The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-10
THE I&sINCERITY OF THE sANCTI,
Fled RINGsTERs.

1 dreaming ana TALKING III us steep, as the
| Pilot charges, its dreams and talks are
the cause of great deal of trouble to
| its esteemed contemporary, and the
! Sanctitied Band OF Ringsters. whose
cause 1t attmepts to defend They ap-
pear to greatly disturb their rest and
to keep them awake thinking. These
dreams" and sleep talks" contain so
much matter OF fact. illustrating the in
sincerity and pretensions OF that arbi-
trary Ring organization, that they sore
Is task the unauestioned ability of the
distinguished editor of the Pilot to COM
bat their force and effectiveness Yet
how weak are his labored efforts in this
respect? Gully few days ago, our con-
temporary teamed with laudatory COM
ments Of the earnest work and patriotism
of Starke and Myers, ana Doyle and
Allyn. and their associates. In
It's issue OF Sunday. however
in at attempt TO palliate the
Misrepresentation, abuse. ana ISLANDERS
OF these gentlemen by the Prohibition
Executive Committee and other writer's
in paid communications in the press OF
VIC SltS III 1907, IL lnIt 1t WAS
very natural for the six hundred and
their leaders TO be suspected OF insinccri-
ty by the Prohibition Reformers in 1889
"a. for they had so long run with the
Ring that 1t was very difficult to believe
that they were really in earnest" The
very character OF the men in question
should have protected them against
3l,n -1t III
very fight they were making-with all
the ability and vigor Of an honest, SIN
cere effort to rid their own party from
the scandal OF Ring control, to prevent
fraud In elections, and secure good
government for the city-should have
protected them against the uttcrance of
the foul and uncallcd for insinua lions
that appeared In the communication in
question. Yet, the New Pllot-not the
"Old Pilot'-contends that 1t was NAT
ural to doubt their efforts and suspect
them Of insincerity.
Our contemporary says: Men OF sense,
courage, and character do not abandon
are doubted or impugned; and far less
do they resent suspicion or an imputa-
ton by actually confirming it," The
men who made the fight against the ma
chine ring of its own party, in seeking
TO secure from the General Assembly OF
1891 an Electoral Board they felt would
command the confidence and respect of
the electors of the city, Irrespective OF
party, did not give up the fight when
they Were defeated in this matter re-
CARELESS OF the fact that their motives
were doubted and impugned. Demo
Gratis, as they were, to the bone and
marrow, they continued the fight and
demanded the passage Of the Lcgalized
Primary Election Law-which is de-
nounced by the New Pilot, as 1.-THE fraud
confesser and swag- divider of March r.
1884" They framed the law with the
greatest care in order 10 secure abs alute
protection and fairness In the expires
sion of the electors choice In the party
nominations. free from the dictation of
ring or committee. and when they sccur-
| ed its passage, they further demon
sirated their purpose TO secure an honest
| election at the Observation-Disclosures
The ISLANDERS and insinuations of the
| Prohibition Reform Executive Commit
lee as to their motives and efforts TO
| this end they stood AT the polls on that
memorable municipal election OF 1894.
from the opening TO the closing of The
same, 10 protect against fraud, and TO
see that the polls declared the TRUTH
and not LIE. Did they. by this action
on their part. resent a suspicion or an
imputation by actually confirming IT,?
Are they the men 10 be accused of being
swag -dividers by the New Pilot? Are
they the men that il was very natural
20 suspect of insincerity, and that II was
very difficult to believe were really IN
earnest?"
No. Mr. New Pilot, 1t was the Sancti-
fed Band of Prohibition Ringsters who
were insincere in 1894. as was speedily
demonstrated after the municipal cleo.
ton of that year, when. as "Swag-Divi.
Iders," they earned reputation that mn,
10 shame any political ring that eve,
existed in Norfolk. Good government,
was Il secondary consideration to the
greedy division of spoils. and appoint.
ments and recommendations to office
were made that put a scarlet blush OF
shame on the face Of honest rcformers
who had acted with the prohibition 10