The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-14
PERTINENT REMARKS
Made BY Prominent People Anent the
Action Of the Executive Committee.
WHY THEY DON'T WANT WARD MEETINGS
With Few Exceptions, They Regard
Primaries as the Eaircst aud NJ ost
Cencensus of the Peoples Choice
Views OF Staunch Party Men.

Public opinion is about as hard thing
TO down as a guilty conscience or the
ancient ghost of Banquo. Mountain
streams may be damned, night turned
into day, distance annihilated. Some
people can even keep cool with the
Thermometer recording 81 deg. at the
Weather Bureau and 116 deg. in the
middle of the street. but the Individual
has not been located who can choke off
popular kick when it gets fairly start
ed.
This is one Of the reasons why, In
spite of some energetic efforts on the
part of the advocates of ward meetings
to check 1t, public sentiment in favor of
ward primaries as the method of elect
ing delegates from Norfolk to the Demo-
c;atic Congressional Convention of TIE
Second district found vent in free and
emphatic expression all over the city
Yesterday, and while many were found
who were unwilling to be quoted in the
press for personal and oth,r reasons,
they wsse all willing to state their
views. man to man, and voter to voter.
One prominent city Official was unus-
uallv severe in his denunciation of the
action of the City Executive Committee,
or that part of it which ~as present at
the meeting, SAYING they showed either
a woeful lack OF consideration and judg-
ment. or else n deliberate intention Of
trying to eleot the delegates by the
fewest possible votes and in the quick
est possible way.
Some OF the staunchest' and most
earnest supporters Of the Democratic
party declared 1t was an outrage and
stated positively, If not eloquently, that
~shev would not attend any of the ward
meetings. Some others took 1t for a
sort of ghostly joke-a midsummer
nights dream y few went so far as to
think it might be a case of sunstroke-
TO expect people who were neither icicles
nor cold storage plants to joyfully pack
lot of stuffy, poorly ventilated halls,
on night when the entire energies OF
the people were devocd TO kekping
themselves cool and dreaming of pre-
dicted. but fabulous cold waves.
Down in Brambleton ward the Bry-
antics were busy last evening With an
energy and enthusiasm that refused to
be subdued by fear of prostratio from
heat, spontaneous combustion, or any
of the other Ills that flesh is heir to in
mid-August.
The Brambleton Democratic club held
e rousing meeting a Quratol hall on
Brambleton avenue. with President
Wood in the chair, and an unexpectedly
darge number of members in attend
ance. and 1t Is expected that the meet
ing tonight will be well attended. The
club will meet at old Emerald hail, cor
ner of City Hall avenue and Bank
street at s o'clock sharp.
a number of well known Democrats
taken at random, were interviewed nv
The Virginian yesterday with the fol.
lowing result:
Mr.. II. w. Shelton, ex-City Attorney:
"I am in favor of primaries first. last
and always and they would assuredly
be more comfortable method in these
red hot days. In a Congressional fight.
though. 1t may not make much differ
ence for believe Norfolk delegates
will vote for a Norfolk man"
Mai. w. r Irvine, a prominent COM
mission man: 81 haven't thought the
matter over. but from reasons Of per-
sonal comfort l should say primaries.
If 1t stays this hot they wont be able
to get a corporals guard out"
Mr.. Julius Il. Saunders, first vice
president of the Bryan and sewail Free
Silver Club: Personally l have al
wavs been in favor of primaries as op-
posed to conventions or ward meetings.
There is some times an exhibit of un-
fairness at meetings that is impossible
at primaries. OF course. do not give
this as the sentiment OF the Bryan and
Sewail Club. 1t is merely an express
sion of personal opinion"
DR.. C. l.. Charters. president of the
Jrvon 81 c,...-aI H. c,iI,,o, T,I,,l,