The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-04
NOTICE SERVED
ON ROOSEVELT
HE MUST KEEP HANDS OFF.
SIMMONS WILL OPPOSE EDWARDS
ELECTION TO CONVENTION.

Says He Is Not Acting Single Hand
ed-Intimntes That other CoIOred
Leaders Are Backing Him in Fight
on Macon POstmaster-OhiO Com
gresham Said to Have Requested
That Delegation Not BE Instruct
ed-AIIcged That Lyons and Others
Would Desert Roosevelt If Hanna
Should Enter Race.
81 have written to President Roose-
welt and informed him that the Re
publicans of South Georgia would not
stand for his interference in our local
conventions" said ]. c. Simmons,
chairman of the Republican Coun-
ty Executive Committee yester-
day. Il have nothing to take
back, and you can say that I will de-
feat Harry Stillwell Edwards for dele
gate-at-large to the Republican Ma
tional Convention"
The County Executive Committee
met at Harris street hall yesterday
morning and issued a call for the pre-
| cinct meetings to be held Feb. Is to
elect delegates to the county conven-
ton, which was called for Wednesday,
Feb. II. The meeting was presided
over by Simmons, who gained notoriety
a week ago when he issued his mani
festo against President Roosevelt's in
reference in "the internal affairs of
| the Georgia Republicans"
Simmons controlled the action of the
meeting and at his suggestion a reso-
| luton was adopted indorsing the ad-
ministratio of President Roosevelt He
says he did this Ito play good politics"
as he expects to support Mr.. Roose-
Welt for denomination if he keeps his
hands out of the party fight in Geor-
| gia.
The county convention was called
! for the purpose of electing twelve
| delegates to the state cow ention
which meets in Atlanta March 49, and
six delegates to the congressional con-
vention which meets in Savannah Feb.
| 10. Simmons declared he was the Re-
publican boss" of Chatham county
and the county convention would
carry out his wishes to the letter.
Il will go to the state convention as
chairman of the Chatham county dele
/ SdtlOH anu Will 10 there lOI the puG~
| pose of defeating the election of Mr..
Edwards as a delegate to the Chicago
convention. l can control nine-tenths
| of the delegates from the First con-
| gressional district and l will make no
| CONCESSIONS. He said he would also
be a delegate to the congressional
convention and would advocate the
election of Special Assistant Attorney
General Leaken and Collector De-
/ TAG n "a hi a1 loo
convention.
Not Acting Single Handed.
| Simmons. said he had nothing to re-
| tract and that he was not acting sim
gle handed 1.-THE Republican leaders
are woll aware of my intentions and
they are behind me. They are opposed
| to the election of Postmaster Edwards,
but cannot come out openly and fight
him since President Roosevelt has ex-
/ pressed a desire that he be a MEM
| Der of the delegation from the state
| at large. / have no fear of losing my
| position as the President has no pow
| er to remove me and Col. Deveaux is
not going to interfere with me. You
| see / am advocating his election to the
| National Convention. and he is going
| to be elected. If there was any fight
| between the collector and myself you
would not hear me boosting him for
| this honor"
While Simmons refused to make a
| positive statement to the effect, he
! intimated very strongly that Judson
| Lyons, Collector of Internal Revenue
Rucker and Collector Deveaux were
backing him in his fight against Mr..
! Edwards. He says he will come out
on the winning side. and that no new
recruit or "lily-white" will be allowed
on the delegation to the Chicago con-
| Vention.
Might support Senator Hanna.
According to Chairman Simmons 1t
| would not require much persuasion to
| get the Georgia delegation in line for
Senator Hanna In case President Roose-
Welt insists on the selection of lilly
| white" Republicans to the National
| Convention. He said National Commit
teeman Judson Lyons was very close
| to Senator Hanna. and in case the
Ohio senator permitted the use of his
name in the National Convention,
Lyons might desert the administration
forces and throw the vote of the Geor-
gia delegation for Hanna.
He said prominent colored politician
| in Savannah had received a contiden-
tial letter from a member of Congress
| urging that the delegates from the
First Congressional district not be in
structed for Roosevelt. This member
| or Congress Is from Ine state OF ONO
and intimated that Senator Hanna's
friends were yet hopeful that he would
allow the use of his name before the
| Chicago convention.
Simmons would not devulge the name
of the colored politician, who receiv-
ed the letter, or the name of the
Ohio congressman who wrote. He said
the letter had been shown to him in
confidence. and he had been caution
| OF matter
! the Morning News" He finally ad-
mitted that an answer was sent the
Ohio congressman last Saturday. in
forming him that while the delegation
would be instructed for President
Roosevelt. If Senator Hanna entered
the race. he would have nothing to
fear freln the delegation.
BRANCH STOCK DELIVERED.