The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-03
BOLTED THE CAUCUS
THREE ALDERMEN REFUSED TO
CONSIDER GARFUNKEL.
POLICE CHIEF SITUATION.
REPORTED GARFUNKEL SLATE
PROBABLY UNTRUE.

Fight Said to he Between Acting Su-
perintendent Reilly and Justice
Naughtin-A Persistent Report Had
1t observation-disclosures of the Al
dermanic Board Met in Mayor My
ers' Private Office to Discuss the
SituatiOn-When GarfunkeI Was
Reached Canty, Frank and Jones
Withdrew-RepOrt WAS Then Cir
cuIated That Remainder at Caucus
Favored GRrfunkeI Aldermen
Watson, Holland and Bacon Not In
COnference-Members of Board
Were Pledged to Secrecy and Kept
Their NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Dun
hams Application Filed.
Acting Superintendent owen f. Reilly
or Magistrate Michael Naughtin will be
elected Superintendent of Police to sue
coed Maj Thomas Screven at to-nights
meeting of City Council.
Despite reports to the contrary, that
was the opinion last night of well inform
ed politicians, who predict the election of
one of the two candidates. They appear
TO have an equal amount of strength, and
it is a toss up to pick the winner, or all
signs will fail.
A caucus of eight members of the alder
manic board was held yesterday afternoon
in Mayor Meyers Office at the Savannah
Grocery Company. Every man present
was pledged to secrecy, and although
three members of Council threw up the
sponge and left the conference when Can
didate Charles GarfunkePs name was men,
toned, they refused to discuss the situa-
ton as they had viewed it, They were
honor-bound to keep secret what had
transpired, and although they withdrew
from the caucus they held their peace.
1t cannot be stated with any degree of
certainty just what aldermen attended
the meeting, but it is known that Alder
men Watson, Bacon and Holland were
not there The last named member of
Council had expressed himself freely to
the Mayor in the morning and was not
invited to meet in secret session with
his fellow aldermen. 1t is not believed
that he would have attended even
though he had ben extended an invitation.
1t was stated that the aldermen had
been called together for the purpose of
discussing the strength and ability of the
candidates for the office of superintendent
of police and Mayor Myers so stated
after those present had been bound to Sc
crecy. When the name of Candidate Gar
funkle was reached and mentioned three
of the aldermen withdrew from the eau
Gus They were Aldermen F. f. Jones.
]. F. CAVITY and Z. NJ. Frank. What
transpired after their departure could
not be ascertained. and all of those who
attended the meeting when seen by rep
resentatives of the Morning News refus-
ed to express themselves.
Some of those who remained had ex
pressed themselves already that they did
not favor the candidacy of Mr. Garfun-
KEEL Despite this fact the report became
current that the remaining members OF
the board decided to support Garfunkel
and on the streets this was considered as
meaning that he will be elected. Magis-
trate Naughtin understood from his
friends that Garfunkel had been selected
at the caucus and many of Lieut. Reillys
supporters felt the same way. Apparent
ly there was very little upon which to
base such conclusion, and from infor
nation gathered in confidence, MIR. Gar
funkel was not decided upon as the man
TO fill the Office. Some of the aldermen
who attended the conference advised a
that might be on the market. and did
not think that the other candidates should
lose their heads because of silly rumors
An administration man who has taken
no part in the police campaign stated
last night that while he is not on the
inside the situation looked rather mud
died. He considers the contest between
Naughtin and Reilly, but predicts that it
will be close and interesting. This is
the opinion of others who do not pretend
TO know what is happening behind the
scenes. The caucus in the afternoon at
Mr.. Myers office was the topic discussed
last night, and several lists containing
the names of aldermen alleged to have
attended the meeting We're in circulation.
One of these lists made it appear that
Alderman Jones did not withdraw, but
remained in the conference until the last
One alderman whom 1t was generally be-
lieved attended the gathering of city ia
theirs stated that he was not present.
All applications for the Office must be
handed to the clerk of Council by noon
to-day with two bondsmen. Ex-Patrol-
man T. F. Durham filed his application
with Clerk Bailey yesterday, and that
of Mr.. William f. Blois was handed in
the day before
IL is known that the three candidates
row leading count on the support of the
same aldermen and there will be some
SuHpiiSSN hiuiNiuuiis to-ulsnl. AT ledSI
two of the members of Council are claim
ed by all three of these candidates and
Of course, they can only vote for one man.
The matter will probably settled in eau
Gus and when the aldermen go into the
long room the election will probably be
unanimous. As the situation now stands
II is believed that il will require more
than one ballot to elect The candidates
and their friends will get in their finish.
ing ticks to-day, and the members of
Council will be kept busy until the hour