The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-31
E.P0 TlGA c HAT TER
The Del Delicate Question Of Chain Gang and
4 Whipping Post Discussed.
A s1RoKe FEElIRG AGAINST BOTH
But what'sao nc Donc2-oystcr LcEIs-
'ntion Expcciod-Gcn Groner,.
Chances .Snrtousiy Yiewcd-Biii
ThoroEood's Position. Tomlin and
Lnwlcr VIII Bc Rc-rIcctcd.

There will be merry fight in the Leg
islature anter Christmas on tho pro-
posed WHIPPING post and chain gang
measures. The question Is n delicate
one. and it Is hard to act in the mat.
ter without stepping on some ones
corns.
Establish whipping post and you
shock some ones sense of deccncy, and
arouse the charge Of barparMy and
cruelty inconsistent with nineteenth
century civilization. Make IL law call
ing for 4 chain gang, and honest labor
cries OUT thar YOU are bringing 1T In
competition with crime. 1t is 4 veXcd
question.
On the other hand what Is to be done
with thc wife ham;crs. and what is to
be done with the lazy, vicious paro-
dies on humanity that infcst the Jail
and are annually housed ana fattencd
st the expense of hc2ast people?
Up in New York recently they gave
wife beatcr six months at hard la
Dor In the pcnitcntiary. a dose OF this
kind, it mas been suggested, would
80 long way coward curing the grow
ing evil down here in Norfolk.
~ well known citizen who has made
the subject study. proposes q plan
which. ic feasible, looks like a good one
He says the Jail birds ought to be
worked in the interest of charity. They
should be made to support the aims
house and help other Institutions of a
similar character; made to dig the
ground, Till the soil: gather the har-
vest.
ut is probable that the question OF
oyster legislation, SO vital to this Sec
ton, will be taken up s5On, too The
ph nr, a. bn
the oyster beds.
There are conflicting reports regard
ing the chances of General " d. Groner
for n European consulate. 1t Is said in
Washington that his chances are slim
On the other hand The General has
private and positive assurances to the
contrary from people who know what
they are talking about. General Gro
ner is Il good fighter. and he does not
propose Ito give up this battle until it
is won or lost.
There Is already more or less cur
iosity lin Republican politics upon the
position OF w. II. Thororgood, the col
ored Republican leader, as well there
may he, for no one can predict with
certainty where he will he next AT
present he is very strenuously advo-
ShtInS lite Ic-clccllOT OF lnty sergeant
J. +. Lawler and Police Justice Tom.
lin; but declares very emphatically that
some OF the present Councilman will
have 10 so. How many of them will do
so remains to be seen, but certain il Is
that both of the gentlemen mentioned
arovc, with their splendid records, and
great personal popularity, will stand
Il remarkably good show should they
go up for the places again At least.
this Is the unanimous opinion of their
friends, who, for mnce. coincide with
ThoroGood in his views
A prominent Republican politician,
who has been to Il certain extent ncu-
trail In tho fight between the opposing
factions OF his party said yesterday
that I'm his opinion President Mckinley
was going 10 turn the Hon. Mr.. Bow
den down hereafter in the matter of
spells. because" said he, "the Pres
ident Is n man of great common sense,
and he is beginning to see that IN
stead of being under any obligations T.,
Virginian Republican leaders. he owes
them grudge. They did nothing for
MN, but actually worked against him
| ana the party, which they split int
| fragments all over the State, iniurinc
| the cause wherever there was q chance
ITO injurc 1t. and solely for the reason
| or personal ambition nr greed for
| Spolls. Mckinley DOESN'T owe Virginia
anything, and he is not going ont of his
| way 10 favor the men who killed Tho
RepnDlican party in the Common
! wealth."