The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-12
BY THE PROHIBITIONISTS
THE NORFOLK KEVOLUTIOS CLAIN-
ED BIZ THEN.
The Chairman of the Party says They
Overthrow the Ring and all OF
it's Corruptions.
Communicated


revolution In Norfolk city, resulting In
the complete overthrow OF ring rule and
the calling into power OF ar entire new
municipal oficiary. is too significant an
event 10 be lightly slurred or falsely
represented to the public consideration.
Looking upon the miserable condition
OF their city. its affairs controlled BY
ringsters and pluEderers. its public offices
grossly mismaraged its laws disregarded
by partisan and debauched police, its
morals at the mercy Of protected saloon
outlaws, gamblers. policy dealers and
prostitutes It's dignity sacrificed daily
by the officials chosen TO uphold II and
me suurages Of citizens nuihhed IN
every election by the most outrageous
and criminal frauds. the Prohibition
party resolved 10 lead a forlorn hope for
reform and redemption in the campaign
Just closed.
The leaders Of the party met In council.
measured the wcightiness OF the work
before them, estimated the perls and
cost OF the patriotic enterprise. drafted
a sufficient number 0f their best men TO
constitute ticket, and couragcously en-
tered the contest as early as January
last.
Their announcement was met with con-
tcmptuous rbaldry, their prospects OF
success jeered and their demands for
the Substitution OF good and honest for
vicious and awless government were
treated as n huge joke.
The Prohibitonists called their every
voter into action, brought upon the Held
their best combinations OF campaign
speakers and singers and entered more
than a month ago upon campaign
of education and exposure. FROM audiences
OF a few hundred people al the begin
ming OF their work the public interest
spread and grew until the great Armoty
Hall, with room FOR six thousand people
was crowded nightly with men only,
eager and enthusiastic for the demohuon
OF the ring and the TRANSFORMATION OF
new regir1e OF sober. decent and duutm
government. All thrOugh-the campaign,
let IL be remembered, the work OF re-
demption was being done by the no
hibitionists. through my immediate per
sonal counsel as State chairman OF me
The Democratic Reform Association.
composed of several hundred members
OF the Democratic party, had protested
against their party submitting longer 70
the domination Of the machine run by IT'S
officials, but In vain. Their protests were
hooted. their efforts TO reform AFFAIRS
inside the party" had been insultingly
thwarted and they had been ruthlesely
turned down" in every suggestion they
had made, save one--a new registration
looking 10 better men and better meth
DDS Seeing. finally. that the Democratic
party in the hands OF the ringsters, was
and fair government they retired from
any further endeavOrs TO reform H. ana
had only the alternative OF supporting
the Prohibition ticket. They lett, now
ever. their followers free 10 vote Tor
either ticket. and their vote was DIVIDED
by pastors and scratched ballots between
the Democratic ring candidates ana the
Prohibition candidates. so that, Win IL
few exceptions Of individual interest the
above statement represents the part
taken by the Democratic retormeIs IN ulS
contest. ,.o,,oo
There was no Republican organization
or ticket in the field The people o. that
partv. white and colored. were free TO favor
either ticket at their pleasure. Inc lCe'no ~,
cratic managers laid elaborate pans ~
capture, control or count the colorel Fo.7
OF the city at any cost and all haLdtus'
The Prohipltlonists had no plea 10 hlahe
TO them other than that made To every
other citizen, which was the urSeut az a.,
common need for clean, economlchi "li'
lust government In making mat plea we
had to encounter the money, WHISKY an.
menaces Of the Democratic rlnssteIs anu
heelers The results OF the battle loueh'
inch by inch, through contempt CURSES
corruption. debauchery OF voters ana ma
grant frauds at the ballot.boK, was tne
Triumph Of the entire prohibition parry
ticket by majorties ranging from wv 10
2lOO. a result that was hailed win IN
tensest rejoicing In every circle save the
slums Of Norfolk like as a God-glyen De-
liverance from misrule grown insuncraDle
and as the initial Of ne~ era oil Jus0
government. moral recuperauon ana pusl-
ness prosperity. The people OF norfolk
are not deceived as 10 how and by Wnom
the glorious revolution was wrought The
after-endeavors Of the correspondents anu
editors Of the partisan Democratic press
10 conceal the true situation and deny
10 the Prohibition party OF Norfolk the
honors OF the victory may succeed for a
season. but such injustice and prejudice
cannot much longer prevail The trutn
tF,f hak H1ta a al a
integrity OF history.
It is enough here 10 call the notice OF
the public to the facts In the case, as
follows
l. The fight for the deposition OF Nor
folks Democratic and disgraceful admin
istration was projected by the Prohibition
party.
ticket was a Prohibitionist. and was
elected. and that TOO, without the AID
OF the Democratic press or Norfolk,
g. The fight brought 10 the front and into
action the national. state and city chalr-
men Of the Prohibition party
The sDpaklng IN the campaign was
done by nationally and locally known al
vocates OF the national Prohibition party,
and the leading champion 81 our ucket
was Rev Sam. W. Small. Of Georgia,
who lie known the Union over as one or
the most eloquent and convincing orators
OF the Prohibition party.
g. The burdens Of labor and expense or
the campaign we're borne and paid by
the Prohibition Party Committee
G. Tho ticket voted was the "Prohlbi-
ton Reform" ticket which has been false-
ly represented. and the word Reform
was added by the ProhbiuOnlsts as "A
tender 81 their purpose 90 the Reform
element Of all other parties that might
toin with Us IN the work o. overthrow ng
the Democratic oligarcny ~ rum. rOwIy-
ism and rngster rule. We weicOms sur n
always as co-aborers under our prohibit
ton banner Such. as briefly rs convent
ent. IS the truth concerning the N1rioik
fight IL was n clcar-cut issue - ige
Prohibition purpose Ot good s)vfTlmeat
for city. county. State and nation ana
il was won by the public acceptance or
our platform. candidates. campaign snI
confidence. II is the due OF the PROMPT
tionists OF Norfolk. therefore thaf tho
world should know thai they have put
their city as n resplenient jewel. and the
first one. az we'll In th' future crown OF
their yet 10 be nationally triumphant
party. k1fpDctl my .
W. 81 GlHNS.
Chairman Prob .b.fion.
State Executive Committee.
Stanton, Va. June Q. 1894
--r-.