The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-08
UNITED CLUB SPLIT
AND WELLS FOR TAX COL
LECTOR.
HELD A STORMY MEETING.
ATTEMPT MADE TO CAPTURE THE
MEETING ron McALPIN.

Supporters of Capt. McAlpin Were on
Hand EarIS-COIEins Men Came in
Late. hut Held Their Own-shout-
ing Could he Heard "a Block Away.
Joseph I<iIlOrin Led McAlpin
Forces and Announced That He
Would Not Abide IvS Ruling of the
President-Report of Nominating
Committee of One Hundred Accept
cd by Vote of 81 to 7S-President
Mcmillan Was Unable to DO Any
thing with the CrOwd-Warmest
Political Meeting Held in Recent
Years.
The meeting Of the United Club In Ma
sonic Hall last night was about the
warmest thing, in the way of a political
gathering, that has taken place in ga
vannah in recent years. After a wrangle
that lasted for almost an hour, President
Mcmillan ruled that a majority of those
present were in favor of accepting the
report of the Committee of One Hundred,
which nominated j. S. Collins for ordin-
airy and David Wells for tax collector.
This was greeted with a howl of disap-
prevail by those whom the chair decided
were in the minority.
At one time every one in the hall seemed
TO be shouting Justify for something, and
there was scarcely moment during the
meeting when there were less than half
a dozen persons telling the president what
action they thought the club should take
on the nomination or indorsng of candi-
LOTT hot he Din ;c ID
there is no doubt. and the McAlpia fol-
lowers stated positively after the adjourn
ment that they would withdraw. because,
they declared, they had not been properly
treated.
The meeting had been called for $50
O'Clock. At that hour the McAlpin men
were plainly in the majority. 1t was no
ticed that not a few were not members
of the club, and the Collins men realized
that something was going to happen. 1t
had been rumored during the morning that
the supporters of Capt. McAlpin would
capture the meeting. and it looked as if
this prediction would be carried out. The
Collins men came in, however, and few
minutes before 9 o'clock President Nc
MILAN called the meeting to order First
were on The stage. Mr. Mcmillan stated
that the meeting had been called FOR the
purpose of acting on the report of the
Committee of One Hundred and asked for
the report of the committee that had held
such a stormy session Monday night
Mr.. Joseph killorin, who appeared to be
the leader of the anti-Collns element
stated that there were a number of per
sons present who had not enrolled them,
selves as members of the club He asked
that they be made members before any
business was transa cted. and said that
certainly there was no one present who
did not wish to join an organization, open
TO all good citizens. Mr.. Killorin sat with
the opposition on the eastern side of the
hail while the Collins forces occupied the
rear and western side. Mr.. Killorin
thought it would avoid confusion to have
the new members enrolled at oncce Mr.
John Powers was perfectly willing that
this should be done, provided each men,
Der pledge himself to support the nomi-
nee of the CLUB. Mr. Mcmillan did not see
the use of enrolling new members before
the meeting, and said it would be under
stood that every man who took part in
tie meeting would abide by the result
Mr.. w. L. Grayson asked if Mr.. Ki,loriu
was member of the club, and was in
formed that he was and had been on the
Committee of One Hundred.
President Mcmillan asked that all per-
sons who did not propose to abide by
the decision of the majority of members
leave the hall. An intoxicated individ-
ual stalked out of the hall and was fol-
lowed by two other persons. A moment
later some one went rolling down the
steps and the first excitement of the
meeting occurred. The ball had been put
IN motion by the man in his cups and
from then on there was plenty doing
Mr. Gordon Saussy handed the secretary
the report of the Committee of One Hun
dred, in which Mr.. Collins was nominated
for ordinary and Mr.. Wells for tax col
lector. Secretary Dekle had hardly got
ten the last word out of his mouth when
Mr.. Killorin was on his feet. He moved
that the report be rejected and the mo-
ton was seconded by John Kelly and
several others. There was silence for
only second, aud Vice President Slater
left the stage for the floor He moved. as
an amendment, that the report of the
committee be accepted by the club. and
Mr.. Killorin called for a ballot. Mr.. Ben
Wells moved that the two-thirds rule
govern the meeting and Mr.. Krouskoff
arose to say something.
II was very unfortunate, he said, that
the club should be divided at such a
late day, and added that the action of
the nominating committee had by no
means been unanimous. He said that
had been opposed to making any indorse-
nent and in his opinion the club was too
young and not strong enough to go into a
night He knew that the president felt
the same way about the matter, ana
thought that the members should con-
slider his feelings, as well as those of the
conservative members.
Mr.. T. B. Grayson differed with Mr.
Krouskoff, and thought the club should
start when it had strength. The white
flag should not be shown, and the major
ity of the members of the club, he said
were in favor of nominating He said
that such was the intention of the or
ganizers. Those present knew that NO
political club lived for two years All OF
them died Immediately after an election
He advised Mr.. Krouskoff TO take hack
seat. and let the young men run things
They had organized the club. and pc did
not think it fair for men to join al the
eleventh hour and run things to suit
themselves.
During this talk. in which other mem.
bers tried to make themselves heard. the
matter of passing on che report of tho
Committee of One Hundred was lost sight
of. Mr.. KillOrin made several efforts 10
make himself heard, and his voice calling
for the question finally attracted the at.
tention of the presiding officer President
MCMILLAN said that Mr. glater's amend