Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-25
HOW THEY WILLVOTE
Richmond Members Define Their Posi-
lions On The Charter Amendments
OPPONENTS TO THE BILL HEARD
Representatives OF inc
main Their objections-"'
800 rr.ac Adopt RESOLUTIONS
,..,u, rndorsing the Changes

,..aco Trade Adopt hes"'"''o"'
u..r,,,, rndorSins the Changes
...,,,vas Of several Of the Demo
i''''e,s - This city last night met
4, an ooen conference IN 'he h"" VI '''
uou.s Of Delegates the Richmond rspre-
..,,,,es In the legislature ana spoke
,,e rrssosed charter amendments
,.,,s the Views OF the latter gentle
,.oon the bin now pending before
L.. Committee on Counties, Cities,
"a Towns II was intended to hoid the
.,,,,ine In one Of the committee-rooms'
,,, the latter was not large enough 10
..c.ommodate the crowd OF citlzens . VINO
were present. and permission was gained
q, nod the conference Ia the hall Of the
House Of Delegates Senator Lovenstein
,1oressed himself az opposed to tho bill
os aid also Messrs. Harwood and Cabsl'
while Messrs.. Bryant and Reday were In
favor Of the measure. and Mr.. Murphy
non-committal-
The following representatives Of the
clubs were present: Old Dominion-Messrs'
william T.. Turpin. w. w. Wood, Johh
i. Epps. John A. Curtis. George b. DAVIS
and S. stern. Clay Ward Actives-MessTs'
Evan sncad. H. l.. Carter, NJ. l.. Dawson
T. =. Burke. Ernest Walthall. and Phl'p
HeUstern. Union-Messrs. John a. Cur
us. A. c. Peay. and r. a. Bo~ry.
CAPTAIN CURTIS SPEAKS
The meeting was called TO order by Nh
Joseph NJ Shelton. who stated us OBJECT
Alderman Evan Snead was electei chaf-
man. and Captain John A Curtis, OF Mar
shall Ward was presented as the hIs'
speaker Captain curtis spoke OF ths
faifhfuiness Of East-End Deihocfdcs'
VINO were out and out opposed TO a pop1.
lar vote upon charter amendments Al
submitted al an. he thought the question
should be LIT 70 th' white Democratic
nS'S5s msfes iD he daI said as honest in its Inicn-
tions. bu, had de a grave. mistake, ~,
Councilman 81 ge &. Davis. of the Old
Dominion Club. was then called upon 10
address the meeting. lie said he had al
ways been "a Democrat. but II this blil
passed he was prepared - secede He
thought the passage OF the amendments
would bring white labor into competition
with coored labor
Mr ". NJ. Turpin. President Of the
Board OF Aldermen. was then introduced.
He said II the Chamber OF Commerce
should advertise 10 the world that owing
10 the many failures here capital should
not be invested. what would be said Of
that body? And yet they had issued
manifesto which arraigned the people for
the conduct OF public affairs. Mr Turpin
explained the provisions OF the bill In de-
TAIL and spoke vigorously against its
passage.
Mr. j. Taylor Stratton was then called
upon. and In few words expressed his
opposition 10 the measure.
SENATOR LOVENSTEIN'S POSITION
Senator LOvenstein was called upon 10
express his views upon the proposed
amendments. lie said he was feeling
very unwell and would state in "a very
few words his position in regard TO the
matter. ne thought the people had ex-
pressed themselves very fully upon the
subject at the last primaryt election.
They didn't desire any change made IN
the city's government he thought. Mr..
Lovensteln said. in closing his remarks:
"For twenty-five years the people OF this
city have honortd and trusted me. and I
shall never do any act that viii 90 back
ON the Democratic party"
Councilman George Med. Blake repre-
sfutlng Monroe Ward. then spoke In op-
position 10 the proposed amendment. lie
submitted resolution from Monroe Ward
Democratic Club declaring that that body
deemed II inadvisabie 10 make any
change IN the present charter. and re-
Qlestlng that the representatives IN the
legislature oppose the measure looking
% that end
Air. Carter. Of Clay Ward. was called
upon 10 speak. and submitted the resolu-
lions adopted al the meeting OF Clay
Ward Actives Saturday night. which have
been published IN the Dispatch He made
q vigorous speech In opposition 10 the
smeudments, as did also Mr. Frank T.
Blake who followed him.
Hr. n. l.. Dawson. chairman Of the City
b'mocrauc Committee. was then called
upon. lie said he believed the measure
which was under consideration was a
blow aimed az popular self-gOyernment.
" said the Chamber Of Commerce was
G. mposei OF some OF the best men of
Richmond who had the interests Of the
city a. heart but he believed they had
made an error In submitting the measure
IN regard % the charter amendments.
MESSRS MURPHY AND REDDY.
The chairman OF the meeting said the
hody would be glad TO hear from any OF
Eichmcnds representatives. Ia the Legis-
laiurt. but would not call upon any one.
lie would let them decide whet,<r they
wished 10 express their Views upon the
question
Mr.. Murphy was the first 10 speak. He
SAID that he was man that never commit
ted himself. but when ne voted upon the
MEASURE. he would do 50 honestly. If
/ 80 before you again." said Mr. Murphy.
'ani you don't Ike the way / cast my
ballot, then just vote me down"
Wr KafHV fr afffx ~ ha chafrurapfs |
request was loudly called for. He COM
menced bis very eloquent speech by com
'aring himself with one OF the characters |
f The Deemster." in that he. in the |
position he now occupied. was alone. ana |
away from his friends He then went on |
q explain his reasons for taking that !
stand Il state two things" said he. |
First / say that the Chamber of Com /
mtrce Is q representative body Of the I
Democratic citizens OF Richmond. I say /
further that two Democratic newspapers |
o. The city OF Richmond champion the |
cause which Is represented by these Deo-
ne j. hat true7 I ask Is that true. and. |
y % tt not. I ask contradiction. II that |
O. s1. then. gentlemen. ] ask you, IN the 1
name ~ truth. in the name 0f justice, /
in the name Of the oath 1 have sworn /
a. representative OF the whole people !
o. THIS city and Of the state. how can I
no matter what may be my personal !
opinions about these bills. whether /
siani fayofiug them or opposing them. /
how can I say they shall not have my /
endorsement but that l shall. as n repre-
sentative. oppose them 70 the bitter endY 1
J ask you. gentlemen. 20 give nse light"
he sah he thought there could be made Il
an arrangement by which the question /
could be submitted 20 the white voters 1
OF the city. and. II 80. said he. why not /
adopt IL"
No REASONS GIVEN.