Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-04-06


DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE MEETING.
a meeting of the city democratic coG,.
mittlee was held last night to take
preliminary measures looking to the
holding OF primary to nominate can
dIdates for Offices to be filled at the
May election, sc. All the members
we're present.
Chairman Sweeney made a state.
ment of the expenses of the last cam
paign and presented his vouchers, Sc.
He then rendered his resignation as q
member and as chairman of the COM
mittee, stating that his business en-
gagements would not permit of his Civ
ing the necessary time to the conduct
OF a campaign. In severing his con-
uection with the committee he thank
ed the members for the hearty support
and cooperation they had gwen him
and predicted that there would be no
opposition ticket to the one nominated
by the democrats this spring. He sug-
gested that another meeting be held at
an early day at which the various can
ddates could be present and that they
be allowed to fix the date of the pri-
mary. He urged that all who would
pledge themselves to support the nom
inees OF the primary should be al
lowed TO take part in the pri-
mary and that the lines should
not be too closely drawn in municipal
affairs, and expressed the belief that
those who left the party last fall on the
money question would come back
again.
Dir. Sweeney's resignation was then
reluctantly accepted and he was ten
dered vote Of thanks for his efficient
services TO the party.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Sweeney,
Mr.. c. j. W. Summers was elected to
take his plac, as a member OF the COM
mittee from the Fourth ward.
Mr.. G.. l.. Bootne, though he repeat
edly declined the honor, was elected
chairman OF the committee.
1t was decided to hold another meet
ING of the committee on Wednesday
night next to which ell candidates were
invited the date OF the primary to be
fixed nj that meeting The question of
who should be allowed to vote at the
primary provoked some discussion and
Mr.. Cook offered the usual resolution.
that all known democrats and all
white voters who would pledge them
selves to support the ticket nominated
at the primary be allowed to take part
IN the primary.
Mr.. Dobie moved as an amend
ment that the name of no man
who had not voted the democrat
ic ticket at the last election
should be placed on the ticket to be
voted for at the coming primary.
This provoked heated discussion
and the amendment was favored by
Messrs. Dobie, Wilkins, Penn and Price,
who said it was unfair to the democratic
voters to allow men who had bolted the
democratic ticket few months ago to
have their names placed on demo
cratic ticket at the next election.
Messrs. Boothe, Cook and Carter
urged more liberal course and insist
ed that those who had lett the party ON
the money question last fall should be
allowed to come back to the fold II they
would the voters, and not the eight
members of the committee. should de
termlne whom luoy Suouiu Volo III ii
a name was on the ticket that the voter
did not wish to vote for he could easily
scratch it; the policy of the party is to
drive no one from it.
After long colloquy the amendment
was carried by vote OF 4 to 3, and the
resolution as amended was adopted.
The adoption Of this amendment by
the committee has caused considerable
opposition, as there are several candi-
dates who voted the gold ticket, and
who had intended to so into the demo
cratic primary. 1t is quite certain that
the amendment will be reconsidered ct
the next meeting of the committee, and
that the original resolution will prevail.
Some members OF the committee who
voted for the amendment last night
have stated to day thas they would
move q reconsideration of the matter
on Wednesday night next. A large
majority of the democratic voters are In
favor of more liberal policy than that
decided upon last night.