The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-14
.opEN AND AnoyE noARp. },

also twists upon the hard bed made
for him by the Sanctified Band, and to
such an extent that 1t is difficult to dis
cover in the editorial columns OF the
Pilot of yesterday any semblunce to- the
former brilliant productions that made
famous the pen of that gifted writer.
His torture must be intense else he
would never propose tina. The Virginian
should attempt Il defense of n state Of
things that existed in the conduct of
thel municipal government in this city
and in the management of TIE
Democratic party, that it had
enlphatlcally and persistantly con-
demncd. and earnestly and con-
Scientiously sought TO correct. AS it
was fearless enough to condemn faults
in municipal government under the ad-
ministration of It's own party. and griev-
Gus wrongs in the MANAGEMENT of its
own party organization. It would esteem
itself recreant If /, did not vigorously
and earnestly condemn and criticiSe
the misdongs of a party. that under
the guise of Reform. had established the
most despotic. arbitrary and vindic-
tive Ring" that has ever been known
in the political history of Norfolk.
If the Pilot wishes to compare records.
let It compare the utterances and pledges
of tho observation-disclosures IN the
memorable campaign of 1894 previous to
the election, with the acts of the "Sancti-
fed Ring" which under the guise of
reform has been in power since the re-
suit OF that election. Let 1t not at
tempt to twist or dodge the issue made
by The Virginian OF March ith, when, to
test the sincerity of the Prohibition or
ganization as 10 It's hatred of Ring"
rule. "Bosslsm" and Committee Gag"
IS intlmated in the utterances of the ora
tors and writer's of the Proh!bition-Re-
form movement Of 1894, as TO an honest
expression of the peoples voice in the
nomination of candidates for municipal
| offices and councilmen, 1t made the
pertinent query March 4th. viz.
"Will the voters who constitute the
| Prohibition party of Norfolk have an op-
portunity of expressing their choice for
| candidates for the general offices and
| Council ticket in the ensuing municipal
| contest? Will they have q straight pri-
Il =.
| An election. that no candidate for Office
and no member of the Prohibition Execu-
tive Committee will have any official con-
| nection with. If not. how will they NOM
mate? VIII ring of the few chosen
leaders OF the Prohibition party, name
me ticket divide out the offices. select
the nominees for Councilman and domi-
nate the choice of the Board of Police
commissioners, the Street. Sewer and
Dram commissioners, and the other
fat and lean rations OF spoils?"
1t was not until last Wednesday tina
The Pilot neared reply to the ouer,
in any manner. 1t lodged it first h,
asserting that 1t was mo time 70,
sleep" Then 1t wandered away on {
subject entitled, The Bows" Then +
was startled by a fear that THE Vir
sinian sees spooks." 1t then insste,
that The Nirginian was "S.il
Dreaming" Then it discussed tn
), subject OF Honorable and Wor
5 thy Against Dirty and Disrcpu
q table" and dilatcd in the interestin,
X question of "Swag- Division" subjec
that it is thoroughly familiar with. O,
g Wednesday, however, under the headin
9 OF THE Ring Primary" the commute,
q was electrified with the remarkabl
~ statement made by the Editor OF tn
q Pllot-a sensation in itselh-tha
1--WE DO NOT KNOW" and I'VE Arr
NOT ANXIOUS TO KNOW. HOW TIL
" PROHIBITION REFORM ORGANI
n IATION WILL DETERMINE TIA
e ITS PARTY SHALL NOMINATE 1T
q CANDIDATES"
The Virglnan asserts that the abov
admission on the part of the distinguish
r ed editor Of the Pilot. who should II leas
f have the confidence or the manager
G OF the party whose cause and recor
t he is defending, was a most remarka bl
: one in the history of political Journalism
and party management. j must hav
been, 10 the able gentleman who penne,
the dimes, Il most notifying confession
Yet. what else might have been ex
. pected? 1t demonstrated, as previousl,
asserted by The Virginian how close
I mouthed and hide bound the Sanctinet
Ringsters are In the manipula ton o
plans for t"swag- division among IT,
'feed-trough reformers." that even H.
mouih-piece has not received the slight
est data ms to their plan of action, not
withstanding the fact. that 4. was Z
burning question in the minds of tn,
l nf tl,i