The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-18
MYERS NAMED FOR MAYOR.
PUT IN NOMINATION BY THE ANTI
Liberal FACTION.

the Present Administration.
Mr.. Myers Name Presented
by capt. ID. q. Purse ana
Seconded by capt. VI. J. Doyle and
W. w. Osborne-N Board of Alder
men to Re Named at IA Meeting to
he Held Friday Night.
Mr.. Herman Myers was placed in NOM
nation for the mayoralty at Masonic hal
last night At $50 O'Clock, when che
meeting was called to order, the han
was filed to its capacity and many were
unable to obtain admission. The small
gallery of the hall was occupied by col
ored voters. Of whom there appeared to
be about fifty present.
on the stage were Hon. +. G. duBig-
non, Hon. ". w Osborne, Mr. J. Ferris
Cam. Mr. James NJ. Dixon, Mr. Samuel
Reynolds. Mi 7. 2. Reynolds Mr. A.
Vetsburg, Capt D. G. Purse, Capt NJ. J.
Doyle and several others. The meeting
was called to order by Mr.. Cam. who sug
gested that Mr.. duBignon be named as
chairman. The suggestion met with gen
eral approval, and Mr.. duBignon was
unanimously NAtAAtiA Nliell man M 4
T. Reynolds WAS later elected secretary.
In taking the chair, Mr. duBlgnon out7
lined his views upon the situation in a
speech of some fifteen or twenty minutes
duration. 1t was not his purpose in ap-
Fearing before the meeting, he said to
make any attack upon any person or
party. He preferred, he said, to address
his remarks to the Intelligence rather than
to the prejudices of his audience. The
meeting demonstrated the fact, he said
that the time had passed in the city of
Savannah when men can obtain public
office by arousing the passions of the pco-
pie and creating false issues. 1t may be
difficult to find anything in the course
of the present administration to be CRATE
ful for, but for one fact. whatever the mo-
tive, when at the election last Wednes-
day night, by their official act. they gave
the lie TO the issue which carried them
into office.
Mr.. duBignon disclaimed any per-
sonal interest in the movement. The
city had no Office in its gift he said.
which he could accept He had no en-
terprise to promote, no lands to open and
no relatives TO provide office for. He
therefore, claimed the distinction of being
an entirely disinterested citizen Mr.
duBlgnon spoke in the highest terms Of
MI McDonough, whom he said he held
IN the highest esteem personally. "as a
truthful, frank. honest. manly man"
Il despise bombast. hypocrisy. and svco-
phancy' ne said, "and none of these char
acteristies belong TO John J. McDonough
POLITICALLY and morally he is superior to
the men who will direct his campaign. ana
who will On the future as they have in
the past control any board Of aldermen
elected under their management"
1t has been reported that | would at
tack the present administration" said Mr.
duBignon THAT is an eror Ii would be
cruel to do so. Nobody has endorsed II
1t is perhaps the only instance in the his
tory of municipal politics where a partv
mas met to nominate successors to those
Whom 1t had put in office without some
Kind word being said of the retiring adj
ministration. Not one word of approval
or endorsement was heard at that meet
ing. although the administration. which
that party had elected. had been in power
Ior TWO years This silence is more severe
than any criticism could possibly be"
The only endorsement of the adrninistra-
ton which he had seen. Mr. duBigpon
said. was handsome tribute 10 the adj
ministTation by its official head This re-
minded him, he said, of one of "Prvate"
John Aliens stories of negro political
meeting held In his district during the
Cleveland campaign, Mr.. Allen also being
candidate for Congress. The meeting
was IN the interest of the Democrats, the
principal speech being made by Mr.. AL
len. When the speaking was finished and
the negroes were called upon for an ex-
preston of opinion one old negro rose and
said that he didn't see how they could do
anything else but support Mr. Cleveland
and as Mr., Allen had "rickommended"
himself so highly he thought they would
have to support him TOO. 1t was the only
Recommendation which he had seen of
the administration, Mr.. duBignon said
He added that one or two facts In connec-
ton with the city's financial history had
recently been brought to his attention At
the close of the first fiscal year of Mr..
Myers administration there was a balance
OF over $4,000 ia the citys treasury At
the close of the second fiscal year there
was balance of S3S GOO to the credit of
city and for the first time in twenty-five
years the city tax rate was reduced.
Il am told now" he said that the
budget for the present fiscal year win ex-
coed the possible revenues of the city by
$4,000, and that the administration has
borrowed during the last month over
$4,000 to pay current expenses"
Mr.. duBignon commented somewhat
facetiously upon the beauty of the admin
istration theory of borrowing money 10
pay the city's debts so that these debts
would not have to be paid by their sue
cessors, overlooking the fact apparently
that the borrowed money would have to
be paid by their successors. This feat OF
financiering, he said, was worthy of Null
berry Sellers.
Mr. duBignon next touched upon "nep-
ousm." Savannah is suffering to-day
he said, and is liable TO suffer for -four
years to come, should the administra ton
ticket be elected, from the worst case OF
nepotism that ever throttled conmu-
nifty. Under the present law the outgoing
board elects the city officers so that the
board now 20 be elected will elect officers
whose terms win not end until four wear
hence. The city exchange to-day he said
resembled an official family tree. TAX,
the exchange as the trunk and In every
branch and limb you wall find brother
in-law. an uncle, a cousin or a nephew"
as this true?" he exclaimed. Are yol
prepared 70 turn over the whole city ad
miuistration 20 two famiies?"
Mr. duBignon argued that whether n,
not the meeting placed a mayoraltv can.
didate in nomination il was its d,,t,, -