The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-07
THE SANCEIF!ED DASD OF TIE
PROHIBITION RING.

when Col. l.. D. Starke and Bar
ton Myers and Joseph T. Allyn and r.
d. Doyles ard ;ha other members OF
the committee of Democrats. packed by
4 united Democratic press cnd the Sig
natures Of over Geo Democratic electors,
visited the city of Richmond and ap-
peared before the General Assembly to
rcques; the appointment of IL new Elec-
toral Board. their efforts were mlsrep-
resented. their motives were qtre STONED,
their objects were abused and their
actions were traduced in paid commu-
nications appearing In tn. press OF the
city. over the signature OF the Pro
Eibition Executive Committee" and
writers representing tina. party. The
committee and the electors OF the Dem
ocratic party. who supported them, were
c,iticlzed and denounced. The remarks
of Starke and Myers and Allyn and
Doyle and others in the interest of good
government and pure elections were
sneered at and derIdcd. They were &C
cused by insulation as pretenders. Not
one word of commentator or express
sion OF g~ratification was uttered by the
then Prohibition Reform leaders, in rec
ognition Of the work o. THESE Democrats,
who risked a~ntagonism II ostracisiom
and Misrepresentation, in their own
party for the cours. thew took. his
was the conduct OF the Prohibition Re
form leaders ana writers proceeding the
municipal election of 1884.
What is II now? The same %insincere
coudsc is pursued. Now they quote
with laudatory comments from the
speeches OF Starke and Myers and Allyn
end Doyle and the otk.r representatives
OF the Democratic voters who visited
Richmond In 1894, in the interest Of hon
est election. While with a political
hypccracy that Is we'll in keeping with
the Sanctined Band of the Prohibition
Ring, they are pursuing q course that
is the very essence of machine politics.
They are fixing states and arranging
trades. and manipulating schemes. the
approval OF which they neither usk nor
consult the wishes or voice Of the voters
of their party In a lcgalized primary OF
the same. They are thus acting, not be-
cause the subject of good government
: or honesty in elections is n question of
: consideration, but for the reason that
The chosen place men and the chosen
place-ssekers CT the Ring may ride In
successful to power and spoils by such
divisions as they might create in the
ranks of the Democratic electors. The
Prohibition Ring is not considering in
the slightest the Voice of their party sup
portcrs in the making of a ticket. They
$ are Matching a slate. II the ring con.
cludes that Mayor Petit is to be sci
aside, why he will walk the plank. II
$ Sheriff Burke can be traded off to max,
the chances of the machine tickle
stronger, the Sheriff must go, and so on
The Ring propose To crush out freedom
, of expression in its own party ranks n
: order that its selilesh ends and purpose.
may be gratifed. trusting to an acct
dental success at the polls.
Blu in this. the Sancttfed Band OF
the Prohibition Ping will be mistaken
Norfolk is honestly Democratic Thi.
was the keynote of Starke and Allyr
and Myers and Doyle and others IN
their appeals TO the Legislature IL
1894. 1t requires no fraud to make 1t so
1t Is truly Democratic with a united
party. This harmony in the ranks OF
the Democracy will be accomplished in
the coming legalized primary. wher
every Democratic elector may rest as.
sured that he will be enabled to express
his preference for the candidate OF his
choice. free and untrammelled.