street and lane com
mittee Alderman Davis has supervision of
a great deal of the work under the control
of the Commissioner of Public Works.
There has been no friction between the
two and they have worked together har-
moniously in carrying on the work of the
street and lane department.