Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE.
A CARD TO MY FELLQW-ClTI-
IA ZtNS.

hereby announce myself candidate for the
Office OF CITY SERGEANT az tho May election.
I was honorei by my teliow-,itzens with this
ONCE four years ago ana faithfully performed
the du.ics tor tho term 81 two years. when was
again a candidate 81 the Democratic primary
but my opponent, Mr. Carter, was declared the
nominee. and host OF my friends think NOV
/ was badly treated. had done all could Tor
tie best interest o. the city, in ana out OF the CITY
Council, and ia the Democratic party for twenty
years, never asking any Office oil emolumeut
during that long time, aud would not then have
zone 80 nad not fire swept rwayin nigntell my
property and left me without dollar 10 com
mence q business Nfe over again. Then IL was /
FIST sunOunceG myself a candidate fOi the ser
geantcy. paid the S2j eguired by the committee,
and entered the rsce at the Democratic
primary With the late y. NJ. Lee. Tint
memorable friendly contest Is. no doubt,
stil fresh in the minds Of Ihany OF my
fellow-ctizens, vet II may be well 70 stete some
facts that brought about my defeat Nith print.
cd rules to be governed by ] faithfully carried
out my part, but by others they were not. Inc
Judges were instructed at the close Of the poll,
to return the ballot boxes 10 the Circuit-C curt
room, whore the committee would be in session
20 receive them. Here ~ where tho fraud COM
menced which robbed me Of my election; the
box from BlOad-sreet precinct. Instead OF be-
ing carried 70 the committee sitting down on Nal
street, was taken in an opPos ne direcuon-to
the Mesth8m precinct, west Cary sUeet-and
the returns from those TWO polls were not made
for two or thrce dsys. We all remember the
excitement the holding back OF those returns
occAsIoned throughout the whole city IN fact, so
great was the dissatisfaction expressed that tie
chairman OF the committee made pubic
speeches 70 try to satisfy the people, When
the returns from those precincts had been
finally fixed up and brought in tho election was
declared I'm favor OF my opponent, Sir. Lee.
Feeling satisfied that had been fairly elected
AMI that the holding back Of these two Clay-
Ward polls was for the purpose OF changing the
result / employed counsel, Nj. Meredith, VINO
went before the committee ana asked that the
al act toni e. Nr lQA nH mi 8
be held over again AZ my expense. This Ole
was declined. and having no other redress tor the
outrage that believed had been put upon me,
told the committee that / would abide their de-
cision, but at the next electiOn-tTo years
hence-I would run as an Independent caudl-
date. I'D 80 and vas honored VITA an election
by the hes, people OF Richmond. | then nlled
tho Oice for Two years 10 the satisfaction OF all
When the next election came on many Of my
friends determined to vote I'm the primary and
submitted my claims, with the assurance or tair
play. | at least aid not get H. Ny opponent
Mr.. Carter, was given the return. Yet, in good
faith on my part, / supported the nominee.
The manner IN which primary elections have
been conducted IN the past makes thcm farce,
for Il Is well known mat others beside myself
have been counted out Of an election by judges
who were not sworn 10 do their duty. As there
Will be no opposition ticket at tne legsl eec-
ton in May now announce myself candidate
for the Onice OF City Sergeant, SUBJECT 20 tho
win Of the people az that time, aud nope 10 re-
ceive the support Of my felloW-citizens, pro-
missing as faithful discharge OF tho duties "a
before. TO those who do not know me Will cay
tina; | served In the Council OF Richmond Tor
twelve years with such honorable citizens as Or.
w. ii. Scott, c. L. Todd, James 4. Gray, and
many others like them, 10 whom | refer, 10 say
II did not at all times worE aud vote for the
best interest Of the city. | wish further 70 say
that have never 10 my life boon under the IN
1uenco Of liquor. rs never drank any. enter
the contest until tho legal election IN May and
respectfully ask the support Of my fellow-ciu-
zens. especially the vorEiDgmeD, who have al
ways had my heariy support In every contest.
and ia their hour Of need no one was ever re-
fused by me.
Hope my friends will stny out Of tho primary
so rs 70 give me their support at the general
election. Yours truly.
nh 30-1t' JAMES G. SMITH.