The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-29

| outward appearances. A primary cleo
| ton should be, and is supposed under the
law to be, pure and above suspicion. While
+ the entire community knew. that some of
| the majority faction on the, committee
were bitter partisans and likely, in the
| heat of political passion, to misuse their
positions in this way, l. and believe the
majority of our citizens, had believed that
there were a sufficient number of fair
| minded men among them to insist on ar
engagements being made that would in
| sure a primary that would be acceptable
| TO all and allay, instead of provoking, ill
feeling. The resolu tons adopted had evil
IDENTIFY been carefully prepared in advance
to sudt partisan purposes They are man.
lfestly unfair and unjust on their face, and
the sole intent of them appears to be to
give absolute control Of the election ma
chinery into the hands Of the Liberal Club
faction. / have not the slightest doubt In
my mind that this is the way they appear
to everybody in the community who is not
actuated by a partisan spirit. To me such
an action appears an acknowledgment OF
weakness, and a fear that under a primary
where each side would have an equal show
the Liberal Club faction would be defeat
ed"
why should a large majority of COM
mittee who are known to be partisans be
placed in charge of an election" remark
ed the Mayor. "This primary will control
the future of not only the county but of
the city. Representatives to the Legis.a-
ture are to be elected, and 1t has been
an open statement that if the Liberal Club
wins it will enact legislation tending to
put it in control of the city. Our citizens
must not be unmindful of this fact, and
merely regard 1t as a contest Tor the so
icitorship. The resolutions governing the
primary are intended to establish the Lib
eral Club in absolute control OF the ar
fairs of Savannah, and of Chatham. such
is their real purport. 1t cannot be said
that it is necessary for partisan execu-
tive committee to manage the election.
There are plenty of good citizen, com
manding the respect and confidence of the
people, and not allied with either faction,
who would cheerfully serve as managers
in the interest of peace and fair. hon
est election. Why jeopardize .he good feel
ing among our citizens by manifestly
unfair primary, leaving bitterness which
will interfere with the prosperity of the
city? Savannah has been hurt badly In
the past by the divisions among Its peo-
pie created in this way, and 1t was the
hope of the great majority OF Its citi-
zens that this year we would be spared
a repetition of this dangerous and intu-
rlous rancor. If this unfair primary is in
sisted on our city will be set back almost
as much as though an epidemic had visit
ed it, We are enjoying an era OF progress,
our people are generally getting together
and wor king in harmony for the common
good, and it is wrong that few partisans
should be allowed to arouse dscord and
provoke bitterness that may not die out
in years. AT every election In the past
which has been regarded as fair, each
side has had equal representation. Sixteen
to nine is not equal representation at an
election and a primary managed In this
way cannot be considered by any one as
fair 1t is the duty OF our best and most
public spirited citizens to insist that
fair. honest primary is held, that the
voice Of the people may prevail Those
having the welfare of the community at
heart should exert themselves TO this end,
and prevent this impending strife. l do
not think our people would again tamely
submit to another contest at the polls like
the McDonough- Harmon election.
1T Is WELL" said the Mayor, TOR the
citizens OF Savannah. enjoying the right
and privilege under the law OF voting, 10
stop and seriously consider whether they
are willing 10 submit 70 Messrs. Willnk
and Sullivan passing on their qualinca-
lions and eligibility as voters, whether
they are willing to permit two partissns
TO say who shall vote and who shall not.
II Is impossible for one not 20 recognize
that already bad feeling has been created