Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-24
STAND By THE CHIEF.
The Christian People Uphold Major How
ard in His Good XOrA.
,rosr THE CHARTER CHANGE.
The baptist and Methodist Ministers
,,.u, strong Resolutions Against
waking This Office an Elective


Icing the heads OF several CITY uc'
.,...rts through commissions ana to
....t chem 10 popular vote is exciting
,.t interest. The opposition TO such
r.. is widespread and determined.
....,sm OF the proposed confused end
...I.s.iag plan Of voting IN the primary
. ibis matter is general and severe.
,..-,rriIarlv intense and outspoken is
...t, ointment on the effort 10 abolish
... election OF chief Of Police by the
f.,. Commission, and to elect him by
aaIar vote
tf.rv who do not ordinarily concern
...selves IN local politics are taking
... ..,pest interest IN this matter. Their
..4 interest grows out OF conviction
...t This IFS as much a question OF moral,
~ ronucs. They hold that when the
f..f OF Police Is forced by the plan
., his election into heated political cam
....us and compelled TO make a personal
.,a.s for election. ne viii be tempted
t trade the protection Of his office for
..,- THEY hold that the man elected
tn. votes Of iaw-breakers is likely
.. Dr.. m.rciful 70 law-breakers, that the
..n wh0 is 90 punish violations OF the
.. must Doe free from any entansling
....r... with yiolators Of the law. Henc>
r.r see boz the proposition 10 elect the
chief of Police by popular vote a threat
AGAINST the good Order OF the CITY
Another notable feature of the public
..r.-t IN this matter IS the general
INK that this is really an attempt 70
,.a the present chief Of Police suffer
.- ns "pe,nicious activity" in stopping
r 30. Of liquor on Sunday. closing
.ul.ng-houses. and suppressins law
-r.ss IN general
s. representative OF the Dispatch saw
..r.rr tn. day q large number Of MINIS
i.rs and others, and found them enc
r.s uI fun Of Indignation at any at
tempt 90 interfere with the good "ork
tI..h the chief has done In the Interests
ar good order. and fun Of determination
tl 90 90 the polls october sth ana over
,.,.m the attempt TO shake him up.
MINISTER'S SPEAK PLAINLY.
81 the Baptist Ministers Conference
Yesterday morning the matter was under
...ussion. Or Landrum said: 1t =.
simply a question Of God and good
morals II this amendment is passed We
.r. put back twenty years
Dr r. II. Pitt editor OF the Religious
Herald. said: "The Herald VII be heard
from this week. and 50, ] think, VIII
OBJ. Christian Advocate and the other
religious papers. II good people 10 not
support the chief Of Police no" th'y
VIII De highly censuTable. pretty
-ltctacle II would be- 70 have me tn'tl
- Police i'm some is5tiy-cOutested election
trotting around among the saloons set
ting them up for the boys. Iheie
wouldn't be much sabbath Observance IN
this town very long
Dr w L. Wright. Of the Leigh-Street
church: IL am utterly against the pro-
posed change. and / shall uphold the
excellent chef Of Police In every way
In my power
Rev John w DauGherty. pastor OF
the Fulton Baptist church. said: Il am
out and ont against any change which
would AFFECT the present Chlet. MY
church sent him some time ago vote
q consolidation. More than 400 persons
voted 100 that instance
There was further earnest talk or the
Sam. sort. and then there was a general
agreement that those present would next
Sunday. morning or evening, or both'
max. themselves heard upon THE issue.
THEIR POSITION DEFINED.
Tie following paper was then presented
.uI unanimously adopted:
The white Baptist Ministers Confer
.... II Richmond and Manchester have
I.ari ~ the attempt which Is on foot TO
.. amend the charter Of the city Of Rich
.nl as 60 subject the Office OF Chief
a. Polio, Co popular election. They are
very reluctant TO enter, even apparently.
-he field OF municipal politics they
overcome this reluctance now simply be
,.u5. ~ their clear conviction that the
rr.ru-ition 10 make the Office Of Chief OF
Police elective at the polls is distinctly
AGAINST good morals. They firmly be-
r.te That the efficiency Of any incumbent
Z this most important office would
DEE greatly impaired by subjecting him
% =. necessity Of soliciting the political
..-r.it OF the very classes against whom
't.. DIS duty 10 protect society. They are
chased with the faithful. courageous. ana
t.rIv fashion I'm which Major Is. T.
toward. the present Chief, has enforced
t. lass and suppressed the law-breakers;
tr. hev earnestly hope that the good
I..l.- az this city Will al the polls on
T...I.y. October Sth. Overwhelmingly re-
l4h. what appears 20 be an attempt 10
punish im for doing his duty. We ought
in l. wise 90 jeopardize the tenure 10y
which b. holds his position. In which he
n4s l..e md is doing. 50 much to give
o, Q.I.t sabbath and law-abldlnB
city. W. W. LANDRUM.
President Pro TEN.
j. IT, Tucker. Secretary.
The VI odist Ministers Act Also.
At ue Methodist Ministers Conference
On. subject was discussed. and there was
general 4aI pronounced opposition to me
proposed change in the charter rms
lf unanimously adopted the following;
Resolved That we heartily endorse
tae chief OF Police Of our city ana the
Judge NJ the Hastings Court in their
efforts o. enforce the Sunday laws OF
f.. State and the police regulations OF
tre cty. and express ourselves as unai-
i..ahy opposed 10 every movement That
uI in any way interfere with these
.r's
iitc Religious Press Speaking out.
Tte Religious Herald Of tomorrow
ISL. have The following editorial utter
.a.e on the proposition TO abolish the
election of Chief OF Police by com
Or sion:
"I.r some months the good citizens
Fl Richmond have been congratulating
t'em. ives upon the faithfulness OF their
r."ly-eiected chief Of Police, Major Il.
g. Howard lie has put the gamblers
'. route. has stopped the Illicit sale Of
Hlor on Sunday, and has made law
ir..kers generally understand that their
..'Hrous work cannot be carried on with
DIS silent sanction. OF course. the inevi.
Abb. result has come. Major Howard is
i.ltora non grata TO the lawless element
1 Che city and their sympathizers, and
iiey would like to have his official head
il charger They hope 20 get this rec
f.It hy changing the city charter 50 as
O. make the office OF Chief OF Police
elective They will then make sys-
'.n4tc attempt 10 beat him at the
polls. and they wifi hope 10 do this