The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-12

Il understand, too, that TIE solicitor
general race is absolutely diFconne tel
with any question of municipal aft irs,
and does not involve in any way TIE iFs1e
of administration or anti-aGminigtrIt 0 T.
The office 10 which Messys. HaItridge a d
Osborne aspire is a state office. 1t is en-
tirely separate and distinct ON any mu-
nicipal office or from any municipal 5iey.
An ardent ADMINISTRATORS CT anti-admin-
traUonist can, with entris consis eneY,
vote as he pleases on this issue. / say this
in justice TO my sense of proprisiy.
THE fact is, as l understand it. there is
no Liberal Club or Citizens Cub. THESE
words are sometimes adopted for the sake
of convenience, but these Clubs have dis
appeared. The great and over-shado Tg
issue in this election is that as to the race
for solicitor general for this county. 1t
presents a clear, ciean-cut issue, as abso-
lutely so as if the people were called upon
to vote ballots upon which were
written For Gaming Houses" fn1
Against Gaming Houses" with the uader-
standing that. II the majority Of the peo-
pie voted the former ballot Mr.. Osborne
would be declared elected, and If the ma
iority voted the latter Mr.. Hartridge
would b.,
3" All good men win agree that the gam
ing house evil is one of terrible proper
tons They have been the fruitful source
of crime, pauperism and misery. Many a
young man has been ruined by them and
many a home blighted. No man, 1 care
not how great his effrontery or how reck
less of public opinion, villa come out and
publicly state that he favors gaming
houses ard thinks they ought to be con-
tinued. All coed men will agree that the
evil has assumed such proportions in Sa-
vannah as 20 become positively disgrace
full and scandalous. 1t causessus TO be evil
ly spoken of. We have the reputation of
being a "wlde-open' town, and all good
81 70 foo
fed and Inundated by tbs state OF af-
fairs II the evil can be abated this re-
sult Is very desirable. The suppression of
the evil is consummation most devoutly
! to be hoped for. Mr.. Hartridge has pledg-
ed himself In the most public and unmis-
taxable manner to suppress the evil and
to do so promptly and to keep IL sup
pressed during his term of Office His OPP
ponents cannot attack his character.
While suggestions are made, which, if
| needed, would discredit his sincerity, no
man has claimed that he is a dishonest.
or an insincere man, or one unworthy of
| public confidence. His ability is conceded.
The testimony of the few lawyers who
are opposing him, with one exception, Is
pronounced and emphatic as to his ability
and fitness for the office. One young gem
tleman, in the heat of a political speech
and in the ardor and exuberance
of extreme youth, did say that he could
be no more compared to Mr.. Osborne than
could "a tallow candle to an electric
| light" but this young man has probably
never met Mr.. Hartridge in the Court
House or in debate. 1 have a number
of times, and / say now, what / have
| said before this race, that, in my humble
opinion there is not a better or more
formidable practitioner at our bar of any
age
1T has been suggested, however. that
| his record as Recorder will discredlt him.
/
| There is absolutely nothing in his record
as Recorder to cast the slightest suspicion
upon his perfect good faith in this mat
| ter or call in question for one moment
| his earnestness, or his seriousness. If
the purpose TO suppress these gaming
houses had caused him to seek the place
| as Recorder and had been his dominant
and controlling purpose every moment
of the time that he was upon the bench
he could not have done anything at all
toward the suppression of this evil. He
has not now and never has had any con-
troll over the police force or the right or
authority to direct them to raid upon
gaming houses or take one step looking
to their suppression. All the powers that
the Recorder of Savannah has, or can
have outside of a general law which I
will notice in a moment, are contained in
the act of Dec. II, 1ST.It is very short, and
quote the body of IT: "fhe Mayor and AL
derrnen Of the city of Savannah. in Coun-
ell assembled, may elect an officer 10 be
called recorder for such time and for
such compensation as they may ordain.
who shall either alone or with the Mayor
Of said city, be authorized TO preside in
and hold the sessions of said court pro-
vided for by the existing law; provided
that when the said Mayor and Record
err shall preside together and differ in
opinion the said Mayor shall pronounce
the judgment of the court" This is the
whole of this law.
THE Mayor and aldermen are not allow
ed by any words used by the Legislature
to add TO those powers. He can preside
in the Police Court and pronounce the
Judgment Of the court. II the Council of
the city of Savannah were TO undertake to
give this court jurisdiction over gaming
houses or houses of ill-fame the ordinance
would be absolutely void because these
are state offenses. and it is not in Che pow
er of the city OF Savannah to pass an ordi
name covering these offenses. There is
none on our municipal statute book. Tho
Recorder has no more jurisdiction Owe
the offenses mentioned than he has ove-
arson, or murder, or the violation of any
ether state statute. He is no more respon-
sble for the state of affairs existing In Sa
Vannah than is the treasurer of the city.
The keeper of Laurel Grove Cemeterv or
the superintendent of the o. e. M. depart
ment. 1t has been stated, and according
to the papers, part of the charter f the
city of Savannah contained in the Geor-
gia Code and in MacDonelrs Code has
been read to the effect that Quoting the
exact language) 1.-THE clerk of the Couu-
ell. the marshal of said city, and the Off
GERS and members of the police of said
city, who are hereby declared 10 be ex
officio constables Of said city shall be Of
ficers of said Police Court" This law can
be found in the first code of Georgia VIII CHI
went into effect Jan. 1, 1868. 1t was he
law before the adoption OF the first code
1t simply makes the policemen ex ofticio
officers of the court when the court Is in
session for the purpose of preserving order
therein and carrying out the lawful man.
dates of the Court.
LAS the Police Court has no Jurisdiction
of gaming, or gaming house cases, or
cases against lewd houses, 1t could not
issue a mandate as to them, and, II VI
do the mandate would be absolutely null |
and void. You will notice there is nothing
in the language to suggest that the Re- |
corder as Recorder, when not sitting on |