The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-13
REPUBLICANS MAY HARM0NlZE
STATE CHAIRMAN JOHNSON IN sA-
VANNAH TODAY.

A Caucus of the Leaders of the Rival
Factions VIII BE Held This Morn
ing-SOme BASIS of Agreement for
a Joint Convention May BE Reach
ed-Chairman Johnson Comes I'm
tIne Interest of Harmony at the In
stance of Capt. DOyIe-Re VIII BE
Accompanied by w. a. PIedgcr.
Hon. Walter II. Johnson of Atlanta,
chairman of the State Central Committee
of the Republican party and United States
marshal for the Northern district of Geor-
gia, viii arrive in Savannah this morn
ing, with w. A. Pledger of Atlanta.
The object of the visit of the Republl-
can leaders is to seek to restore harmony
in the ranks of the Republicans of the
First Congressional district, which has
been so conspicuously lacking during the
last four years. and more particularly
during the last few weeks.
The visit of Johnson and Pledger is the
result of a flying trip which Capt. NJ. j.
Doyle paid to Atlanta Sunday and from
which he returned yesterday morning.
While in Atlanta Capt. Doyle conferred
with Johnson, Pledger, Rucker and other
leaders of the party. and laid the situa>
ton before them. He succeeded in show
ing the state chairman that the First dis
trict is at present hopelessly divided, and
that it was absolutely necessary for the
state chairman to come to Savannah if
he desired to restore the semblance of
harmony in the district. Mr.. johnson
was loath to take a hand in the district
politics, but al the urgent request of Capt
Doyle he agreed to come to Savannah and
pour oil upon the troubled waters.
After his return to the city yesterday
Capt. Doyle conferred with Collector De-
veaux and arranged for a conference of
the leaders of the two factions to be held
this morning, at which Mr.. Johnson will
be present. In all probability the result
of this conference will be to bring about
joint district convention, instead of the
two rival conventions, which are sche-
duled to be held in the city this week.
Capt. Doyle stated yesterday that if an
amicab bic basis of agreement can be reach
ed at the conference to-day that the Dele
gal convention, which has bean called TO
meet tonight at Morse's Hall, will sim
ply meet and adjourn to meet with the
Pleasant convention, which has b, cen call
ed for tomorrow morning at the Harris
Street Hall.
The trouble all along between the two
FACTIONS has been as to which of the two
rival chairmen should call the convention
to order and preside during the organiza-.
ton. The advantages Of the temporary
craftsmanship are obvious especially to
anyone who has ever attended a Repub-
Hcan convention. The Pleasant Deveaux
faction has assisted all along that L. NJ
Pleasant is CT airman and that no one else
can preside at the opening of the conVen-
ton. The Doyle-Delegal faction proposed
that Pleasant and Deveaux should act
Jointly in the call and the temporary or
ganization or that both should retire and
some other chairmen be selected, but
their opponents would not agree to this.
Some basis for a joint convention will
probably be agreed on to-day.
Party rows appear to be the prevailing
rue with the Republicans in all the coun-
ties in this section and especially in the
First district The Bryan county conven-
ton. which was held Saturday, proved 10
exception A report received by the Morn
ing News Saturday night stated that the
DeveauX people had the convention all
their own way and that the other people
were not in it. A report received from
Clyde yesterday states Just the opposite
to be the case. The latter report states
that A G.. Croft and Andrew Cannon
were elected delegates and instructed to
attend the Delegal convention in Savan-
nah tonight
4 A report received vest erdav from JesrD
states, in effect. that there was a high
old row at the Wayne county convention
in the Eleventh district Saturday, with
the usual split, and ,he usual result in
the election of rival lal gates to the dis
trict and state conventions.