The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-10
The Mystery Of the Star Chamber
Proceedings Stand Revealed.
THE WHOLE THING RESOLVED
INTO A CASE OF GRAB VS.. GRAB,
WITH ANEW POLITICAL MA
CHINE DOING ITS LEVEL BEST
TO sUpPLANT IAN OLDER ONE.
BOTH HAVE sUB-oFF1cEs IN
EACH WARD AND THE sATEL.
LlTEs OF EACH ARE BUsILy AT
WORK.
THE WHOLE THING RESOLVED

The action of the meeting held in the
Terry building last Saturday night still
furnlshesfood for comment and the more
the matter is talked about the more the
star-chamher proceedings are condemned.
AS Jhe veil of mystery which Mt first sur
rounded the proceedings SIS lifted. and II
fuller insight is given into the motives of
the place hunters in Roanoke, the stun.
tion presents some ludicrous Centuries.
The whole thing seems to resolve itself
Into case of Grab VS.. Grab, the two con-
tending giants (s) In this battle for spells
being the political law firms of Watts,
Robertson & Robertson and Scott & Sta
pies. 1t is stated that both firms have
sub-oflices established In each ward, and
that their pullers and heelers are con.
stantly in direct communication with the
parent establishments located i'm the
Terry building. Report says that the
principal sub agency of the firm of
Watts, Robertson & Robertson, and
through which it transacts large
amount of business, is located in the office
of the corporation clerk, while the con-
fidential sub-agency of the firm of Scott &;
Staples is said to be located in tile post
Office building.
Scott d Staples started in the business
few years ago Of office-hunting for their
friends and heelers and have succeeded so
we'll as to cause the green eyed monster
OF envy TO take possession Of the other
political law firm REFER ed to, and which
being somewhat out in the .cold of late,
and having their appetite whetted by the
sugar plums that others possessed, deter
mined to build up machine to butt the
other machine of the bridge with. There
are moths that hover around every light,
especially in the warm summer time of
hope, and of course the competing lumi-
nares have their little bands of satellites
that do the sweating and ditch work, and
which, like most moths, will have their
wings binged iand receive their quietus
about the time they think it is their turn
to get their grip on the handle of the pap
pump.
The hope OF winning from Major Tyler
n promise, If elected governor to turn n
deaf ear to the appeals of Scott 81 Staples
is said to be the motive that prompted
Messrs. James McFall, j. Allen Watts
and ). Hamilton Graves to visit the
Major recently.
Major Tyler's letter in The Times of
yesterday showed how completely the
grinders for the new machine got sat
upon After their return from Radford,
the new combine was called together to
receive the report of the grinding COM
mlttee, ant their efforts having proved n
failure 1T was determined to try another
tack. After much delbei alton it was de.
cided to be foP the best interest of the
new machine TO secure an uninstructed
delegation to the State convention; then
go again to Major Tyler and say to him
that in order to get the solid vote of Roa.
ncke he must knuckle to the demands
Formerly made and promise that if elected
governor he would recognize the new
machine as supreme in Roanoke.
Ills not known whether these gentlemen
approached Mr.. Ellyson or not, but i5 il
taken Tor granted that, as they are out
for game, snub from Tyler would be
followed by visit to Ellyson unless they
are convinced that the latter has no
chance for the nomination. They evi.
IDENTIFY think they have the goods and are
ready to promise a delivery to the candi.
Date who makes the highest and best bid
ouch combinations are wholly and
utterly selfish and should be frowned
upon whenever formed. They are neither
Tor nor with the people. They care moth
ing Tor them except in so far us they can
use Their votes to promote their own aims
and purposes, and if allowed to pursue
tneir plans without criticism or Interrupt.
zion would reduce voting to farce and
the ballots OF. the people to Instruments
Tor perpetuating their power and
strengthening their hold upon the offices
OIL me locality, State or general govern
ment.
CTDa,a,