Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-21
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.


Especial Correspondence Of the Alexandria GAZETTE
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 20.-Membcrs Of
the Legislature are being very much wor-
ried with petitions for local option. There
are some advocates of the measure IL botn
parties in the General Assembly. Mr.
Duff Green, Mahoneite, is quoted rs being
local option man aud one OF the many
who has never tasted liquor. Few member
of the Legislature can say the same and
when such a one is found he should be put
in glass case and preserved, For the Gus
tom of taking toddys, rejuvenatora, night
caps, smiles, a little something, reminders,
whispers, buck-juice, as the article has been
legislatively called in times past and to-day,
| is an ancientEirginia one which hath contrib
uted to sociability and made many legislator
laugh while it may have killed others. Be all
this as it may local option is considered by
many Of our clear headed men as something
dangerous and not to be tritei with. 1t
has indeed its good, able and honest advo-
Gates but they can never get the State CT
Virginia to think their way.
Among the new Senators who are rapidly
gaining reputation for ability is Senator Nc
Cormick, of Berryvile As debater and
| clear thinker he has attracted much atten-
ton in the Senate.
Prof Conrad, of Blacksburg College, spen.
some time in this city making himseIfagree-
able to members Of the Legislature, but it
has not had the effect Of preventing the
threatened investigation into the conduct OF
the college Nj. Ellis, of Montgomery, who
introduced the resolution 10 day providing
for an investigation into the charges against
Prof Conrad, is a specimen of the young
democracy. He belongs TO that hand i'll
which Trigg, Thomas, Smith, Mumtord and
Senator Berry are conspicuous. These have
shown their belief in an active, aggressive
course in dealing with Malone recalcl-
trants. They are practical reformers. They
are not in favor Of timid, slow action. There
is another party among the democratic
members whose policy is just the reverse Of
this. Caution is their watchword. They
wish to move slowly in the investigation of
all these charges. If they had their way
not single case would be disposed Of, for
the reason that their methods are not suited
to this rapidly moving age. Mr.. Conrad
has taking presence and is full Of funny
stories. He made speeches during the can
vass which is, of course Numerically op-
posed to the idea of true democracy. 1t is
related of Mr.. Conrad that when the dem
ocracy bad every assurance of success, Mr..
Conrad placed calf on exhibition TT an
agricultural fair He named the calf John
w. Daniel" About year afterwards at
another fair he exhibited the same calf
which he named Johnnie Wise The
Malone people were in power. There is
r no doubt that the fact that Conrad is jol-
", pleasant fellow, but be really ought to
20. The example is the thing. This Ma
hone abuse of State officials leaving their
posts and eectioneerng or stump speaking
has to be stopped, and the only way to stop
it is to deal summary.
1t is thought that the charges against the
King George Court will not be sustained.
The Committee for Courts of Justice is deal
ing very fairly in these matters and thereby
i. setting shining example One Of Judge
AIeade'S friends when he saw the compost
ton of the committee and their way of con.
Quoting Investigations, remarked that he
had no fears Of being unit,s,ly dealt with.
. Of course the labors Of this committee are
onerous in the extreme, and several Of its
members have haggara looks, which indl.
cate that they have not had much rest.
. Mr.. Gibson in his remarks in the House
to-day upon the oyster question said that
soon Virginia would have Lord Lieuten-
i, ants High Admirals aud such dignilaries
in its oyster navy. 1t is calculated that
seventy-fve thousand dollars will be re-
f quired to run this navy-or in other
words to run the pirates away from it. The
legislature seems disposed to aid this i'm
portant interest and will appropriate thirty
! thousand dollars outright and forty five
thousand from the revenue derived from
the oyster tax. Representatives from the
; oyster section are very much worried at the
+ delay in acting upon the matter.
STRONGBOW.