The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-09
THIS FACT MAY KEEP OUT A RIVAL
CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.
MAY BE NO OPPOSITION.
TO THE CANDIDATE THE CITIZENS
CLUB WILL PUT OUT.

Organization and In the Admins.
tration Forces-Myers and Dixor
Talked of for aIayor-Out-GOing
hoard VIII Not Elect.
The municipal election will not be
held until January, but there is al
ready plenty talk about candidates
That is, there is discussion among the
members and supporters of the Citi-
zens Club. The opposition has had
little to say so far. The belief is grow
ing among the Citizens Club people
that the opposition will not oppose the
candidates that they will put in the
field.
Il have talked with several of those
who have been recognized as the lead
ers of the faction that has opposed the
Citizens Club" said one prominent in
the latter organization yesterday, land
each and every one assures me that
there will be no opposition to our can
didates. 1 have nothing to indicate
that the other crowd expects to make
a fight for the offices, and l have very
strong doubts as to whether it will be
heard from at all.
ut takes money to make a political
fight; it takes plenty of money. The
men who have been most active in
politics know that very well. Those
who have been candidates for the
highest offices know it best of all.
Their knowledge has been gained from
sad experience. Now, it stands to rea-
tries to whip out the administration
more than it would cost the admins
tration itself.
Has a $4,000 start.
81 know an ex-Mayor of Savannah,
who said not long ago that the Citi-
zens' Club has $4,000 the advantage
of any opposing faction without spend
ing a cent. He meant that the intlu-
ence of those already in Office offsets
$4,000 that might be put up by the
leading or most wealthy men of the
opposition.
There are plenty of men who would
probably be willing enough to run for
Mayor in opposition to the Citizens
Clubs candidate, but there is that
money consideration to stop them.
Any candidate, to have the ghost of a
show, would have to put up at least
$4,000. 1 do not believe that would be
enough for him to even make a good
showing upon. Now, there are proba-
bly, men who would be perfectly will
ing to put up this much money, if they
could get a guarantee that the Office
would be won. But they can't. No
man wants to give up that much mon
| ey just for the privilege of finding
himself a thousand votes behind the
successful candidate"
Myers and Dixon Mentioned.
In the Citizens Club there have been
but two men mentioned. They are
Mayor Herman Myers and Chairman
of Council James M. Dixon. Each mas
host of friends in the faction, and
these friends are discussing the pros
poets.
Mayor Myers has declared repeatedly
that he does not want another tern
as Mayor, but this declaration does
not alarm his friends in the club. They
say he would have to yield to the de.
mands that they will make upon hin
to again become a candidate. They re.
fer to the fact that another term a.
Mayor would be his fourth, a distinc
ton that has never been enjoyed BY
any Mayor of Savannah Three term.
have been the utmost of any Mayor.
service. Mayor Myers has already
equalled that record, but his friend.
declare that they can induce him tt
surpass 1t.
During steady service as an alder,
man through several terms, Alderman
Dixon has demonstrated his ability
He is thoroughly familiar with every
branch and detail of the city's govern.
ment and the administration of its aft.
fairs, and at the last municipal cleo.
ton his popularity was demonstrated
in the fact that he led the aldermaniC
ticket, thereby becoming the chairman
of Council. In this capacity the duty
of acting 'as Mayor in the absence Of
Mayor Myers has devolved upon him
Would Be No split.
Either Mayor Myers or Alderman
Dixon would be strong candidate. Ir
this matter of a choice between the
two, the Citizens Club finds itself in
the same position it was in two years
ago. when there were two elements
one wanting Mr.. Myers to run and the
other wanting Mr.. Dixon. The caucus
agreed on Mayor Myers, and tn,
club rallied to his support The nomi.
nation of either of the gentlemen now
would be accepted by the friends of the
other, and there would be no rupture
of the party.
Some time ago there was some talk
about possible candidates of the op-
position. Mr.. George w. Tiedeman and
Mr.. F. S. Lathrop were mentioned, as
was Mr.. T. H. Mcmillan. None OF
these gentlemen has declared his pur-
pose to run, however, but, on the con-
trary, it is said that Mr.. Tiedeman has
stated positively that he will not make
the race against the Citizens Club.
BY the Incoming Board.
There has been some talk, too. about
the officers to which incunbents ara
elected by Council. At t0e last ses-
sion of the Legislature the law gov
erning the election for these municipal
offices was so changed as to let il
rest with the incoming, instead of the
outgoing, board. Though the present
board asked the Chatham delegation in
the Legislature to make the change
1t has been said that there might be a
reconsideration and that the board
might ask the Legislature, when il
next convenes, to make another
change, restoring the power to elect
TO the outgoing board.
An appeal to several members of
the board and prominent members of
the Citizens Club failed to develop
that such is the plan On the con-
trary, it was asserted that the law
will stand as at present, so that the
incoming board will have a chance
to say what city officials shall serve
with II for the next two years.
1t is matter of no little moment to
a good many as to which board elects.
There are some who know they would
stand good chance with the present