Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-02
LOCAL NEWS.

call for meeting OF the Conservatives Tor the
rurnose of considering the coming election,
meeting was held at Sarepta Hall, last night,
which however, was not as numrrou>y attend
vi as expected Clarkson's Band was in atten-
3,ncc aud before and during the meeting. dis
rourscd some very excellent music.
The meeting was called to order by Geo. w.
Harrison, upon whose motion A. ). Delaplane
was chosen chairman, but that gentleman de-
cning, on motion OF Mr.; Harrison, Or. j. Is.
Jnhn,Dn was chosen, and accepted the position.
" II. Fowlc was elected Secretary
DR. Johnsun explained the object of the meet
inn in the language of the call, and then pro-
reejed to express his views upon the prospects
If the Conservative party, and the chances of
tho election OF Conservative Mayor at the APP
nr,ochipr election, expressing his beefthat the
nar,v was thoroughly dcmorallZad, and that the
ppr,t,h;lities were that 4 Radical would not only
b., chosen Mayor, but that the Conservatives
would lose the Council unless the greatest care
pas taken and the Soundest Judgment exercised.
He opposed the plan adopted by tie County
Snnrrintcndcnts for the Ward meetings, and
the appoiutmcut Of delegates to Convention,
and ccutcnicd that unless i primary election
was held. AMI Mr. Lath,m and another gentle
.man lof the Conservative party placed before
the ueople. and IA choice OF candidate thus
made that MIR. Berkeley or some other of the
Radicals would be the next Mayor, aud Radi-
ca Council elected. IF, he said, 4 Convention
is held, the friends Of Mr.. Latham, should that
gentleman fail to receive the nomination, would
say that it was packed against him, and If he
was successful his opponents would declare that
it was packed in his interest. and 50, III either
event. the election would be lost. He thought
that Mr. Latham 5 friends could only be salts
fed with primary election, which he favored:
Capt j. NJ. Steuart said that all he wanted
was harmony aud the success OF the Conserva
tive party, and to accomplish these objects It
had been determined to adhere to the plan of
organization adopted by the last Conservative
State Convention, and he appealed to the meet
ing to stand by that course in order to present
united front to common toe In order that
the meeting might the better understand the
plan of organization which had been adopted
for the government OF the party, aud which the
Conservatives Of this city had SO unanimously
endorsed, he called upon Mr.. j. Is. Snoot,
County Supcrintenl M, to read it.
Mr.. Smoot thereupon took the stand, and
after few preliminary remarks explanatory OF
the action OF the Ward Superintendent, pro-
cecded to read the document referred to, at The
conclusion Of which he urged the advlsabillty
of adhering to the plan us laid down, but con-
Guided by stating that it the meeting thought
committee together ard willingly resign into
the hands of the voters the trust that had been
confded to him, aud his associates would doubt
less follow his example.
Dr. johnson said that the State Central Com
mlttee had handed the State oyer to the Raul-
Gals by six thousand majority, and that the SUI
pcrintendcn.s here had handed the city over to
the same party, and he was in favor Of the peo-
pie taking this mater in their ewn hands. H.
reiterated that 10 his opinion the nominee OF a
Convention would be defeated, while the only
show for success was by primary election. He
said his profession was not politics but pills, but
that he felt such lively interest 10 the success
Of the party that he deemed it MS duty to OK
press bis convictions publicly. He knew, he
SAIL that there was disatfecton 10 the party
that was not dreamed of, and be had heard
men who had been in the Confederate army and
bore the scars of Federal bullets on their per-
sons, say that they did not care who was Mayor
SO he was white man. These men would not
be bound by the action of Convention, nor
would the friends of Mr. Latham, therefore the
only mode OF harmoniziug all elements was by
primary election.
Mr.. Smoot did not attribute the loss of the
State at the last Presidential election to any
fault OF the Central Committee, or the defeat
of Mr.. Latham at the last city election to any
because the Conservative voters would not
come out, and if they chose to remain away
from the polls aud permit the Radicals to win
they had no one to blame but themselves. But
he sad that if the issue was to be made, as sug-
geSted by Dr. johnson, that unless MIR. Lath-
am was nominated no other Conservative should
be elected, then the sooucr that issue was tried
the better.
Mr. Latham said that, as was frequently the
case he was made the bail to be Knocked about
by the players ut pleasure and irrespective Of
his wishes or feelings. He had always acted
with the party and intended always to act with
it, and to be governed by its dictates. He, as
was we'll known, bad been in favor OF Il primary
election, but as one Of tn" SuDerlntcndcnts,a and
in The minority, he had, as in duty bound
yielded to the majority, and would sustain their
action. lie thought it was too late now Tor a
primary election, and any such move would, In
his opinion, only be productive OF dlscord. In
every election since II, whether a candidate or
not he bad worked for the success OF the Con
sentative ticket, and had voted aud urged
others to vote for those who were personally
opposed to him. He did not attribute his de-
feat last time to the Conservative party but to
Misrepresentation and calumny, whereby some
Of his best friends had refused to vote tor him.
lie intended to abide the decision OF Convcn-
ton at this time, and if he was not the noml-
nee he would, with all his will, support wnonl-
socvcr might be the nominee. The assertions
about what he and his friends Intended to do,
were so far as he was concerned, without
foundation; he was for the cause, and was Will,
Ing TO sacrifice any personal feeling TOR 1t, and
vote Tor, and support its candidates under all
0sW1mstanecs, as had always been his wont.
NNN' Y. h. Stuart did not think that the
,;i"sofalty was the sole issue in the coming cleo.
:; ;.'n' al! the city officers had to be chosen, aud
:. was serious matter to contemplate the turn
h lns over OF the government Of the city into the
nauus OF those who we're alien to US iu scnti-
i9Iu' anu feeling. lie did not think personal con-
tba should be taken into the account, but
G fna, Tue most available men for Mayor and
.h n""elmen should be selected, and if defeated