The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-27
COLLINS is WILLING
BUT WILL NOT SAY HE Is CAN
DIDATE FOR ORDINARY.
NOT A THING AGAINST SCREVEN
INSISTS, HOWEVER, THAT POLICE
SUPERINTENDENT RESIGN.

should Be mo Change I'm Head of
Police Department He Says - The
United Club Not Collins orSani-
zation-UnabIe Yet to Settle on
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Wells Not
then Man-COmmittee of Twenty to
Name Officers, VIII Meet Tuesday
Night.
Mr.. j. s.. Collins. who has been gener-
ally regarded as a candidate for Ordinary,
stated yesterday that he had never said
that he was not a candidate, however
and his name will still be used in connec-
ton with the office.
II have been approached by many good
men in both the Citizens and Liberal
Clubs who have asked me to run for Or
dinary," said Mr.. Collins, "but I have
never announced myself candidate. The
administration man whose interview was
published in the Morning News yesterday
has been misinformed and his informant
made a misstatement when he said that
the United Club had been organized in
my interest. Such is not the case, and
titled with it have stated, it is an indie
pendent club. organized for the purpose
of obtaining good government in Chatham
county, and not 10 make a fight for any
office. If the impression prevails, and
doubt the truth OF it, that the club was
organized for me, it is a mistaken idea.
That 1 am at the helm and control the
machinery of the new organization is
untrue and without the slightest founda-
lion The purpose of the club has al
ready been stated to the public and those
who desire to know its full purport and
intent had no trouble in discovering that
it was club organized for the so.e pur-
pose of lettering the condition of affairs
in this county"
81 haven't a single thing against Tom
Screven and like him personally. He is
a gentleman. and ! think that every one
will adT1lt iC. He has made a good su-
perintendent of police, too, and L don't
want to see him out of the department
The people of Savannah know how he
has pu: The force in shape, and judging
from expressions of opinion that / have
heard, many of them would prefer that
he remain in charge of the police. The
people feel secure with him there, and
he should not be put in another Office.
The public has no assurances as to who
would be placed at the head of one of
the most important departments in the
municipality, in the event of his election
as Ordinary. I reiterate that if Maj
Screven is going to make the fight for
Ordinary, and he has made a public an
nouncement to that effect he should ten
der his resigna lion as superintendent of
police. While, as I said before, he is a
gentleman, it would seem manifestly I'M
fair for him to be in control of the po-
lice on election day. If Messrs. Saussy,
Alexander, Keilbach and McAlpin are
candidates. they should be shown some
consideration. and in a spirit of fairness
Mr.. Screven should resign his commits
SION"
The friends of the superintendent say
that he will not resign and that he will
make the race holding his present posi-
ton. While the plan of his campaign has
not yet been mapped out Maj. Screven's
friends are preparing to organize just as
soon as the word is given by the County
Commissioners They say that there is
no use in spending their energy until 1t
is known just when the election is to be
held. The other candidates appear to
have the same feeling on the subject and
nothing will be done in the way of organ
ization until an election is ordered by the
commissioners.
The United Club has not yet decided
upon a president and it cannot be stated
just who will be at it's head. The answer
of ex-Aldermen Wells when he was ap-
preached was final, and despite reports on
the streets, he will not be the gentleman
named. The committee of twenty APP
pointed to name permanent officers Will
probably meet Tuesday night and have
a president selected by the meeting
Thursday night. 1t is understood that the
committee has its eye on at least two
parties and that some definite conclusion
will be reached within the next day or
two. In the meantime the administration
supporters are kept guessing.