Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-08
THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
CONsERv ALIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

Pursuant to notice of the County Supern-
tendent, meeting of the Ward Superinten-
deuts was held at click last night, at the
Office of the City Sergeant. There were present:
From the First Ward, Geo. R. Shinn Second
Ward, Samuel H. Janney; Third Ward, Jas
NJ. Steuart Fourth Ward, John B. Smoot
and 4. S. Leadbeater John B. Smoot, County
Superintendent, occupied the chair aud Geo
r. Shnu was Secretary. Several gentlemen
not officially connected with the organization
were also present.
The resignation Of Hugh Latham, one of
the Superintendents from the First Ward, was
read aud accepted, and NJ. h. Nash was elect
ed TO Fill the vacancy thus uccasoned.
The Chairman submitted his report OF the
financial condition of the organization, which
showed that all bills cJntra ted during the late
Guberuatorial campaign had been paid, aud
smal balance remains on hand
The Chair stated that the special object OF
the meeting was to take such steps as should
be deemed necessary for the interest of the
Conservative party in the municipal election
to be held this month, and as there were sever
al cand dates for the various Offices to be flied,
it was for the committee to decide when and
how nominations should be made.
Capt Jas. NJ Srcuart said that the ques
ton as to the policy of holding Ward meetings
to elect delegates to Convention to mike NOM
nations aud the holding of a primary election
TO select nominees had been discussed for some
time, and it should now be decided how noml-
nations should be made. Both methods were
subject to objections, and for himself he did
DOT care which plan was adopted. tie was not
candidate for any Office; had the interest Of
the party at heart and would cheerfully acqul-
esce in any method the committee might
adopt. He wanted harmony in the party;
waited the nominees OF the party elected, who
ever they might be, and would pledge his ear
nest support to any aud all who might be upon
the ticket, and to any plan for nominating can
didates which the committee might adopt.
Ward meetings were the most convenient and
least expensive, and he saw 20 reason why we
should depart from the course heretofore pur-
pursued iu making nominations; but he Was not
welded to that plan.
Mr. George r. Shinu said he agreed with
Capt Steuart 10 the views expressed by hun,
aud while he saw no objection to Ward meet
ings for the selection of delegates to Couven
tioo, yet lie was perfectly willing to vote for a
primary election A portion of tue voters in
the city favored such plan and he desired to
concliate aud harmonic all conflicting ele-
menls. He wanted 90 Office; had no political
ambition TO CRAFTY, and was not a candidate tor
any position; but he was socitous tor the vel
fare Of the people whom he had been chosen to
represent, aud wished to avoid any course
which might possibly create dissatisfaction and
hand our city government over TO the control
of lazy, idle, vagabond negroes, whose leglsa-
ton aad official acts, throug h ignorance or from
prejudice, would materially increase the already
burdensome taxation under which our people
suffer. The greatest objection he saw to pIi.
mary election was that plurality vote must
nominate when there were more than two Gao
didates, and the nominees would then be the
choice of the minority and not the majority;
however, he would vote for primary election
in order to harmoniz. conflicting elements as
his chief o.! ject was to continue the city gov
ernment under the control ofthe white race, no
matter what their political opinions.
Mr. Samuel II. Janney endorsed what had
been said by Capt Steuart and Mr.. Shinp as
to the fairness aud general policy of holding
ward meetings to elect delegates to couVen-
ton, but be waited no disssntion in the ranks
of the party, and as those who favored ward
meetings had no special objection to primary
election, aud those who favored a primary cleo
ton were much opposed to ward meetings, he
would, 10 order to promote harmony, vote for
primary election to nominate candidates for
CITY Offices, and leave the selection of the Coun
Gil ticket to the wards as here tofore.
John B. Smoot, esq heartily endorsed all
that had been said by the gentlemen who had
proceeded him. Our interest and our duty
should prompt us to pursue such course as
would tend to promote harmony 10 the party.
He saw no objection to ward meetings; they
had operated very we'll heretofore, and had
generally given satisfaction. 1t the voters did
not attend them it was their own fault, and he
believed such meetings generally expressed the
views of the voters 10 the wards, and their
nominees had uniformly been successful, ex-
cep. in the case of the office OF Mayor, aud the
defeat of the Conservative nominee during the
past two years was certainly not owing to the
manner in which he had been nominated; and
while he saw 10 objection to ward meetings ne
was anxious to maintain harmony 10 the organl-
cation, and had no objection to primary cleo.
ton. :,
Mai. Geo. Dufey, who was present. asked
leave to make statement, and gave his views
why primary election would satisfy number
of voters and as it was not question oil prln-
chile, but of policy, he hoped the Superiutend-
ents in their wisdom would order primary
election.
Mr.. John NJ johnson also stated his views
relative to the plan of nominating. He was
candidate before the people, and had 20 oDJec
ton to urge against any method Of nominating
the committee might adopt. He preferred
ward meetings, as heretofore held, and sugges-
ted that delegates might be instructed how to
vote iu convention or direct vote taken 10 the
meetings on the preference for candidates. lie
would abide, however, By any plan.
The question was then submitted, on me-
ton, to order primary election, which was
decided In the affirmative.
MIR. Shiun then submitted the following plan
for primary election, which was unanimously
adopted =,
That the election be held on Thursday, May
81; the polls to be opened a, 9 a. IN. aud closed
at p. N.
Tha, the County Superintendent cal! meet
ing of all candidates, aud they be required to
select three judges for each ward to hold the
election.
That comics of the new registration be fur