The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DULENTACTION OF A FRAUDU.
LENT ORGANIZATION.

4
management of the Police Department
OF Norfolk under the former Democratic
administration. and also its honest and
indignant; protest of two wears ago. of
frauds In registration and the shameful
prostitution OF the franchise of the
voters. all of which demonstrates the
sincerity of The Virginian i'm it's effort
to rectify the wrongs and evils that exist
ed under the then management of those
Invested with power under Democratic
influence. Did this condition of affairs
exist to-day The Virgin,an would be as
thoroughly pronounced an its criticism.
but The Nirginian challenges the Pilot
to cite an instance of fraud In registra-
ton since the new registration went
into effect under the auspices of the
legalized primary election act. 1t chal-
lenges II to show fraud or an attempt at
fraud in any of th; elections held since
the municipal contest of 1894. 1t will
find that The Virginian will not hesitate
to use every effort to bring fraud or
attempted fraud eH-the fra hehise- of the
voters to just and severe punishment,
and ii considers that the Pilot is tho
roughly conscious of this.
The PHO; is at perfect liberty to quote
the comments of The V!.Einian and It's
criticisms on the evils and wrong doings
of those in power during the Democratic
administration of the city. In doing so,
however, IL cannot object to The Virgin
ian again quoting the opinions of the Rev.
sam. w. Small as to the record of the
makeup of the party of Prohibition
Reform, which succeeded the Democratic
administration under pledges and prom
Uses to correct the evils of that regime.
OF that makeup, MIR. Small wrote as
follows
II am not" says the Rev. w. Small
such an idiot as not to understand,
now that / am acquainted with this
crowd. who among them are gentlemen
and who are merely nickle-plated Goo
Coos. L flatter myself that l have sized
up the mental. moral and civil char
acters of most of them. and | will be
able 10 fully demonstrate that they
are Il flimsy set of feed-trough reform
crs, against whom the times are rapidly
ripening for another and more signal
revolt. Having had much to
do with inducing the people of Norfolk
To trust some of these cattle, II Is my
duty TO come before them again and
frankly explain the courses and con-
duct of each contemplate marplot and
misht, and spot all of them for righteous
slaughter at the next appeal TO the
sufiraGans of this city. l did not know
these fellows in 1894. but God sparing
my life, ] will show how we'll l have
succeed in learning them when May,
1885, comes upon us. Let them
"a nt l,l
idle and that my ammunition chest is
already getting crowded with the dis
reputable past and present records of
some of the sycophantic spaniel-eyed
but snake-fanged frauds whom helped
to foist upon the people of Norfolk.
and whom | will delight to force back
into the dirty boys that bred them"
Why should not the CONCLUSION be
reached by The Vlrginian from the
above utterances of MIR. Small that I'M
der tho present administration. the city
has suffered from fraudulent promises
and fraudulent action on the part of the
leaders and crew of a craft sailing I'M
der the eolors of reform? But" the
Pilot says, name the promises and
specify the action" How easily?
Tho people were indignant at the ring
ism and bossism that controlled the
Democratic party.
The Prohibition Reform party promis-
ed freedom from Ring Rule and Bosslsm.
yet its action established the most ar
Sitrary political Ring that this city was
ever cursed with-a Ring that secured
written pledges for Councilmen 10 abide
by its decisions in appointments and
which we're construed even to effect meas
ures requiring legislation. Through its
dictum, faithful officials were dismissed
| from Office without charge and evan poor
white men Were dismissed from employ
ment TO make places for negro henchmen
| 1t promised 10 rid the ci.v Of the dives
and dens of iniQuity; to rid thorough
fares of houses of ill-repute; to break
| up policy and crap and gambling es-
Establishments, yet to-day. after nearly
| two years of control. dives and dens OF
| iniqulty still eXis; and that. too, In the
| imm date vicinity and neighborhood of
police headquarters. and II is asserted
that prominent Prohibitions Reforn;sr RS
are The largest owners in the city of
property dedicated to these evil uses.
Policy and crap and gambling stil hold
sway, and 1t IS asserted that there Is
more suffering and pain in home circles
in Norfolk to-day by reason of the social
club houses than ever there was under