The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-11
EXPERT "LEG-PULLERS.'
1HEF ARE THE TORTURE or THE
CINDIDAgEs EXISTENCE.
Meetings Held in Bar Rooms, and Drinks
and Money Demanded in Abundance
The situation Very Lerious One.

Tho various candidates TOT Slly "i"'cS
have been doing a deal Of active con-
wasting during the bright, balmy' spring
DAYS. ana municipal politics is taking on
a temperature almost as high as that OF
last Tuesday.
Just as regularly as old Sol sinks Sc
renely behind the western horizon, tho
festive local politician dons his would-be
official robe ASSUMES a smile as broad
ae some of the promises nc makes, shakes
hands i'm the most vigorous manner Win
nrettv much every individual who Is
o,,,tl.s IN the right Of suffrage, and
rarely for,sets 10 inquire whether or NOT
mo habv has STOPPED tcethiug. lie says
bis little speech. and promises, as 4
r,.t,or az course. that he viii do ms
Iovel host 10 hn the position he SEEKS
with honor o. the city, and Win circuit
10 himself 80.
win mis- ne saunters back home, snug
L. tuels himself away i'm his conch hruub
t..sD o'clock at night. and Is soon Na"''i
ing throt gh the realm OF Dreams ""'i'
ho seas the words elected by a big ma
iafitv" standing ont I'm bold fehei' ne
continues night after night until inc hn@
struggle is over. when some Wink .'7
cher ovor and enter into tho service
of the city, much happier. out poorer
mon. while others lounge ah"u' 'n
etr.ots from early morn till dcWy eve
&, search If another Job go nome at
NIGHT sad victims Of despair, "her,
there VIII be weeping and waning anu
gnashing Of teeth .,,.,.,,
n is d strange mania, TINS poii'',e ~
struggle. Many man mas los' i's
last quarter ON the result ANA no ui"il
can tell what the morrow VIII vi l'l :,
forth. There is an uncertainty "Do"' J.
! that stimulates so many men WIZ" '
many minds. and about as safe "a pan ~
/ adoot as any is 10 toss up doiiat =
! eroi,id the cardidatc possess one. on the
dav before election. and decide ulo pu-'
ti0n accordingly.
700 Many II" Leg ullers."
There are in Richmond half a dozen OF
more reputable Democratic cluns' or
ecnized and conducted for the Welldrg .,
| the Democratic party i'm this city. lhey
ave- the ola Dominion the Thurman. the
| powhafan. the Union. the cay Naiu
Actives. and a few others. These ciuDs
are well known among the Democrats oi
! Richmond. They have permanent quar-
ters in which 10 hold meetings, nave reSu-
| lar gatherings i'm the interests OF the
| party. and flourish upon firm basls'
| some Of the best Democrats In the CITY
| being enumerated among their meihpeis ,,
| They have done "a great deal OF soou
| for Democracy in Richmond, and are
REGARDED ass standard. Well-established or
| carnations. I do not wish To write
| line i'm opposition 90 their movements.
I'm addition to these however, thcre
| have recently sprang up WITHIN the pas'
| few weeks. organizations tpht go uuuV'
fine name Of Democratic clubs. which
| are "A torture to the existence or cdndi-
dates for municipal Offices and deserve
10 be censured by the public generally.
| How many OF them exist i'm the city II
! fs impossible 20 tell. / tried 10 keep 4
list of them until they got up into the
thirties. and / thon concluded TO give up
the calculation. as they increased M the
rate Of about two "a day. And such names
| They represent every conceivable OBJECT
MANY of them were organized simply Tor
tine purpose of making hay while the sun
shines. and IL can be safely said lhat as
soon as the approaching election rs over
tbov will at once abandon operations
and nothing else viii Doe heard OF them
until another municipal election, wheh
unioss o. general reform takes place hl
they will spring like as many sprouts OF
corn and l0i the candidate IS again
made wretched
IL is notable fact that there are M
Republican or Populist candidates IN me
neld. So far as I have learned, not
single Independent nor mugwump mas
distributed lis card about town. Iher'
is no political issue in the campaign II
fact there is no campaign, but the con
tests 10 be decided are purely questions
of personal preferences. Every man Wh'
has announced himself candidate lor
citv Office stakes his hopes or success
rnon the action of the Democratic party
consequently every one Of the orsanlHa
lions I'm question, Is, of course d De"io
cratic club.