The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-09
CAMPAIGN WILL OPEN EARLY.
MAYORALTY FIGHT EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP VERY soon.

col. VI. w. Dixon and Alderman
Tirdcmnn Are sim strong POSI-
Utilities, However The Hiayor
Might Not Refuse Another Term.
Alderman DiNon's Ometal Record
BeinE Urged IA His FRvor-I.iberni-
May Have something Co say About
the Matter.
The campaign Tor the mayoralty prom
ises 10 open az an early date. In fact the
campaign has already opened IN a way.
The friends OF Alderman James n Dixon
have been quietly at work in his behalf
for some time and leading politicians
Of tho administration faction are now
openly champlonlng his cause. II IS
claimed that two or three OF the political
clubs allied with the administration fac
ton will shortly be called together to
give formal Endorsement 10 Nr. DixOn's
candidacy.
While al present Mr.. Dixon seems 10 he
che only candidate In the field II IS not
likely that he win be given the prize
without a struggle. Mayor Myers. Alder
man Tiedeman and Col Merritt w Dixon
are all looked upon as very decided posi-
NlAlAAtn W AAAt ilhaRANtft AAtfAa @F"'A'
them is saying much at present, and their
friends are not doing much talking. but
nevertheless the movements Of Alderman
Dixon are no, unobserved by them.
There are those VINO intimate that
Mayor Myers would not object to another
term ana that in case such state OF
afalrs should be brought about that II
D.. o. - az tr
harmonic the party that he would not
refuse hts services for such a purpose.
The Mayor is strong with the solid men
OF his party. and should he really make
w his mind that another term Is neces-
sary 20 round out his official existence
he could make Il decidedly interesting for
any other candidate.
Alderman Tiedeman is regarded rs a
conservative who has merited the conf
dence Of his party and tho citizens by the
conscientious manner IN which he has
discharged his duties and his hdeliiy 20
ahe city's interests AZ the same time Al
derman Tfedeman is no, much q mix
er." ana his hold upon the rank and Me
81 the party a. regarded as doubtful ~
a compromise candidate he would doubt
less receive considerable support outside
Of the party.
Col Merritt Dixon Is an uncertain
quantity a. present. Tho Colonel has noe
soid anybo,ly-at least. he has not told
any Of the newspaper men-that-he in
tends being "a candidate. A. che same
time there is a feeling abroad that he ig
not at all averse 20 making the race. He
would not like 20 run against his brother.
Of course. hus then. circumstances might
80 shape themselves that he would b.
called upon to lead the opposition. Col
Dixon has never shown any great regard
Gor party lines. and it y claimed
that his opposition 20 the ad-
rninistration. IA aE strong az ever not
understanding his position in the iast cam
paign. Anyhow. "a can BE- pat down that
Col. Dixon viii be an interesting factor
81 the campaign. and his movements viii
he watched with interest.
Alderman Wells. who was thought az
one time TO have some views upon the
nasyoraiity. has been away all summer.
and q NOT expected home until lase IN the
sall. IN which case he may md the field
already pre-emptcd.
Alderman Dixon's friends are bringing
his claims FOR promotion strongly 10 the
front. II II pointed OUT ana with justice.
that he has rendered excellent service In
every onicial capacity in which he has
been placed As chairman of the Water
Commisfi for four years. his department
always made an excellent showing, ana
the facilities of the service were greatly
extended. he was hardly put out Of har-
ness as the head OF the Water Commits
zion. when h. was elected a member OF
ihe present Board Of Aldermen. and plar-
81 al the head Of one OF It's most import
ant committees. that OF Streets and Lanes.
The chairman 81 the Street and Lane
Committee o. always formidable poliu-
cal factor as he has the expenditure 81
y large proportion OF the city's budget.
and the departments directly under his
control employ a larger number 81 men
than all the other departments put TO-
Rether II is an important position and
requires an able. practical business man.
The department has been we'll looked ar
yer under the administration OF Chairman
Dixon
Jim Dixon" said an admiring friend to
Morning News reporter. has given as
much Of his time TO the city as he would
be required to do y he were Mayor. lie
ran afford 20 DO a. not because he has not
affairs OF his own that require attention.
hut because he is such careful. method
cal business man that he has no difiiculty
IN systematizing his work that his bus
3ness does not suffer. and neither ID the
interests OF the city. II YOU will look up
the record you will IND that he has rarely
missed n meeting. and that he has taken
an active part in every important move
during tho present administration. lie has
not confined himself 90 the committee Of
which he Is chairman. but has taken an
active interest Ia the work OF the several
other committees OF which he Is a mem
Der"
Attention r. also being called 20 the
fact that Mr.. Dixon, though not then n
member OF Council. interested himself
very actively IN The matter OF securing
the encampment Of the troops OF the Sew
enth Army Corps at Savannah and prob
ably contributed as much to the success
of this movement as any oshcr citizen.
Ills acquaintance with the water depart
mcnt enabled him to demonstrate hat Sa-
vannah was fully able 90 supply this Inn
portant requisite OF an army camp. an
ample supply Of fresh water. and Il was
Eavannah's manner of fulhliing her prom
Uses IN this respect that contributed
more than any other one thing to the
success OF the army encampmeat. Wheih-
er Mr.. Dixon gets the plum or not. he
has some very strong friends who are
hacking him for the nomination. aud q
will not b. due 10 any lack Of diligence
on their part n he fails Of obtaining his
desire.
Il Is not likely that the antl-admlnis-
sration forces will tamely submit without
a fight. Notwithstanding their severe de-
feat at the summer primary. Col a. X.
1awton Is being spoken OF as good may
orally timber. and Alderman ID. r.