The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-30
THOUGHT 1T A RIOT
REV. w. A. NISBET WANTED THE
MILITARY CALLED OUT.
TO SUPPRESS ELECTION MOB.
DIsGUsTED WITH SCENES ABOUT
THE POLLS.

Couldn't See the Good the Police
Were Doing and Advised Supt.
Reilly TO Sound the Alarm and
Call Out the MiIitary-PrOtested
Against Fighters Being Admitted
to BaiI-Rev. DIR. Jordan Thought 1t
Case of Fractional Politics over
Again-Rev. w. Il. McCOrI<Ie Said
Managers Told Him 1t Was n Reg
ular AuctiOn-Rev. c. H. Strong
Said 1t Was Pity Savannah Cam
not Have Decent Elections.
Several of the ministers of the city
watched the scenes about the Court
House, and condemned the disorder
and lighting. Some of them may have
found material for future discourses.
Rev. w. A. Nisbet, pastor of the
Westminster Presbyterian Church, was
around the polls during the morning
and had considerable to say about the
way affairs were being conducted. Mr..
Nisbet advised that the riot alarm be
sounded and that the military be
placed on duty.
The minister expressed himself in
this manner to Supt. Reilly immediate
ly after the shooting of Butler by Muir
ken. Mr.. Nisbet said he couldn't
for the life of him see what good the
police were doing and advised the
superintendent to sound the Big Duke
and have the military take charge of
affairs.
He was thoroughly disguised
with the way affairs were pro-
crossing. He asked why those who
persisted in fighting were not locked
up and not allowed bail. Supt Reilly
said it was not within his province to
refuse bail, although he had issued or
ders not to accept bonds for men I'M
der the influence of liquor or those
who had been arrested more than once
Wanted Bail Refused.
well, who has authority to refuse
bail in case of the first arrest" asked
the minister.
THE Solicitor General the Recorder
or the Mayor" answered Superintend-
ent Reilly.
Mr.. Nisbet made no further COM
ment. He looked, and seemed salts
fed with the information that he had
secured. AS fight after fight occurred
Mr.. Nisbet stood an interested spec
tator and said things for the benefit
of those within the range of his voice.
Rev. John D. Jordan, pastor of the
First Baptist Church, was also notice.
able around the polls, although he
made no comments on the scenes he
witnessed. DR.. Jordan remarked to a
friend that it appeared from what he
saw, and had been told, to be simply
a case of factional politics over again.
The minister did not have anything to
say to Superintendent Reilly about
the conduct of the police.
was Regular Auction
Rev. w. P. McCorkle, pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church, was among
those who cast their ballots. He went
70 the polls late in the afternoon, when
things had simmered down somewhat,
and the fights were far enough between
to permit the crowds breathing spells
after their surging rushes from point
to point, when stir and commotion
in the throng indicated that there was
something doing" in the fight line.
Did you have to take a Winchester
along?" Mr.. McCorkle was asked. He
made a laughing rejoinder, saying that
ne mad not found that necessary. In
his sermon of last Sunday night on
Politics" he had declared that he
would fight for his rights with a Win
chester, rather than have them denied
him by a gang eff pushing, fighting
heelers. The Third District boxes
were peaceable enough. though, and it
was an easy enough matter to go up
and deposit a ballot.
When 1 was there I saw no fight
ing" said Mr.. McCorkle. "Some of
the managers told me, though, that
there had been a regular auction; that
votes had been bought in a way that
vas shameless. 1t was an open and
fragrant violation of the law
mo. 1 had no trouble at all in vot-
ing. Everything seemed to have Quilted
down considerably"
Rev Charles H. Strong, rector of ST.
Johns Church, heard the accounts of
the election with regret. at is a pity"
he said, that a city like Savannah
cannot have a more decent and orderly
election"