The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-07

even TO legislative measures 1t de-
l;clared that 1t was i fraud and an un-
truth to proclaim by official declaration
that the victory won was prohibition
victory. 1t asserted ii fraud and un-
truth. TO proclaim that the fight was
made for good government, when after
ward. faithful public servants who had
discharged their official trusts with
honesty and fidelity. were dismissed
without charge In order that the
plums of office-the spoils-might be
divided. 1t asserted that 1t was an out
iage upon the sentiment of the COM
munity, upon thousands of men and
women OF our city. that poor hard
working white men. with families to
support. should be summarily dis
charged from the Street Department Of
the city, that their places might be
filled by negro henchmen. who were to
| wear the collars of the Prohibition
bosses. 1t branded the Prohibition party
| OF Norfolk as controlled by its ring"
as stultifyer OF pledges. which the
people believed were made with sin
certify. and as piratical craft that has
The Virginian for abuses in It's own
party by rings and bosses. and clubs.
had not hesitated to utter its protests
and denunciation of the same. Yet.
foresooth. 1t was TO remain silent when
bold fraud upon the people was being ex-
erc!sed by those who. under the
gauze of reform. had taken hold of the
reigns of government. Could anything
be more brazen than such expectation
OH the part of the leaders of the Prohlbi-
ton party of prescription and persecu
ton? Could anything be more abicct
than the statement made by Mr.. c. w.
kelinger, chairman of the Street. Sewer
and Drain Commission. as to the rea-
son for Diminishing the poor, hardwork-
ing white men from the street force, to
make place for negroes? Said Mr.. KEEL
linger. abiding to the removals and an
pointments:
me Street, Sewer and Drain Board
ala not make the appointments
Ihey came from the Advisory Board of
the Prohibition party. At our last
meeting | presented the list of names
tor the negroes to take the places of
"'iheN WI Nib HltIl III the SlfettSl, 10
Mr. Cruiser. Messrs. busch and CoupeT
said they would not vote TO turn the
white men out and put negroes in. and
| i'm presenting the list | was following
directions. The Street, Sewer and Drain
Board Is not responsible. but the Ad-
visory Board.
The above was the remarkable COMES.
sion of city onical--the head of one of
the most imDor,apt boord, 80 80. -.
| government. 1t was an astonishing re-
Velation, most humiliating confession.
| Wherein had this Ring the vested an
| thority 20 control the representatives of
| the people in u legislative branch and
executive department of the city gov
| eminent? was ever q ring more arbi-
tI'ary? Was ever a ring more thoroughly
equipped to crush out all independence
of action and official responsibility upon
the part of the elective and APPOINTED
officials of our municipality?
IN its opposition 10 such a vassalage
or the part of the legislators and officials
| of the city, was not The Virginian CON
tinuing its war on rings and bosses and
usupers of the peoples rights, or was 81
as the Pilot asserts. the champion of
wrong and ng-doers?
By reason of The Virgnians war upon
the nominations and appointments of nm
| fit men on the part of the Sanctified Band
| The Virg!nian was abused and vlIned
| by the Ringsters of the Prohibition
party and the Pilot. Men had been an
pointed to important; places that The
| Virginian had heard Ptohibitionjsts de-
| clare, they would not trust with n bIon,,
| envelope round corner Others have
been nominated whose characters. NOR.
ally and politically, We're of the most
| unsavory record. AS remarked The Viz
| ginian had been bitterly denounced for
| calling attention to such appointments
yet afterwards. its coursel was sustained
and acknowledged, especially so in the
Police Department of the city, by the
dismissal of these 'appointees from office
Yet for its honest course in this. # is
credited by the Pilot as melting, promot-
ing and sustaining "a spirit of active on
position MO reform in all municipal things
that will be its reproach forever"
The Virginian challenges the Pilot To
show a single utterance on the part of
The Virginian that will support this
lcta N ;t