The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-21

The municipal election is still three
months off, but the interest in it is just
as great es though it were but three
weeks. A majority of the supposed
candidates have already announced
themselves. Some have oven been can.
WASHING that is. getting around among
the boys and impressing the people
with their various claims. They see
that the fight is going to be warm, they
Imagine that there is going to be
political revolution in and around Roam.
oko's municipal theatre. Old stagers
WHO have gone into nearly score of
these Roanoke fights and came out,
sometimes crowned with victory, some
times SCARED with defeat, are forebod
ing, siient-and say that they never
saw anything like it.
There are conditions now existing
which have never exis Tod before. here
are obstacles in the way Of the usually
victorious party which it never had to
encounter in all the days OF the city.
VIII the victorious party be equal to
the occasion? Some OF the leaders in
the Democratic ranks are willing to en-.
ter tho fRht-others are standing back.
There is discomfort with some; with
others 1t il the beginning of probation
airy utilization with another party.
But The rank and file of the Demo
cratic party has signified it's determine.
ton to make a party fight. They will
lead tho victorious old war horse into
battle again, and, even though his ribs
do show, what does that matter 70 q
creature Of SO much toughness? They
will lean hard against his If side, lick
him on the flank with piece of Tam
manys tail and set him going. Then
there Will be few sharp snorts; his
eyes will flash and the faithful few,
that remnant of the sawed-off Republic
can contingent, who have been con-
niving over a vain hopo for some time,
will raise their bands. They will see
that old spectre again stalking about,
again gobbling up wards, one, two, four
and five, and resting his heel in the
Third for policy's sake.
The Democratic executive committee
has gotten to work. A majority OF its
members will act for the best interests
Of the party. One meeting has been
and another will be held to night. This
meeting is looked forward to with in
terest, for in tho action of the com N ittee
at this meeting can be forecastcd many
OF the political transactions in the
spring Tho present committee was
elected on the night of March S, 1892,
by mass meetings called in the various
wards The members met on the night
OF the 18th and organized. They have
now been in pcwer for two years, during
which time their path has not always
been fio"ery ono. So they are ready
to lay down the flag. The meeting to
is supposed to be for the purpose of
calling mass meetings TO elect it's sue
ccssor. The committee is composed OF
fifteen n ZEN bers three from each ward,
as follows:
First ward-E. R Woodward, John
Hart and Waller P. Huff
Second ward-R. f. Coleman, Harry
Huntington and R. j Ecklof.
Third ward-J. r. Peters, Harry
Hanna and Jos. Frank.
Fourth ward-John E. Hough, Oven
Duggan and IL. c. Wiley.
Fifth ward-W. A Carr, David Davis
and Henry Bohn
Mr.. EckloT is out of tho city and
Henry BONN has resigned, so the com
mittee Is really composed of but thirteen
mbers. Nine OF this number have
already agreed 10 call meetings in tho
several wards at an early date so that
new com Dlttee can be elected and
take charge Of the spring election.
1t Is quite certain when these ward
meetings are held they will be we'll at
tended Many Democrats are anxious
for the fight, and being cognizant that
the party interests need attention, will
BIO prompted by patriotic motives, to
turn out in full force.
1t has also been hinted that the spirit
OF the recent local option fight will
enter into this contest, either by one or
two ways to capture the executive COM
mittee and Democratic primary, or, to
stand aloof and put straight ticket in
the field in the general election. 1t has
been stated that slate has already
been made up by the ''drye," and by
this means their strength in tho Demo
cratic party will DO tested through the
mass meetings.
But at the present time the "dry"
people are in a quandary as to what
they shall do and wha, course to take.
They are almost afraid to enter into a
Democratic primary, for fear of defeat,
which would, Of course, bar them out
in the general election; and yes they
arc almost afraid to oppose o Democratic
primary on the grounds OF good policy.
This is supposed to be the reason why
j. M Gambill, leader Of the local OPP
ton forces, wants the citizens to refrain
from pledging themselves to candidates
who have already announced them
solves, and prompted him to publish u
mandate last week in which he promised
to put forth good men for Office, presum-
ably dry" Democrats won in the pri-
mary, or straight out dry" men on the
local option ticket.
Party leaders say that Mr.. Gambill
made blunder when he issued that ad-
dress. 1t has made some of tho ld-line