The national leader., 1889-03-09
ALEXANDRIA JOTTINGS.
Editor of the NATIONAL LEADER

ALEXANDRIA. Va, March 6, '69.
Allow me space in your columns to
give few items concerning our COM
Ing Spring election, and to make a
suggestion. In the first place may
expect criticism, as the LEADER enters
over a thousand or the homes of the
leading citizens Of color of this city.
But if ] succeed in awakening our
.people to their true sense OF duty. l
will feel content, believing that l have
done nothing short Of duty. In May
we will be called upon to vote for a
Mayor. Auditor, Collector of Taxes,
Clerk of Gas. Superintendent of Gas,
Clerk of Market. Measurers of Lum-
Der, Wood and Bark. four members of
the Board of Aldermen and l6 members
of the City Council. The present OH
.cials are all Democrats, save 2 members
of the Board Of Aldermen. Messrs.
MCKENZIE and Agnew. 1t is true the
2 members of Council from the Fourth
ward and Alderman Lambdln Of the
Third Ward were elected by Republi-
can votes. This does not make them
Republicans. They are independents.
Certain politicians and business men
have. ON dit q movement that they think
viii win. viz by calling citizens meet
inc and nominating for Mayor Joseph
Rrodns one of our leading grocers,
ond for the balance OF the Brodus
ticket. men who will carry out the line
of policy mapped out by the Brodus
cabinet. All the candidates on this
ticket will be white men. Among the
s.certaIn politicians and business men"
.an he counted the noses of promi-
Uant ,chite Republicans. Again, there
aro number of dctfUe trhits Re
.,.,b,cnns who have taken counsel one
Ptv,,h another, not to oppose the re-
o,action of the present Mayor, Hon.
y r DoWnham in the event Of he
hs,nc the regular Democratic Domi-
70 hnt TO let the election 60 by de-
sanit Then there are number Of
o%;te Republicans who are desirous
,hot the King street clothier, Mr..
Henry Strauss. be the Democratic
,nminee for Mayor, and if their hopes
nra reallzed-tlley intend to support
nm or by advising against q straightout
nmanrhiican n, nomination. These combi-
t;ons are made up by white Republl-
~. and in taking counsel together
cnD csn1 ignore the colored vote that give
tne Cn nolitical standing. There are
tne am white Republican voters in the
nVs u;,s w while the colored vote can be
cityi oetimated at 800. If the colored
-saie ter is ignorant in making up a
vo,oa t.,xat why not leave him out of the race
ticao tiAosther. If a ticket is worthy OF
ort aI.ot he should be accorded the
suppt Ss 10 help name it. White Repub-
1s r.gnS of alexandria ought to be made
hcsnD rn their place, and il they are
Know Knoa 70 put up Republican ticket
asna n head to foot let the colored Re-
lrUM saans @ do it. In the event of
s,action of citizens ticket
tng Imam ticket. a Business mems
2 =, Iow ~ an Independent ticket. or a M ug-
v 1lCno ticket, the colored voter is left
wunp same. And if we got to throw
luse .n0 ,,r vote we had just as well do
aMsy ot,re inc for straightout Republican
Dy sU. ct the echo go out that we
ticne" straight Republican ticket
en. es,ed for city offices. that we will
I'd p - satisfied with anything else,
not onr white Republicans will not
and irsssn making an oren honorable
,oin us s Democracy we will come
iaeht wispd place one In the field II
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