The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-01
TO KEEP UP ITS FIGHT
COTTON EXCHANGE WILL CONTEST
DEVEAUX's CONFIRMATION.
AID OF GEORGIA SENATORS.
WILL BE INVOKED TO-DAY By
TELEGRAM FROM DIRECTORS.

Cotton Exchange VIII Not Admit
Defeat, Though the President Has
Appointed DeveauX Fighting
without Much Hope of Success, but
to Carry Its Protest to the Last
Ditch-PreSident j. p. Williams
Declares That President Roosevelt
Is ProstitutinE His High ONCE by
Political Trading-WRnts to he
Next President, and Gives DeveauN
the Nomination TO Win the GeOr-
Ria Delegation.
The Savannah Cotton Exchange will
not accept the Presidents appointment
of J. H. Deveaux to be collector Of
customs at Savannah as defeat. A
meeting of the directors of the ex-
change will be held to-day, when a
telegram will be dispatched tosSena-
tors Bacon and Clay, urging them to
bring every influence to bear in the
Senate to prevent the confirmation of
the appointment.
President J. P. Williams of the Cot
ton Exchange, was seen last night after
the news of the appointment of De-
veaux by the President had been re-
ceived. He said that he had been
asked by a member of the exchange to
call a meeting of the board of directors
in order that they might bring the in
huence of the Georgia senators to
bear. AS he leaves the city this MORN
ing, he conveyed the request to Vice
President w. w. Williamson. asking
that he call the meeting Of the board.
What do you expect to accomplish
by such a move as this?" Mr.. Williams
was asked.
Il am very much afraid that we can
accomplish nothing, save to make it
plain that the people of Savannah are
not disposed to lie supinely with the
black heel on the white neck. l think
the appointment will be confirmed, but
it may be that the Georgia senators
will be able to have it held UP for
while"
Mr. Williams had hoped that the
protests of the Savannah commercial
bodies might avail with the President
TO prevent the reappOintment of Col.
Deveaux, but in that he was mistaken.
Though, as he said, he is now without
any great hope that the Presidents
purpose to make DeveauX collector of
the port will be frustrated, he still
maintains that the time has come
when the white people of the city
should not tamely submit to what he
terms a great indignity.
Five years Msgo,' declared Mr.. Will
liams, "Deveaux and some of his con-
freres went to Townsville, where they
were entertained at the home of Mar
Gus A. Hanna. There was a trade
made then. The terms of it were that
Mr. Mckinley should receive the vote
in the Republican convention of the
Georgia delegation, and, in return, De-
veaux, whose influence directed the
delegates, would be made collector of
customs a Savannah. The terms were
carried out.
Now Roosevelt is prostituting the
highest office in the gift of the Amer
lean people. He is trading upon it's
patronage as though he were the veri-
est ward politician. He wants to be
elected to the presidency, and he wants
the support of the Georgia delegation.
Ignoring the white people of the state
and callous as to the indignity he puts
upon them. he offers the bride of the
most lucrative position within the fed
eraf gift in Georgia to Deveaux. bar
gaining in return, for the support of
the Republican delegation when the
next convention of that party is held"
Another member of the Cotton Ex-
change said: THE cotton exchange
will speak again, and in no uncertain
voice. In the resolutions of protest
passed last Monday there was no ex-
preston of Indignation as ii was hoped
that the appointment of DeVeaux had
not been definitely decided upon. Now
that the appointment has been actually
announced in utter disregard of the
earnest appeals of the commercial
bodies, it is up to us to say exactly
and plainly what we think, and to en-
john the Senate to relieve us
The Georgia senators will be tele-
graphed to tomorrow and urged to do
all possible to prevent confirmation
and in any event to at least delay
action on the nomination until our
official protest can be made. A meet
ing of the cotton exchange can hardly
be held before Friday. by which time
1t can be decided what form the action
shall take. 1 think, however, that the
people of Savannah ought not to leave
the matter entirely with the CONNER
cial bodies, and suggest that a mass
meeting of the citizens of Savannah be
held right away to express the general