The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-27
The Contest.

1ue COuL0SL.
Our contemporary of the Richmond Enquirer
has wrong conception of the character of the
contest in this city for municipal offices. There
is no party issue in the matter. The Findica-
tor, it is true, several weeks ago, did assai sew.
er,l members fof the city government as
'.lukewarm conservatives and several weeks
before that classcd them substa ntially with
the Republican party. But this did not make
it so. 1t was more in.the morbid and pcrvert-
ed imagination of the indicator than in the
fact of the case. So far as we know and be-
lieye the gentlemen alluded to, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Bickle, have always acted with
the conservative party, in purely party con-
tests. They are not partizans, however, nor
do they aspire to leadership in that organiza-
ton. Mr.. Bickle is a Republican, but there is
nothing Of a party CHARACTER in this contest
He is supported by members of both political
organizations because of peculiar fitness for
the position. lie has had large experience as
magistrate before and since the war-had
been member of the City Council, and its
President, for four years previous to his cleo
ton as Mayor, to fill a vacancy occasioncd by
death, and is deeply interested in the judicious
and economical administration Of the city gov
eminent. He is the largest Taxpayer Of any
of our citizens, has ample leisure to attend to
the dnties Of the office of Mayor, and is emil
nently qualified for the discharge of those
duties.
The Vindicator has, according to our view,
very ,lnjustly and wrongfully assaied the
Council, and particularly its legislation while
Mr.. Bickle was member Of it, It has charged
extravaganza, infidelity and incfficiency, and
demanded a thorough change, with the excep-
ton of one or two members, to whom it has been
gracious enough to extend its approving smile
and tender compassion. Conscious of its own
weakness and the few who have counseled
with it, it has striven to bring the Conservative
organization 20 its assistance, notwithstanding
all the members Of the present Council are
as such. These gentlemen represent very
large property interests, are among our most
useful and entcrprising citizens, and have Civ
en- evidence of their capacity for business by
the success which has attended their individual
endeavors. They are familiar with the city's
their experience, are better qualified to prop.
erly manage the business of the city than any
freshly elected members could possibly be-
At this time, particularly, the city is engaged
in important improvements, which require the
Implication not only of the experience and IA
nsifiarity with Tire details of the work these
gentlemen possess, but excellent business tact
and knowledge Of men. No one questions
the qualifications Of the gentlemen who COM
pose the Council, who has at heart the city's
interests. No man, whose opinion is worth
having, viii doubt their "honesty, fidelity and
capacity" TIE Ttndicato7 has assailed them,
not only upon a false charge OF maladministra-
ton, but from all extreme partizan stand
point. Col. Skinner has assaled them from
chronic disposition to find fault with the
Council, and in the interest of Il fanatical no.
ton about the mission of party. But the peo-
pie generally have no sympathy with these
assaults, and will rebuke them at t lie ballot
box.
The VIRGINIAN's course has been influen
ced solely by sincere conviction of duty as Il
citizen. We know the members Of the Cousn-
Gil well. We believe that they have been un-
Justly criticised, and maliciously assaulted
They are too much interested personally in
good and economical government, to connive
at extravaganza or dishonesty, much less in
stigate and foster it. And it is as citizen,
and in no sense as q partizan, that we have
felt called upon to defend them:
We make these statements to correct a mis-
apprehension that prevails in some localities
and in some minds, as to the nature of the con-
test in this city. Whatever may be the result
of the election, the Republican party, as such,
will have no interest or encouragement in it,.
But as a citizen of Staunton, we claim as many
rights and as many liberties as any other cit-
zen, and shall exercise them; and believing
the best interest of the city and all its citizens
will be subserved by the reelection of the pres
ent City Council, we support it. This is about
all of it, and the reason why the VIRG1NIAN
and the indicator stand opposed to each 9TH
or. AS to the Spectator VIC have reason to
believe, it has no sympathy with the move
ment againt the Mayor and Council, and GER
tainly has shown no disposition to join in
with the partizan lunacy that has been exllib-
tied by the indicator and Col. Skinner.
A Proposed Victim.