The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-21
BLUES WANT THEIR CAPTAIN.
PETITION CIRCULATED TO INDUCE
HIM TO REMAIN.

Capt. Grayson VIII Be Urged to De-
cline the Majority in Order That
He May Continue to Serve His Com
pany-Peace and Harmony In the
Blues, Ii Is Said, Can Best BE Main
tanned by His Staying at Their
Head-COI. Il. :. WyIIy Was Asked
10 Consider the Acceptance of the
Lieutenant COIOneIcy-AII Are AnX-
iOus for Him to Take It-Coh, Law
ton Accepted the COIOnelcy.9
Capt. w. l.. Grayson may be prevailed
upon to decline the nomination as major
of the First Battalion of the First Regi-
ment. A strong effort is being made to
induce him to do so, many of his friends
urging him to stay at the head of the
Republican Blues in the interest of har-
mony. They would all like to see Capt.
Grayson receive promotion, but are GER
tain that he is needed by the Blues, for
whom he has done so much and whom,
in the opinion of many. he cannot leave
now without seriously affecting their in
terests.
A petition is being circulated among
the members of the company, calling upon
Capt. Grayson to remain with them. 1t
has received many signatures, and it is
believed nearly all the company will
sign. Such an appeal would doubtless have
weight with Capt Grayson, though it is
not known whether he would forego the
promotion that is sweet to every military
man.
The matter will probably come up at,the
meeting of the company tomorrow night,
when it was intended to hold a prelimi-
nary election for officers If Capt. Gray
son can be prevailed upon by his COM
pany to remain at its head the contest for
the captaincy into which Lieut.. Lacey b.
! Nell and Lieut.. NJ. Ed. Wilson have en-
| tered would be brought to an abrupt and
entirely satisfactory close, as the cap
tain is popular with all the men. The very
| creditable condition of the Blues at pres
ent is due to the work Capt. Grayson has
done in their behalf and the company
! would be glad enough to have him re-
main to still the warning elements that
! would spring up with his advancement.
Many of the old members of sthe' com
pany are interested in the succession in
the Blues They would far prefer Capt.
Grayson to remain, as they believe the in
| terests of the command would thereby be
conserved. If they cannot prevail upon
him 10 do SO. however, the veterans who
have the warmest feeling for the Blues,
will vigorously support whichever of the
two lieutenants they may believe best
qualified to succeed him.
If it is found that Capt Grayson will re-
main with the company the officers OF the
battalion will have to decide upon some
one else. That decision will be reached a
the meeting tomorrow night after the adj
iOnTnmPnt a
the same time there will. be an election
of major of the Second Battalion, the
Guards officers having been unable to
reach any conclusion at the meeting Fri
day afternoon.
The choice of a lieutenant colonel may
also have to be considered by the regi-
mental officers. The committee appointed
Friday to wait upon Col. 7. S. Wylly with
a notification of his election and in the
effort to induce his acceptance was not
able to report success, though it is hoped
Col. Wylly will decide to cast his lot with
the regiment. The committee calling upon
him consisted of Capt p. f. Gleason of
the Irish Jasper Greens, Capt, j. Ferris
Cam of the Savannah Volunteer Guards,
Capt. W. l.. GrNson of the Republican
Blues, Capt G.. \. Gordon of the Ogle-
thorpe Light Infantry and Capt. ]. T.
West of the Savannah Cadets.
All the committee was able TO learn from
the nominee for the lieutenant colohelcy
was a promise to take the matter under
consideration TO give an answer Monday.
The committee will then wait upon him
again, and his answer will be reported to
the officers Monday night. In the mean
time Col WHY'S friends and the friends
of the regiment will do all in their power
to induce him to accept, as it is believed
his endowmentS for the position are such
as to make ii extremely desirable for the
regiment to have him as one of its fl ID
officers. Cob Lawton is among those who
would like 10 see Col. Wylly accept, and
he talked with him in the hope of induc-
ing him to become lieutenant colonel.
The committee also waited upon Col.
Lawton to notify him of he reelection.
Appreciation of the coonels valuable
services to the regiment was expressed,
and he gracefully accepted the tender OF
the colonelcy.