The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-05
GUARDS SIDE OF THE CONTROVERSY
WITH TOMOCHICHI CLUB
Major Williamson Says the Guards Want to
Protect Their Property

who are in the military are there prtn-
cipally from a sense of duty, paying
their money for the maintenance of
their companies. 1t is AN admitted
fact that in this city, with popula-
ton about half white and half black,
the good order existing is largely from
the effective military force kept up.
The young men who then give their
time and money to this object should
be encouraged in every way The Of
ficers of the Guards, without an eX-
ception, We're of the opinion that it was
very desirable therefore that the men
should have a home. With this end
in view, one of our officers suggested
to a member of the board of the Tomo-
chichi Club that as they were not US
ing the third floor, that it might as
sist them to let us have it. A propo-
sition was then made by the Tomo-
chichi Club to allow us the use of the
third floor without any furniture what
ever at 5000 per- annum (one-half their
rental, and they retaining all the
Guards furniture, billiard tables, etc.,
and we to make an entrance through
the Charlton street door. We replied
that under no circumstances could an
entrance for anybody be made through
the Charlton street door, as this en-
trance was rented out with the hall
for balls and parties. In conversation
Club, we asked if we could not enter
through the Bull street door, but were
told this could not be done.
Shortly after this it came to our
knowledge that the Tomochichi Club
had offered another organization the
third floor at a less figure than it was
offered to the Guards, and access to
the third floor through the Bull street
entrance, which had been refused us.
On the 10th of March 1 wrote a letter
to the Tomochichi Club.
First. Cautioning them not to sub
let without our consent.
Second. Notifying them that the
| conditions under which they held the
premises had been violated in many
respects, but in the future there must
be no default.
Third. That a committee of three
from the Guards had been appointed
with full power to meet a similar COM
mittee from the Tomochichi Club. to
| endeaVor in every way possible to
! bring about a mutually satisfactory
solution of the difficulties with which
| both organizations are now confronted.
To this they replied:
First. Contending that they had a
right to sublet.
Second. Denying that they had VIC
lated in any way the terms of rental.
Third. That the officers of the club
/ would meet our committee at any time
to discuss matters from the standpoint
of landlord and tenant.
AS this latter proposition was not in
the spirit of our offer there was moth
ing left for US to do but enjoin the
club from subletting any part of our
building.
The building of a bowling alley has
been cited as an accommodation to the
Guards. The fact of the case is this:
In 1901 I was offered by an outside
party $500 per annum for a number OF
years for permission to put up a bowl
ing alley. but as the Tomochichi Club
had approached me, and they had
stated the alley would help them tC
keep UP their club, 1 gave them the
place free of rent for 1904 $120 for 1908
and 5000 for 1904, and yet we have
shown a lack of consideration. The
truth of the matter is there has not
been a time during the past year up tc
the 7th of March. but what we could
have elected the Tomochichi Clut
from our building for default in theil
rent Whilst we. had the right to dc
this we preferred to treat with the
club and show them our necessities.
The public can judge from the fore
going facts who has been treated with
consideration.
William w. Williamson.
Major Commanding Savannah Volun-
teer Guards and ex-officio president.