The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-05
CAME TO NO AGREEMENT.
CHARLToN's RESIGNATION ACCEPT
ED AND MELDREM ELECTED.

Reclamation With Reluctance and
Regret the Committee Agreed on
HIS Successor and Then Collapsed.
Conference Committee From Os-
borne Rally Submitted "A Request
for the Appointment of Confer
ence Committee From the Execu-
tive Committee-Mr. Power and
others Wanted RctractiOns-COm-
mittee Will Meet Again Tuesday.
The bombshell that was to explode in
the Democratic Executive Committee
meeting last night came in the shape OF
the resignation of Chairman Wal
ter G. Charlton. The explosion
was followed by the sputtering Of fire
crackers during the rest of the even
ing.
When Chairman Charlton called the
meeting to order in the Superior Court
room. he announced that he desired to
make a personal explanation. His an
nouncement was made to a gathering
of every member of the committee, with
the exception of Mr.. George w. Parish,
who was unavoidably absent, and to a
crowd that more than comfortably filled
the court room.
Mr. Charlton began by saying that he
knew that he had not been Intentionally
misquoted in the statement that he had
communicated his intention to resign TO
Mr.. Osborne and Mr.. Hartridge. His in
tention was 10 say that he had cemmuni-
Gated his intention to resign to members of
both factions.
1t was evident that the chairman was
moved and disturbed by the statement he
was about to make and throughout the
course of it's reading his voice trembled
with emotion. He read from typewriter
paper that he held in his hand, as follows:
Savannah. Ga, May 4, 1900
Gentlemen Of the Democratic EXecu-
five Committee of Chatham County: At
the request of certain gentlemen, whom l
know TO be Democrats, have called you
together to consider, among other things,
the matters which il is their purpose 20
present 10 you. 1 have assured them on
your behalf, and on my own. that they
would be accorded an entirely respectful
hearing. That is NOS only their right as
Democrats appealing 10 the authority or
their party, but II is their right as repre-
sentative citizens of our community /
do not need to request for them patient
hearing, because that you will give: i
take the liberty, however, of requesting
of you that whatever they may PROFOUND
will be received in a spirit of candor,
and patiently and wisely considered. l
am the more free TO make this requisition
upon you for the reason that it is my
last Official act / did not reach Savan-
nah until the afternoon of April q. On
the train / found. from the local paper,
that Mr.. Hartridge had announced his
candidature for the Office of solicitor gen
eral. The meeting of your body had been
called for that night. 1t had not occurred
TO me prior to that announcement that
/ should take any personal action conse-
quent upon his avowed aspiration, he not
being definitely in the field and there be-
ing nothing for me TO do.
Mr.. Hartridge, as you are advised, is
my nephew. He happens to be more than
that to me. He is my affectionate friend
and represents to me all that is best in
the history of my people. am aware that
these things mean nothing to the public
at large, but they mean all things to
me. He knows, as does each man
in opposition to him whose opinion 1
care for or respect, that these relations
would not induce me to be unjust TO his
antagonist. But the point is well taken
that if were a judge upon the bench
ana Mr.. Hartr1dge was a ltigant in
cause pending before me, I could not sit
in judgment. So far l have had no jul
dicial or discretionary function to per-
form Lest L may have. / resign. There
are other reasons which influence me. /
make all possible allowance for the con-
ditions which surround a heated political
campaign. l have never seen the necessi-
ty TO resort to personal abuse in order 90
elect a man or carry "a measure. The
practice so far as we are concerned is of
recent years. But since 1t is prevalent,
! desire to be in a position to at least
fO aPf .f., -.
lie officer, past or present, are always
the legitimate subject of discussion, crit
tclsm and censure. What l may have done
as solicitor general is at all times open TO
investigation. Some of the things alleged
against me never happened. Others did
happen and of them / was, and am, and
always VIII be proud. 1t has not occurred
10 me TO object to any remarks which
may have been made upon such acts in
spirit of honest criticism. But iuasmuch
as / hold myself responsible for what l
did. desire that the conditions should be
such that those who discuss them may be
responsible for the language they use in
the discussion.
In parting with you I beg that YOU
VIII let me express my earnest and honest
appreciation Of the unfailing courtesy YOU
nave extended me. During the last ten
years the committees of the party have
been elected by factions: you have been
reseM the party. Whatever conclusions
you may reach I shall abide by. convinced
tnat you are striving for what is best
irrespective of fractional alignment I beg
70 express to You my personal regard
ana with 1t, for the reasons have stated
my resignation as chairman of vour body
am, very truly, Walter c. Charlton.
Atter reading this paper Mr.. Charlton
called upon DR.. William Duncan. vice
chairman Of the committee. 20 take the
cnair As he left the platform,
Mr. Charlton stated that ne desir
ed 10 ask of the COMMITTEES but
two things-frst. that 1t would ,ronnt-
~ accept his resignation, and. second
that II would accord to the commit
zee representing mass meeting of Dem
1crs.s inst was in attendance a fair,
kindly and impartial hearing.
When DR.. Duncan took the chair Mr.
Guckenheimer moved that the commit
tee cake recess of ten minutes. and
the motion was carried without d.
vision, In announcing that the re-
cess would be taken in accordance
with the action of the commit
tee, Dr. Duncan stated that it would he
HN