Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-20
4 WorIsIngmnn on the Municipal
Situation.

4 WorIsingmnn on the Muptctpni
situation.
| To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
This is my first letter, and while am
/ a pl,in. everyday wOrkingman | nope
YOU viii publish my protest against ms
"Citlzcus League" movement q believe
this was The original name), which seems
10 be sweeping the entire CITY. II -
true that several times IN the past Few
] years investigations Of some depart
ments which have been necessitaied 10y
some unusual cause have shown rotten
ness. COLLISION, bribery, and theft, but
this movement is the most outrageous.
high-haudcd piece OF business / nave
ever imagined
l learn that this IS not a league Of the
so-called aristocracy, or Of the Chamber
Of Commerce faction Of the city; that
the respectable Democratic portion Of
the property owners, professional men,
merchants artisans mechanics, and la
borers have all joined together with
view Of securing a first-class. intelligent
representation in both branches Of the
Council. But this. you VIII notice, leaves
out the bone and sincw Of the Demo
cratic party I'm this citY-the professional
politicians for profit. II Is all right to
talk about the contrast of the two
classes, but what has this 10 DO with the
case? Pray. who gave the respectable
portion Of the community the right 10
interest themselves in any way as re-
cards the politics of this city, although
the prosperity Of the city Is dependent
upon them only In every other respect?
Compared with the professional poliu-
clan for profit. what do they know about
such matters? Is II not a fact that this
self-styled respectable vote is the hardest
vote In the city to get 10 the polls? II
/ IS true that the professional politician
for profit has largely brought this about
by teaching this vote that they have
nothing in any way TO do with politics
and must. under no circumstances, pre-
/ sumo TO interest themselves in such mat
/ ters-that the management Of such ques-
/ lions must be left entirely to the i. j.
! L. =.
This condition exists. however, and
| facts. not theories, confront us. Ger
| tainly IL is true that without taxable
| property there would be no revenue and
/ nothing 10 disburse. but what right have
] the properly OWners-the only source &C
! the city's Tevenue-to raise any Objec
/ ton?
/ IL Is true that the revenue Of the city
/ Is running about $4,000 short per an
/ mum. and that unless expenses are re-
/ duced taxation must be increased. In
/ creased taxation means increased cost
/ Of running a business. no matter what
/ may be fits nature. and a lessencd pros
I pect OF good wages. Increased taxation
means higher rent, but what matters
this? Does not the evil first fall upon
| the proprietor or property owner?
What matters il that the owner Of a
house valued az 81 900 will have TO pay
/ the same pro rata increase as the owner
| OF house valued at $1,000? Does not
the j. T.. +. T. tell the laboring man
/ that he does not want the silk-stocking,
/ cuff and collar vote; that he seeks the
/ Suffrages of the Drawn and muscle Of the
/ city?
| Are not the p. p. f. P's supposed TO
/ know more about the matter than the
/ men who inaugurated this movement?
| Is it not their business. and frequently
/ their livelihood. to know more about
and to control everything relating to the
I politics or touching the legislation affect
| ing municipal management OF this city?
Don't they disburse annually a sum-
! largely I'm excess OF the taxes collected?
/ Don't you know that the old fogy idea
/ that they are the servants OF the people
/ all becomes a sham after the election?
| Don't YOU know that only the 7. j. +.
| P.'s can bring out the full party vote
! at the election, and thus once more
| bring the Democratic ship safe into har-
| Dor? Don't you know that any legisla-
/ ton or reform preventing the increas.
/ Of taxation viii necessarily prove Of
/ beneht 10 our employers. and should,
/ therefore, be opposed by US, as their
| natural enemies? Is our welfare In any
way connected with or dependent upon
/ theirs? Look at the shop that Is losing
| money daily. ana is hourly drawing
/ closer and closer TO the abyss Of failure.
/ is not the force Of this shop a large
one? Are not the men well paid?
| Don't they all work full time? But
does this fact dismay the T.. Z. f. p?
| Not bit He goes on the theory that
we have not sense enough 10 see this,
and even If We have. that he would be
able 10 stir up class prejudice among us.
/ sometimes using paid emisssries. Of
course his visits 10 our shops and his
honeycd words Halter US. but II seems
that this a case of jumping from the
fIying-pan and taking the chances OF
landing in the fire.
Certainly things could not be much
worse than they are at present; but
why think for one moment that any
election can be carried in the Demo
cratic party indeoe2dent Cf TIE p. =.
/ =. Pc? Have they not been successful
IN the past and does not this prove that
no one else can be successful a. the fu-
ture? Why not ask the LEOPARD to change
lshis spots? Would not this be prdct!cable2
/ We all know fun well that the regular
Democratic clubs OF this city, particu-
larry the regular ward clubs, have al
ways done the Democrats Iarty great
service. and we must look &c them to
I do So in the sl.ure. We also know that
| very many individuals I'm this city have
always given the Democratic party the
most unselhsh. urrcmltting devotion. To
] an such are given their fill measure
Of praise There is no good reason why
such clubs or individuals should con-
slider this movement in any way antago-
nstlc. but rather as a help 10 them.
i also know that the municipal offices
Of our city are, as rule, filled by
/ highly competent and trustworthy Off
cials, but j do know that there
are some members OF our Council con-
corning whom the least said the best
l don't own a foot OF ground in this
city. and / have never asked for office
and want none. and have always voted
the Democratic ticket. l intend to do so.
God willing again this spring. but Will
vote according 10 the best dictates OF
my conscience and a public-schOOl edu-
cation; but will be more careful than
ever before to see that | cast my vote
free from all prejudice Of any and every
kind.
My brother. do not forget that the
right OF popular franchise Is the most
sacred one that you possess to-day, and
that your forefathers repeatedly poured
forth their hearts blood TO secure the
attainment OF this liberty; therefore.
cherish IT as a most sacred trust and
exercise 1t In the fear Of God. with the
determination TO do your duty intelli-
gently and free from prejudice.
Yours sincerely, WORhlNGMAN.
Sons of the Revolution.
The Sons OF the American Revolution