The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-16
SCREVEN TO Be JUDGE
DEFEATED McABPIN FOR ORDI-
NARY BY 3S4 VOTES.
THOMSON TAX COLLECTOR.
HIS MAJORITY OVER REPRESENTA-
TIVE WELLS 7Ss.

HIS MAJORITY OVER REPRESENTA-
TIVE WELLS 7Ss.
The Election n Record Breaker for
scraps and ScrinimaGes-Screve
victory the work of shrewd Man
enverinE-Wells' Defeat Due to His
Opposition to the Bill Giving the
Mayor Appointment of CITY ON
cers-His DisapprOval of County
Treasurer CIerksship Bill and His
OppOsitfOn to administration Cam
didates in the Last City Officers
EIecttOn-The story of the Elec-
tion as 1t Went on Around the
Polls.
FOR ORDINARY.
Thomas screven 1880
Henry McAIpIn 2,O12
FOR TAX COLLECTOR.
David Wells 1920
This is the result of yesterdays special
election for ordinary and tax collector.
The election was one of the most bit
terly contested in the history of Chat
ham county, not even the celebrated May
primary of last year excelling
it in turmoil and strife and the
number of sanguinary, though not very
serious, conflicts. The minor poll
ticans of the Citizens Club faction
refused to yield allegiance to
Representative Wells, but, on the
contrary, cut and slashed his
name from the tickets which they voted,
in person or by proxy. This, with the
personal popularity of Mr.. Thomson and
the report, widely circulated, that he
was a poor man, who needed the office.
while Mr. Wells was a rich man, who
didn't, accounts for his victory and the
size of his majority.
The fight was largely between
politicians and heelers and was
Screven and Capt McAlpiu, in
which the money was princi-
pally expended. Those who wanted
to witness the victory of either of these
candidates showed themselves quite will
ing to barter his running mate on the
ticket for a vote for their favorite. In
deed the more bitter the fractional feel
ing exhibited by the partisans as to the
race for Ordinary. the more willing they
showed themselves TO sacrifice any per-
sonal preferences they might entertain
on the subject of the person to be elected
tax collector.
The tickets were supposed to read
nd alIc 10
Thomson and the majority of them, of
course bore one or the other of these
combination of names. AS a matter of
fact, however, there were tickets, ready
printed and on the stands about
the Court House. bearing every possible
combination of which four names are
capable There was the widest possible
room for the exercise of free and unre-
~traiRcd. Judgment in the matter of choos-
ing candidates and no voter had to
scratch ticket, literally. in order to de-
post a vote for the two candidates whom
he favored
McAIpin Captured the Polls.
Long before daylight a strong force of
McAlpin negro voters had been moved from
Nicholson Hall, where they were gather
ed during the night, to the polls, and
formed in line in front of the boxes. They
were well drilled and well watched, and
they stood their ground valiantly. Indeed,
at this hour the Screven forces had not
yet reached the scene of action, and there
was no one about to dispute possession
with the McAlpin faction.
but still before daylight, the Oglethorpe
Club, colored marching and voting or
ganization from Yamacraw, of which Tom
Golden is president and the controlling
spirit. turned up at the Court House. The
Oglethorpe Club was comparatively few
in numbers. but acting under the instruc-
tions of its president; its members formed
in line and waited for the polls to open
The negro employees of the city scavenger
department was the next organized body
10 arrive. The last two organizations
were of the Screven forces.
Lieut.. owen Reilly was in command of
the platoon of police that had been sent
to the polls for the purpose of maintain
ing order. Sheriff John Schwarz had his
force of deputies distributed about the
NSui AAouSS' anu the lho DOuieS dCteu IN
conjunction. When the invariable scram-
BILE for places in the line began, the Off
GERS of the law required the opposing
factions to line up separately. From
each OF the polling places in the First
and Fourth districts two lines of ne
groes extended half way or more across
the street. The idea in doing this was
TO permit the factions to vote their men
alternately. The plan was variously
pronounced "eminently fair" and "out-
rageously unjust" according as the
party belonged to or was opposed to the
faction which had failed to get possession
of the line in the first instance.