The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-12
AARTRIDGE is FIRM
REQUEST FROM CAPT. McALPIN
THAT HE DROP OUT OF RACE.
BUT He WOULDN'T BULGE.
NEITHER CANDIDATE THINKING OF
WITHDRAWING.

Il
terview That stirred Up Friends of
MIR. Hartridge-Was Said That Ex-
Mayor McDonough Had Suggested
to Capt. McAIpin That There
should BE n Withdrawal-His Al
legged Oner to Approach Mr.. HART
ridge Denied-Capt. McAlpin Asked
Him TO See That Candidate-Mr.
Hartridge sent for Capt. McAIpin
and Plainly Announced His Posi-
tion-Capt. McAIpin Refuses to Dis
cuss the Incident.
The serenity of the political atmos-
phere was disturbed yesterday by the
circulation of a report that Capt.
Henry McAlpin was weakening, and
would withdraw from the fight for or
binary. The rumor had 1t that Mr..
Walter c. Hartridge had been appeal
ed to by Capt. McAlpin to get out of
the contest.
The story reached the ears of Capt.
McAlpin and caused ripple on po-
litical sea that had been comparative
ly calm. Capt. McAlpin gave out an
interview on the subject, and the rip
pie changed into a wave that may
still be gathering momentum. In the
published interview credited to Capt.
McAlpin a statement was made which
caused the supporters of Mr.. Hart
ridge to display some of their energy.
To the friends of. Mr.. Hartridge the
inference was clear that Capt Meal
pin had intended to convey the i'm
preston that Mr.. Hartridge was real
ly the candidate who was weakening
and that mutual friend had suggested
the move.
Capt. McAlpin would not say whether
he had been correctly quoted. after Mr..
Hartridge had 5refuted the insinuation
that he was weakening. AN endeavor
has been made to create the impression
that am going to retire from the race
for ordinary" said Capt. McAlpin. Il
have no such idea 1 do not care to
discuss the subject any further"
Capt. McAlpin was credited with say
ing that he met ex-Mayor J. j. Nc
Donough on the street, and in a casual
conversation about the campaign the
latter gentleman had suggested that it
was a pity that both he and Mr.. Hart
ridge were in the field, as they would
injure each others chances of being
elected. According to the report, the
accuracy of which Capt. McAlpin re-
fuses to question, Capt. McAlpin said
that he did not think Mr. Hartridges
candidacy would affect his chances of
election. and that he would lay the
matter before Mr.. Hartridge.
Mr.. Hartridge did not relish the idea
of being placed in position where it
might be supposed that he was weak
ening, when such is not the case. He
did not care to have one of his friends
credited with taking the initiative. in
a plan to get him to withdraw, when
no such thing ever happened. In the
| face of the fact that Capt. McAlpin,
would not disown the interview, and
thinking that shadow of doubt might
cloud the public mind, Mr.. Hartridge
deemed it wise and proper to make a
statement of the incidents that must
have led up to the street report that
annoyed Capt. McAlpin.
"Mr. McDoneugh stated to me that
Capt. McAlpin had approached him
and asked him to see me, with a view
to getting me to ONE down in the con-
| test for ordinary" said Mr.. Hartridge.
II told Mr.. McDonough to tell Capt.
McAlpin to come over and see me, If
he wanted to talk about the matter.
Capt. McAlpin did say that knew that
he was in the race when entered II.
told him unequivocally that 1 am In
| the race to stay. Since my announce
ment have never even considered the
question of stepping down for some one
else. and will go before the people
of the county at the primary on Oct.
| TO-"
To a representative of the Morning
| News Mr.. McDonough stated that
| Capt. McAlpin had asked him to speak
to Mr.. Hartridge about withdrawing.
He had not made the suggestion to
| Capt. McAlpin, and had only APP
preached Mr.. Hartridge on the subject
after the request had been made by
| Cant. McAlpin. He had met that
gentleman on the street and the mat
| ter that has brought about the discus
| sion came UP in the course of CONVEX
sation. Mr.. McDonough stated that
he did see Mr.. Hartridge. That can
! didate told him to tell Capt. McAlpin
| to come and see him himself. This
| Mr.. McDonough did.
| Mr.. Hartridge is confident of his cleo
ton and Capt. McAlpin's spirits appear
| equally as bouyant So do those of
the other candidates. The friends of
Mr.. Hartridge in the Fourth District
| will gather tonight in Hennesy Hall.
| on Liberty and Wheaton streets. 1t
| will be the first gathering of the Hart
ridge forces since the campaign opened,
and speakers have been secured for
| the occasion.
The Hartridge- McAlpin affair was
the only incident of the campaign yes
terday. There was a report that Mr..
Hartridge and Mr., Keilbach had form
ed combination, but the story turned
out to be the usual political canard.
There have been no Withdrawals as
yet. although it is generally believed
that not all of the candidates will go
into the fight. Several politicians
have figured that the candidate who
receives 1.400 votes will be elected.