The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-14
uNLuCKY NUMBER OF PopUL1srs

Thirteen, Including q Times Reporter,
Assemble at Their Meeting.
The first step towards organizing the
Populist party in this city was effected
last night by the organization Of the
Central Club OF the Peoples Party" in
the room over the Singer office at SO
Campbell avenue. At 8 O'Clock twelve
voters assembled, who, with a reporter
of THE TIMES, completed circle of the
unlucky thirteen. w. A. Thomas called
the meeting to order and stated that it
was the purpose OF the leaders to organ
ize central club first and ward clubs
later on.
w. A. Thomas was elected president
and j. w. Camper secretary by acclama-
ton. Josiah Friend was nominated for
first vice-president, but before the vote
was taken Mr.. Friend said although he
was willing to serve the party in any
capacity, he did not think it would be
wise for him to take q leading part as
he had always been known in Roanoke
as an extreme radical Republican and
the Democrats might claim that this
movement was Republican scheme in
disguise.
The nomination was withdrawn and
r. s. Richardson was nominated and
elected first vice president; e. L.
Marks, second vice president. j. w.
Camper wanted to go into the election
of an executive committee to consist OF
three members from each ward and
urged that this should be done at once
If candidates to the legislature were
brought out as the organization had
been completed in this county and in
Craig and Montgomery. Mr.. Friend
and others opposed this and it was de-
feated.
On motion committee of one from
each ward was appointed to select time
and place and call ward meetings which
should elect members to the city execu-
tive committee and transact any other
business that should come before the
meetings. The committee is as fol-
lows: First ward, w. A. Thomas; Sec
ond ward, w. b. Stricken; Third ward,
j. Il. Thompson; Fourth ward, e. G..
Garrettson, ST.; Fifth ward, e. f.
Marks.
At the request of the meeting Josiah
Friend made brief speech on the is
sues OF the compaigu. Mr.. Friend, who
is vigorous and able speaker, among
other things said
The time is ripe for q publication of
the politics of this country. We are got
ting into bad state Of affairs in this
city as we'll as elsewhere. Roanoke is
now 81, 900, 900 in debt and the officials
have sold and given away the various
In terests OF this city to monopolies who
are sucking the blood out of it like a
vampire. For instance, tho water of
the city has been given to q monopoly.
Several OF our leading physicians have
oeen constituted into board of health
who was surprised to see signed papers
| saying that the springs in and
around the city that have been run
ming throughout all time are impure
and that there is living bacteria in the
water. That was a miserable beggarly
subterfuge to sell water to the city.
The city does not even retain the right
to use water for the public buildings,
the Jail and courthouse.
| The gas company is another mon
opoly which charges from So to 81 per
1000 feet for gas that does not cost 81
to make. Gas has been sold in Balti.
more at so cents per 1000 feet and at a
profit. They only let us have it this
cheap because we can buy oil, and from
whom? the Standard Oil Company, one
of the greatest and worst monopolies
on earth.
Another monopoly is the great Nor
| folk and Western railroad which charges
as much to haul barrel of flour from
Roanoke to Lynchburg as it costs tc
| send it from Chicago to Washington"
The speaker paid his respects to the
building and loan associations, the
Postoftice Department and other Gov
eminent affairs. The club then ad.
journed to meet Saturday night in the
| same building.