The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-07
THE oom1Na o1rx nLnor1oN.
Strong Letter Against Party Fight for
Non-Politicni Ohioes

Strong Letter Against q Party Fight for
NOn-Politicai Ofioes.
To THE EDITOR OF The ROANOKE
TIMES: the 23rd of next month the
people OF Roanoke will be called upon
to elect ten Councilmen, two from each
ward. No other officer will be elected,
and as no emoluments are attached 30
the office Of Councilman, the general
superstition would be that there would
be but little interest manifested by the
people in this election. Such Is the
case. Apparently the people are but
little d,-that is, there is no
undue enthusiasm aroused, because
there are no candida tes in the field who
are dying to be elected.
But 1t seems that the Democratic
executive committee Is on the alert,
and have already called meeting to
consider the question Of whether or not
there shall be Democratic candidates
in the field and how they shall be
placed there, whether by q primary
election or by ward mass meetings. The
meeting called for Friday afternoon
last failed to materialize, and the COM
mittee adjourned to meet on Monday
night. Just what their action will be
remains to be seen; but it ia hoped that
the committee will not force the people
of Roanoke into another political con-
test at this time, when practically
non-political Office Is to DO filled.
Tho people of Roanoke sre tired OF
politics. They want business. The
municipal government needs business
men to conduct it's affairs, and not poll
tioians. While the City Council of
Roanoke has always been Democratic,
when that body Is organized politics cut s
no figure. Both Democrats and Repub-
licsns combine together for the common
good. have been recently informed
by several councilman that there ia g
law which prohibits political debate In
the meetings OF the body. II this be
the case, why should there be neces--
sity for forcing political question
when non political body Is to be
elected?
The writer has conversed with largo
number OF citizens on this subject and
finds them all of the opinion that there
should be free and open fight. They
are tired of voting forced tickets. Let
everyone who thinks he can perform the
duties of Councilman be a candidate,
and let the great body of the people say
which is the more preferable.
1t is very apparent that primary
the only just and fair way to select
party oandidates-cannot be held on
| account of the expense attached to hold.
ing such an cleo ton. The Oouncilmen
who wish to be candidates are unwill-
ing to bear this expense, and the writer
has been informed by members of the
| committee that there are no funds in
| handswith which to conduct it.
VIII they then resort to ward mass
meetings? 1t is to be hoped that we
will never hear OF any more ward mass
mo linn hn ,fr TN 1t
| Councilmen. That plan is failure. In
the ward mass meetings the wlre-puller
the register, ward heller and other bad
| elements in politics predominant. Con-
sequently the man who is the mosi
| popular with his class is nominated
| Yet the rank and file OF the Democratic
| party must vote for him, else the party
lash will be applied. What is the con-
sequence, or what would be the 3onse-
! quonce II such were the case? Political
rlngsters would predominant in body
whore politics should have no part.
Roanoke now has q good Council
and has had for several years, but 1t has
beeni because of the fact that primaries
have been held wherein the people
| could have free voice. Suppose for
instance, that there Is some member OF
thatfbody who Is willing to become a
popular with the politicians, yet the
people OF his ward would gladly vote
for him and re-elect him, because he is
business man and makes 8 good
Councilman. The ward mass meeting
will be held. He Is not nominated be.
cause he is not in the political ring He
cannot pull the strings, and is relegsted
to the rear.
OF course, after this he will not sub
NIT his claims to the people, for he
would be accused OF being bolter. The
! city thereby loses the services Of good
man, the politician triumphs, the lash
is applied. the people vote, and the man
who works for the good of the party
is elected. The trumpet note Of his
victory is 1.-THE people have won again y
He then sets up an eighth Of q keg OF
beer TO those who showed him through.
Let us have peace this spring. Let
us work together for the good of Ros.
noke, laying politics aside until a more
convenient season. X X
WALLER PocAHoNTAs HUFF is Vir,
GINA agent for up ITO Date" cigars.