Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-15
COMMITTEE MEETING.

Sweeney, chairman, MT. Ii. L. Cook,
secretary, and Messrs. Dobie, Price,
Penn and Carter, were present, and
Messrs. Wilkins and Boothe absent.
Messrs. F. E. Anderson and q. a.
Mushbach, candidates for Congress;
Messrs. Leonard Marbury and w. e..
Fendall, candidates for Common
wealth's Attorney, and Mr.. w. 81. Smith,
candidate for City Sergeant, were among
those present.
The chairman, upon calling the meet
ing to order, stated that it had been
called for the purpose of conterrlng
with the respective candidates as to
the advisability of ordering a primary
election in order to nominate candl-
dates to be voted for at the general
election to be held on the 2Sth instant.
Mr.. W. b. Smith said he saw no use
of primary election, certainly not in
his case, as he had no opponent in the
party.
Mr.. Leonard Marbury said if MIR.
Fendall urged a primary election he
would necessarily be compelled to
enter it.
The chairman said it was not the
wish of the committee to force the can
didates into primary. The candidates
must determine whether or not to have
it. There was contest for but one Of
flee, that of Commonwealth Attorney.
Mr.. Fendall said he was perfectly
willing to abide by the action of the
committee.
Mr.. Dobie was ayerse to primary,
and moved that the committee decide
not to have one.
Mr.. Marbury said, inasmuch as Mr..
Fendall in his card had announced
himself candidate, subject to the de-
cision of the democratic primary cleo
ton, if he adhered to to that determi-
nation, he (Marbury) would be COM
PEELED to enter one. If, however, he
desired to change his programme the
speaker would acquiesce. He didn't
want Mr.. Fendall to say he was forced
into a primary. 1t was a matter solely
| for the candidates to determine.
Mr.. Fendall didn't propose to tel
the committee what to do. If MIR.
Marbury desired primary, he would
agree, and should it be determined not
to hold one he would cheerfully abide
by such decision.
The chairman suggested that the
committee would act in the interest OF
the party.
After further colloquy Mr.. Dobie's
motion (that no primary be held) was
adopted.
1t was determined to hold ward meet
ings on Monday, May 25th, at s p. M,
for the purpose of selecting twenty del
epates to the Staunton convention.
The meetings are to be held at the fol-
lowing places
LIST ward-The Concordia Hotel.
I'd ward-Mayor's Office.
Sd ward-Columbus street court
house.
4th ward .MifIleton's shop.
The representation will be as follows:
1st ward, 5; I'd, 8; Sd, Z, and 4th s.
The committee then devoted their
attention the manner of procedure in
selecting delegates to the Congressional
convention to be held in this city in
August.
| MIR. F. E., Anderson was heartily in
favor of primary election, the candi-
date receiving plurality of the votes
cast to be allowed to appoint the TWEEN
ty delegates. He argued that his plan
was the most satisfactory one that
could be adopted and had been adopt
ed with good results elsewhere. lie
wanted Alexandria to get the nominee
in the convention, and by sending q
united delegation it was possible to &C.
complish it. If he received majority
of the votes in this city he could enter
the convention with Alexandria IS
united vote. If Capt. Mushbach OBJ,
tanned majority he would have the
same backing. But let Alexandria, by
all means, have the nominee. He
should come from this city.
Mr.. Mushbach opposed a primary.
The delegates had been elected by
ward meetings during the past thirty
five wears he had been in Alexandria,
and he believed it was the most salts
factory procedure. A primary election
would be an innovation hereabouts;
besides it would entail an expense of
$3.50 Cd each candidate. He could see
no use of it. He believed primary
had been held in Loudoun (Mr. Ander-
son-"And in Culpeper'D but the re-
suits had not been satisfactory.
Mr.. Anderson saw nothing unjust
or improper in a primary. He be-
lieved it to be the only satisfactory
manner by which delegates should be
chosen.
Mr.. Mushbach said there was no
good reason why all voters could not
attend the ward meetings.
Mr.. Anderson still insisted that there
should be what he termed large field
and clear fight. In primary there
would be no crowding out, as was
often the case in the contracted quar-
ters Onward meetings.
Mr.. Mushbach was unalterably OPP
posed to primary, and reiterated that
it was expressive and unsatisfactory. He
also said he did not want to go the
convention with the twenty delegates
subject to his direction, If forced to
do 30, however, he would enter the
arena.
Mr.. Penn suggested that there was
primary election when Gen. Lee and
Mr.. Hume ran for Congress.
Several gentlemen present said that
was after the first convention had dis
solved, and the primary was for the
purpose of electing other delegates.
1t was urged by several present that