The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-12

After the credentials of the delegates
had been examined the matter of elect.
ing permanent chairman and a per-
manent secretary was taken up. Col.
r. P. Miller of Liberty county was
nominated by Judge Brewton and sec
onded by Mr.. Gignilliat. There were
no other nominations and Col. Miller
was elected. There was no opposition
to Mr. Heidi for the place of perma-
nent secretary and he, too, was elect
ed. Both gentlemen thanked the dele
gates and with the permanent officers
In charge the convention settled down
to business.
Nominating Col. Lester.
1t was announced by Col. Miller that
nominations for congressman were III
order. w. L. Gignilliat, Esq, of Eft
nngham, placed the name of Col. Rufus
e. Lester, of Chatham, before the con-
Vention in graceful and eloquent
speech. He spoke of the enthusiasm
of the campaign and of the rallying
or Col. Testers friends when their serv-
ices were needed.
On this line, Mr.. Gignilliat had much
to say. These faithful friends had
worked hard and won their victory.
He wished to thank them for the en-
thusiasm they displayed With the act
OF placing Col. Lester in nomination,
Mr. Gignilliat said his political activity
ceased He knew of no manner ia
which he would rather end it and it
was with the greatest pleasure, with
threefold pleasure. that he made the
nomination.
Testers Splendid Record. e
Mr. Gignilliat spoke at length of Col.
Testers faithful service to his district.
He had guarded the interests of his
constituents in the national house and
his constituents had repaid him by
guarding him when he required a
guard. His absolute faithfulness to his
district had been but justly rewarded.
In glowing terms the delegate from
Efhngham, who worked so persistently
Tor Col. Lester during the hard fought
campaign, spoke of the congressman
from the First district. Mr.. Gignilliat
pictured Col. Testers record and paid
him high tribute. He traced his pub
lie career from the time he was Mayor
of Savannah until the present day. He
followed him through the Civil War,
into the municipal chair in Savannah,
to the state Senate, and as presiding
officer of that body, and finally through
score of sessions of Congress. His
record was honorable and in every way
praiseworthy and the gentleman from
Eff1ngham knew of nothing that would
give him more pleasure than making
the nomination. He took HIS seat amid
applause.
Was Seconded by Colding.
! In secoHding the. nomination of Col
Lester, Col. Colding said it gave him
unalloyed pleasure. The First con-
gressional district had made no mis-
take in making its selection. 1t had
simply not. forgotten the record and
the faithfulness of the man who has
| been serving it in the national house
| for so many years. The voters had
not forgotten the warrior of the civil
strife and the more recent hero of
public life. They were simply giving
| him that which he so richly deserved.
He had been weighed in the balance
| and not found wanting.
Judge Brewton said he would not be
| true to his constituents in Liberty
county if he permitted the nominating
of Col Lester to pass without a word
from his county except it's solid vote.
Liberty county wishes to pay tribute
to that venerable gentleman, found so
faithful and true" said Judge Brew
ton. II would be false to my con-
stituency If / refrained from saying
something. And at the same time let
me say of the other side: 1t was a
wonderful and phenomenal battle
that they fought. All credit to them"
Ringing Tribute to Brnnnen.
Col. r. Lee Moore of Bulloch made
one of the most forceful, eloquent and
logical speeches that has been made
in political convention in the First
congressional district in a long while.
He held the delegates from start to fin
ish and took his seat amid a storm of
applause. Frequently during his ad-
he int fod Nv
1t was with ringing tribute to the
Southland that the Bulloch county
orator first caught the atten-
ton of the delegates, and those who
had assembled in the court room to
watch the proceedings. He spoke OF
the South's position and of it's wealth
and power. 1t has rights he
said, and it should demand them.
1t should not permit itself to
and West, and blythe doubtful states
1t should not hang it's head and at
tempt to hide its face when the sub
ject of it's just and wonderful struggle
for right is brought up. 1t should
shout from the housetops it's true posi-
ton, and demand it's rights. 1t should
insist that il be permitted to name a
vice president and not simply supply
the votes.
south Georgia's Rights.
1t was the same thing in the case
of the Empire State of the South, Col.
Moore said. South Georgia has rights
and these rights it should insist upon
receiving. God bless the Wiregrass
section Let it arise in it's might and
demand the recognition that it is ell
titled to-" said Col. Moore. 1t was
a minute before he could continue. He
had struck the keynote and his au-
dience was in thorough sympathq. South
Georgia had been snubbed often enough
and it was high time to call a halt.
By this time Col Moore had his au-
dience thoroughly aroused. He had
spoken with feeling, and none of his
eloquence was lost. Then he drew the
point finer and spoke of the First Com
gressionaI district. He announced that
he is opposed to life tenure in office
and is against every class of monopoly.
II is not right. he said, for Chatham
county to monopolize the offices. The
country districts, he said, formed a
- 30