The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-31
DESIGN FOR NEW
MUNICIPAL FLAG
WHAT REV. WILLIAMS OFFERS.
RED FIELD, BLACK BORDER. WITH
PICTURE OF BALLOT BOX.
"At This Box Let a Corpse BE VOt-
fnS"-"Assault with Intent to Gag
Pulpit" Subject of Prelude to
Discussed at Length "Editor-Leg-


Pulpit" was the subject of Rev. A. NJ.
Williams prelude to the regular ser
mon at Trinity Methodist Church last
night. The address was heard by
large congregation.
DIR. Williams took as his text:
Isaiah 5S:1: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift
up thy voice like trumpet and show
my people their transgressons." DR..
Williams said:
THE cause of pure elections in
Georgia justifes my fourth prelude.
The effort of our editor-legislator, the
spokesman of ballot-box suffers, to
cloud the issue makes it proper for
me to discuss his latest The method
he pursues makes him the apologist
of the fraud, the palliator of a great
public iniquity.
Lacking in the manliness to make
free acknowledgement of what ev-
cry informed citizen in Chatham coun-
ty knows to be true he seeks to break
the force of my plea by a personal at
tack on me- Without backbone enough
~ OCHJ my NuoI eiIlQ Inject lliC Oll
that issue he impugns my motive in
order to cover his own weakness and
hide his friends, the rascals, from
public rebuke. Were this a personal
question, as the editor-legislator seeks
to make it, l would most assuredly
pass it by. AS matter of serious
public concern L cannot be silent
when he attempts to divert attention
from a great wrong.
''My Motives Misxepresented."
THAT his intent may be made clear,
notice his method. His defense of the
fraud causes him to misrepresent my
motives. There were in round num-
bers 1900 stolen ballots voted in the
election. This justifier of the iniquity
erects a pair of scales. In one side
he puts the fraudulent ballot box. In
the other he places my alleged mo-
tives. Prove my motives unworthy,
and he thinks the crime against
sound government atoned. He esti-
mates each motives as an offset of a
thousand votes.
First thousand expiated by my not
criticizing the primary last spring.
I1SlC anu ilOW SldLS lIldt the ~WnOt6
basis of the present exposure of the
election was caused by suspicious
aroused by the said primary. All the
features exposed in the late election
were then apparent. l believed it cor
rupt and determined to watch more
closely the next election, and. if the
fraud was repeated, to publicly de-
nounce it.
While 1 have not the same class of
i L.
turns as l have in this case, l am
morally certain that our irate editor
legislator was nominated in a primary
stepped in fraud as well as elected in
a ballot box saturated with corrup-
ton. There were men who scratched
him in that primary whose ballot was
not counted as cast. There was the
same evidence of indifference around
the polls, the same large vote cast.
Every circumstance shows like election
like primary.
Serving Public Duty.
when I considered these facts
gave closer attention to the October
election. I remained away from the
polls. contrary to my custom. and in
order to serve a public duty, to find
out if they would have the audacity
to steal my vote. 1 found out.
1.-THE sad thing in this whole matter
is that there is nothing new or strange
in the case. Citizen, press and pull
pit have remained silent until the
habit has been fastened on our COM
munity. Chatham county has simply
lain down in her sins. When 1 try to
awaken her this defender of iniquity
alarms the natives with his Screech..
"Some one suggested the other day
as a suitable design for the new city
flag, red ground with a black border,
a ballot box in the center and a corpse
voting.
Second thousand purged by charg-
ing ME with seeking notoriety. That
charge is so little, so cheap, so I'M
worthy as to be dismissed without a
word.
Third thousand absorbed by con-
trasting me with the imaginary ca
reer of other justly honored preach
ers. These holy men would rise from
their graves in protest II they
knew their careers were being
used to defend a demonstrated public
iniquity One mentioned and among
the most loved has given me cordial
Endorsement when in the past ] have
engaged in similar service. The ira
ditions of the Savannah pulpit record,
the bold, outspoken convincing rebuke
of fraud by Pierce in the day of his
pastorate here. Would l had his eio-
quence, his satire, his invective to de-
nounce the present villainy.
Private Political Views
"Imagining that 5000 stolen ballots are
thus justified, he seeks to make ten
strike and palliate the last thousand
by making an effigy of my alleged
private political views.
His reasoning is If I can only raise
the hue and cry against him of Re-
publicanisrn, Rooseveltism. the over
whelming prejudice of the South will
oondone any wrong and vindicate me
in accepting Office from fraudulent
ballot box. The conception is worthy
the cause OF fraud.
"As my private views have no truth
full relation to this question whatever
and as no man can justly accuse me
as ever discussing party politics, dur
ing a pending campaign, In the pulpit
no man will doubt my candor or cour-
age in refusing either to affirm or
deny the record he makes for me as to
party politics.
"The insinuatlon that my private
view Of public policies controls my
speech in cases of plain morality is
too base to be considered for a mo-
ment.
my fundamental conviction as
citizen is the ballot must be kept pure.
In no way, for no partisan. or fractional
advantage have ! ever condoned the
least step In the direction OF corrupt
ing the ballot. In caucus when a pro-
hibition election was pending an in
terloper dared TO suggest a question:
able course promptly opposed Il
and declared 7 would vote against the