The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-06
NORFOLK'S TREASURER.
4 Lively FIGHT ALREdDf CON-
MENCED ron mr. POSITION.
Tn. Oyst~rmen Are Bitterly Opposed to
Constitutional Convention Cooke
for Lisut.nsnt- Goyernor.

o \
things come 10 an end save politics.
They are perennial particularly In this
section Of the State where there seems
10 be always somebody TO elect or some
question 10 settle Just now there appears
10 be several complications 70 unraV'L
tho first among them being the city treas
urership. an Office TO be filled M the May
municipal election. The position has
four-year tenure. and the present occu-
pant. Mr.. w. W. Hunter. who escaped
from the general political slaughter OF the
Pr0hihitiOn-reform fight Of several years
ago. because he happened TO be IN the
middle of his term. Is candidate loi
reelection. Hc has held the position io,
twelve years. which. in the opinion oil
his only opponent so far. MI Harry
Herman. is long enough for any man.
Mr. Herman Is not alone in this belief
and will make good fight. His chances
FOR success are not bal for. I'm addition
10 his Democratic following. there are
humorous RopuLlicans who will vote for
him II they get chance Mr. Hunter
rs backed 10 q large extent. but not COM
nlctalv. hv the same forces which have
elected him I'm q mes past, and his friends
rrodict his election by a big majority
Both gentlemen are sterling Democrats.
DON'T WANT A CONVENTION.
The question Of holding a constitution
al convention is likely 10 play havoc
with the states in the next election Tor
the House # Delegates and state senate.
for. if the agitation is kept mp. II VIII
undoubtedly prove one OF tho Wti"'
and TO 20 certain extent unexpected issues
Of tho campaign. The people OF TINS sec
tion arc particularly Interested in the
a III -frrf
pioior that the oyster interests viii be
radically affected Mr.. Charles ). cannon
president Of tho Oystcrmcn's Protective
League. and oyster Inspector for this
district. when interviewed on the sub
isct to-day. expressed himself I'm the
most omnhatic terms as being opposed
to tine holding OF such convention on
tho ground that IL contemplated leasing
tho oystor-beds OF tho state. "Ihis
policy" said he. means practical star
walton for the thirty or forty thousand
mon engaged IN gathering oysters in Nlr-
gnia.
n tho beds arc leased 10 corporations.
oven n trust does not result lessces
viii get fhoir oysters in the cheapest
manner possible. Of course. and that
means Che introduction of dredgcs and
the THROWING ont of employment Of the
thousands WHO now earn q 'are living on
the rocks And there will %" nothing
l'ft for those men 10 10. tN'n now they
don't acreage more than four dollars
week. and has" 90 hard time making
THAT They arc the poorest class Of
labor in the state. Tile average price Of
oysters now is % cents "a hushel and
tom bushels is the result OF q days work
for two men and cutler
A POWER.
II may be- remarked in passing. that
Mr. Cannon Yields an immense influence
among the ovstormen and he l. porfoct-
d. confident that Do cam defeat tho proro-
eition $50 far MS Tidcwator Virginia is
concerned But then We only have
thirtv-oieht .hl-ratos to such "a conven-
ton Doc said I'm this connection. land
the other end of the State. having moth
ing 10 lose. and majority OF the dole
gates will Outyote us.'
As there are quite number Of voters
not counted ls yct who believe that the
leasing of the oyster beds viii ho q good
thing and still larger number who
favor ihe holding of 20 state constitutional
convention &. is easily soon that "a pref