Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-21
MIR. BLAKE AND THE LEAGUE.
He Explains His Acknowledgements
Meeting and n Challenge.

Alderman G. Med. Blake's retirement
from the Monroe-Ward Branch of the
Democratic League for Good Government
has attracted considerable attention, in
view OF the prominent part that that
gentleman took in the league. AS has
already been printed in the Dispatch, Mr..
Blake on last Thursday night an
nounced at the meeting of the league at
old Lee Camp Hall that he had 10 resign
from the organization because he could
not conscientiously vote for the ticket
endorsed by the Monroe-W Ward branch of
the league.
At the last meeting OF the Monroe
Ward branch the Alderman's course was
the subject Of some discussion. Or. Jud.
*. Wood. president OF the branch. stated
that he was surprised at the action taken
10y MIR. Blake. as the latter had not only
taken an active part In the making Of the
nominations. but had also voted with the
other members to endorse the ticket.
When Mr. Blake announced that he could
not endorse the ticket it was well known
TO the members that he had prior TO
that time endeavored to persuade other
gentlemen to announce themselves as can
didates. Or. Wood also alluded to the
fact that at a previous meeting of the
Monroe-Ward branch Mr.. Blake offered
a resolution providing that the members
of the Council from Monroe Ward be
asked 10 do what they could to protect
the Traction Company in the rights It
had already been granted by the City
Council. This resolution, DR.. Wood ex-
planned. was defeated because 1t was
deemed to be an ineXpedlent measure.
WANTED GOOD FAITH SHOWN.
When Alderman Blake was seen in re-
gard TO this matter by Dispatch man
yesterday, he stated that his reasons for
retiring from the league had already
been made public. He thought, however,
that his resolution regarding the Tfac-
ton Company and its interests and his
object in offering such paper had gotten
into the press in such a shape as to be
unfair to him. He said he had, in offer
In the resolution that he had. heard that
the Richmond Railway and Electric Com
pany was trying TO nominate men for
the Council favorable TO IL, so that IL
could get the Council TO allow IL 10 use
electricity on its Broad-street cars, and
run them over the tracks OF the new
company. and that he wanted the candi-
dates endorsed pledged to protect the
rights and privileges already granted in
good faith by the city TO the Richmond
Traction Company.
The officers of the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company last night denied
any knowledge of any scheme on the
part OF any one In connection with that
corporation having interested himself In
the matter Of securing the nomination Tor
the City Council Of men who were favor
able 10 the old company. They cha-
racterized the idea as an absurd one.
CHALLENGE TO THE LEAGUERs.
On Thursday night Mr.. Blake and some
Of tie other Monroe-Ward politicians are
going TO hold an open-air meeting on
CANDLES Hin, to which the public IS IN
vited. There will be some spirited ee-
bates. and as Alderman Blake has email
lenged the Monroe-Ward branch OF the
league 10 have a speaker on hand TO dts
cuss the political and financial situation
IN Richmond. 1t is probable that there
will be a Joint discussion of rare interest
Here Is Mr.. Blakes letter 20 DIR. WOOD;
Richmond, Va, April 70, j&6
DR. Jud. u. Wood. Chairman Monroe
Ward Good Government League;
Dear Sir,-I respectfully ask you 70 Sc
lect some member of your league to meet
me I'm Joint discussion next THURSDAY
night al Gambles-Hill Park. subject:
"The Political and Financial Situation III
richmond" Respectfully.
sECecE MD BLAkE