Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-26
.sr,,r CITY DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE"

..rur CITY DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE
To the Editor Of the Dispatch
please hermit citizen Of Richmond
10, democrat according to party ter
y, ,.ology. but Democrat OF tne ihoun
fam" as relating to "goVerhinch' VI
~ neoole. for the people, and by the
,,aonie---to make a suggestion as 10 your
artgcle of to-day on the "City Denoerd'i0
League" .his country
The public sentiment OF TINS coun'ny
seems TO be everywhere, just NV
aroused 10 the necessity OF u'NotOn5 ~
,,ovsrnment of cities from party poiluSs'
7, soeuos 10 be admitted that their gov
eminent ~ parties Is always L.
ment by corruption.
what has a mayor or Alderman
sl,rerintendent Of Gas-WOrks' OF N',S
engineer. or corporation counsel 10 40
with party politics? In private me men
do not employ a doctor, lawyer,
barker. or bootmaker because they
vote the same political ticket, uut De ',a'.sr
,hev do the best work the employer
moods AS a Republican and property
holder I desire the most faithful ana
canable men 1 can find to lift this city
ont of the slough of debt that now clogs
= its progress. Why cannot l vote az the
urinary with my Democratic fehoW-
citizens desiring the same end without
formally deserving my own party
IL seems TO me that II real reIOrh Is
needed, all citizens desiring lntelngehGe
and integrity for city government should
he invited to unite, irrespective OF party
and unhampered by party tests.
March q. 1896. NJ r. T.
The writer of the foregoing letter is
man of intelligence and prominence in
the community, and we regret that we
are unable to help him out of his diff
Guilty. He may. however. help himself
out: all that he has to do is to an
nounce his willingness TO abide the de-
cIsIon of our primary election and sup
mort at the regular election the candi-
dates chosen at the primary election;
at least this has been the rule at former
primaries. 1t may be, however. that the
situation win be more complicated than
usual at this primary. by the City Dem
ocratic Committees providing that dele
gates shall be elected at that time to
represent us in the State Democratic
Conventions thoroughly partisan func
ton: one bearing on the November cleo
ton, too.
Our view of this question is that If
the Democrats here allow their party
ranks TO break In municipal elections,
they will not be able to rally their voters
AT State and national elections. When
ever the Democrats so divide. the Repub-
lIcaps are prompt to take advantage Of
,hem. Look at Baltimorel There mon
PARTISAN" fight was made against the
Democratic 'fns" with the result that
the Republicans are now demanding and
rettinC the chief offices. Look at New
York. where thousands Of Democrats as
sisted the "reformers" TO get into power.
While the campaign was going on 1t
eas a "non-partisan" movement; after
the election was over it became q Re
publican victory.
Experience shows that wherever the
Democrats divide the Republicans step
in and take advantage Of our division
for their party ends.
In our judgment the movement here
In favor of retrenchment and economy
Is IN the right shape. Now the Dispatch
can give the movement its hearty sup
mort; buo ii could not have countenanced
an independent reform movement" The
ruin IL lidk h~NAN.tNo AeANN
gotten into great disrepute. Many
thoroughbred Democrats are disguised
with the very word reform" Indeed.
we have studiously refrained from con-
necting reform with the present move
ment here, so many have been the evil
deeds done IN the name of reform"
Moreover we are frank 10 say that we
are prepared to put up with a good many
shortcomings from our Democratic breth-
rem rather than call In our enemies TO
Eettie our family quarrels.
The Democratic League for Good Gov
Z eminent here is a Democratic organiza-
ton All of its members are Democrats.
Ii Is supported by every Democratic
paper published IN this city and 1t means
to make It's fight at the Democratic pri-
nsary~electlon. and its aim viii be to Sc
cure the nomination OF Democratic mem
/. hers of the Board OF Aldermen and Com
mon Council who will so leglslate as TO
bring the annual expenses within the
snpuel income OF the city OF Richmond.
In this purpose the league invites the CO.
operation Of all Democrats. And all good
sltizens who are not now Democrats
would be justified in turning away from
? Reoubllcanism to join a party which Is
engaged IN such a praisewor,hy work as
errs is.