The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
OPPOSITION TO CAPT. PURSE.
MIR. A. n. MOORE A CANDIDATE FOR
BOARD OF TRADE PRESIDENCY.

The Younger Element in the Board
Hold That the Time Has Come for
a Change and That the Body Is in
Need of a General Shaking Up-Mr.
MoOre's Friends Are Making an
Active 'Canvass-Capt. PURSES Sup
pOrters Hold That His Position
Enables Him to BE of Greater Ser
vice In savannah-POlitfes Charg-
ed in the Election of n Hay and
Grain Inspector.
For the first time in years, Capt. D. q.
Purse is to have opposition for the presi-
dency of the Board of Trade. Mr.. A. B.
Moore is the rival candidate and his
friends have been making quite a lively
canvass in his behalf. Some of the more
sanguine claim that Mr. Moore is certain
Of election, while Others merely say that
he and the Captain viii make things in
terestlng for each other
LIZ election takes place the first We'd
nesday in April, and the Indications are
that quite a lively campaign win be waged
until that time. Mr.. Moore is understood
to be the candidate of the younger mem
bers Of the Board of Trade, who feel that
it is time there should be a change in
management, and a general shaking up
for the good of the board as well as that
of the city.
The older members generally are sup
porting Capt. Purse. They point to the
prominence which his leadership has given
the board In all matters pertaining to the
welfare of the city, and the effective man
mar in nfaa h. hoe III -, af-
policy in advancing the interests of the
city. His position as president of the
Board of Trade they hold, enables Capt.
Purse to do much more effective work in
behalf of the city than he would be able
to do in a private capacity.
1t is generally acknowledged on all
sides, however, that there has been a very
lax interest on the part of the business
community in the workings of the Board
Of Trade, and that in consequence the
board has declined in membership and in
huence. Many leading business men are
hot associated. with the board and many
of its small membership even, seem 10
take but little interest in its affairs. The
board now has a membership OF about
sixty whereas, it is urged that the men,
bership should not be less than 200 If
the agitation on the subject of the presl-
dency should result in putting new life in
TO the institution the results will un-
is being pressed for Capt. Purses success
sor, is a well-known provision broker and
has a number of friends in the business
community.
There is another matter which is caus-
ing a lively discussion among members
of the board. 1t is claimed politics has
crept into the election of a hay and grain
inspector, and as a result the Hay and
Grain Committee of the board has been
unable TO agree upon a man to fill the
present vacancy, caused by the death of
the late Inspector Farr. Efforts to agree
upon a man at recent meeting of the
committee were futile, and 1t is claimed
the injection of politics into the election
is what caused some of the committee
men to get at loggerheads.
For a time five candidates sought the
place, but when the committee met com
posed of Messrs. Browder, Harris, Dixon
and Hull, the applicants were simmered
down to John ]. Stafford, shipping clerk
for the Peacock, Hunt e. West Naval
Stores Company, John Rourke, shipping
clerk for I. j. Davis, and w. r. Davis
the present incumbent, and for "a year or
more assistant to the late Inspector
t'arr. 1t is said stir was caused by The
writing of letters to committeeman by
well known politicians, who sought to
help favoritss. Some members Of the
committee didn't like this, thinking the
politicians should at least allow them to
manage their private business. Failing TO
agree on any of the three candidates the
committee decided to recommend them to
the Board OF Trade for it's action on the
regular date for this election on March
o. Meantime elecIioneering is going on.
Candidates Rourke and Stafford are well
known in Savannah, bUt Mr.. Davis isn't
so well known, except among the business
men with whom he circulates.. He seems
TO have filed the position acceptably dur
ing his term OF office