Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-27
.pDRrss OF THE CLUBS.

We publish in another column the
address Of the Democratic CLUBS OF
Richmond to the voters Of this city
we have no quarrel with the clubs OF
this city: nor with any Of the news
papers of this city, and it is, therefore
no duty OF ours to become party 10
their controversy. The Dispatch has
never spoken of the members of the
Democratic clubs OF this city as pun
mers." "boodlers." or "hselers,' anu
therefore has nothing TO explain or apollo
giee for on that score.
But we find in the address" a piece
OF disingenuousness which We grieve to
see employed by Democrats against TEL
iow-Democrats. This is where "the con-
ferring committee charge the Dispatch
and other papers with advocating, "con-
trary to the dictates Of party faith and to
the expressed will of the Democratic
voters at the last primary election GER
tain charter amendments.
The historian of the future who relies
upon this address for accurate informa-
ton as TO the facts in the case Will never
imagine that IL there was any agreement,
expressed or implied. that the vote at
the last primary election settled for all
time the question OF charter amendments,
that that agreement was broken by the
'.active politicians Of the city," Yet; so
II was.
A few weeks after the last primary
election the City Council and "the active
politicians" Of the city, disregarding the
decision of the primary, prepared char
ter amendment asking the Legislature TO
undermine and overthrow the Board Of
Public Interests. Did We then hear an
outcry from the Democratic clubs? Did
we then hear the clubs charging "bad
faith? No, not word said they. And
so we have every reason TO believe. that
that movement-the first movement-in
favor Of charter amendment was ap-
proved by the clubs, as it certainly was
by s'the active politicians" But not a
word of all this do we find in this adj
dress. Now what sort of historical
resume have we here, where the most
important OF all the facts in the case is
omitted?
We must say that the suppression of
this fact discredits the address TO an
extent that no amount Of excuse or eX-
PLANTATION will atone for. Nor can we
see any Justification for the clubs
stating. as they DO. that there Is an
"unfortunate breach in the party lines
whatever controversy there is We have
agreed shall be settled at the Demo-
cratic primary. There is a movement in
side the party lines 10 secure retrencn-
rnenf of the city's expenses, and this
movement is supported by every Demo
cratic paper in the city (Which may be
taken as a pretty good guarantee that
The movement is in the hands OF true
blue Democrats). but where the breach
i ye DO not know. 1t was very, very
had politics for the comforting commit
ices TO suggest that there is any SUCH
'breach."
That the Democratic clubs Of this city
have done good party service the Dis
match VIII be the last TO deny. We shall
ever accord them the praise they deserve;
hut we must be permitted 10 differ with
the address" wherein II alleges that the
members have done their work without
thanks or advancement" The fact Is
that many of8ee-hoiders here, Federal
state. and municipal, who are now IN
the receipt OF goodly incomes, won and
recelyed advancement on account of
work done in clubs, or in committees,
Tx themselves, or members Of their fani-
lies. And, by the way. had "the con-
fereing committees" submitted their ad-
dress 10 the public under their sig
ralures. We feel sure that special dis
1,rcof would have been given of their
charge that the clubs have done the
work while others have received the
advancement"
The introduction Of this advancement
paragraph In the address was the work of
some man who hadn't the history OF the
mast Ia mind, and who did not take the
trouble 10 gather statistics on the SUBJ
ject. The fact is that our party has al
ways recognized. and as far as II was
able. rewarded the work OF club-men.
and the roster OF public Offices here will
show that numerous club-men have re-
ceiyed advancement" at the hands of
the Democratic party.
However as we have SAID we have no
n quarrel with the clubs. The Dispatch
~ has never INDUCED I'm offensive language
y towards them. In vain win they search
the columns OF this paper TO find where
We have spoken OF them as buns"
'heelers" on "boodlers." We wish them
wei, and assure them that there is no
breach in the party. as transformation
has led them 10 proclaim.
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- M. Il.