Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-25
THE FIRST GUN FIRED.
Newport News Democratic
Club Prepares for Action.
WILL FIGHT Mr.. TUCKER
Ex-Postnsaster. abe Orsaniza, ton Saws, Ia
to" ''Slick" Il Politician to be /, NJ. M
Der of the Electoral Board
Officers Elected.

The municipal campaign is now ON.
The first gun was fired last night BY
the Newport News Democratic Club. d
Pursuant to the call of Mr. e. 8. Rob-
lnson. the former president of the club,
about fifty Democrats met at Moss
Han and reorganized the club by elect
ing the following officers:
President-E. S. Robinson
Assistant secretarSSe@rfEkeorge " eurr.
Treasurer-Dr. ]. w. Ayler
Sergeant-at-Arms-T. A. Lacy.
Seven vice preside nts-one from each
ward-will be selected at the next regu-
lar meeting.
After rapping the meeting to order
Attorney Robinson stated that the
spring campaign was at hand and it
behooved good citizens to league them
selves together and fight for common
cause He believed that the club had
elected the first mayor of Newport
News. and was of the opinion that 1t
would elect the next executive. In the
last campaign it had been said the club
Was undemocratic because it refused to
go into the primary. This was not true.
Now let us see where the Democrats
are said the speaker. Our oppo-
nents elected a solid gold delegation to
the Staunton convention We elected
a silver delegation, but the second dis
trict sent a majority of gold men to
Stanton and We We're outvoted and
kicked out. The Chicago convention,
though. said we were Democrats. So
did the Roanoke convention. Now you
may rake this city over with fine
toh'Ih comb and you can't find one Of
those fellows who will! admit that he
was a gold man. And yet they say we
are not Democrats. We are going into
this campaign because we believe there
is corruption in some places, and we
mean to clean them out $50
Very little business was transacted
by the club after the officers We're
chosen. Ex-Mayor Moss said he
thought the club Should take some ac-
ton regarding the electoral board. and
not sit with folded hands and let "a few
fellows in the First National Bank run
the city. It was time for the majority
to act. - NC
Several rns,mbers OF the club tboe on
pressed their dissatisfaction
proposed esetfltlyes conlfrlne leave NOT
thl-m being vs,ry harsh IA. ..veSr night At
OF expos tmasterf Tucker. s n -
Gn motion OF Mr.. Moss a committee
of three was appointed to draft a reso-s
luton and forward 1T to Hon. Thomas
Temple Powell, asking him to continue
the board with the probable exception
OF Mr.. ]. L. Marye. Jr., who was char
acterized as gold bug. The chair APP
pointed Messrs. L. r.. SturgiS, George
Weller and a. A. Moss.
The members declared that they
would enter a primary If il was not
cooked and primed." They did not
propose to go into primary if there
was any indication of fraud.
After the meeting adjourned sand
witches and liquid refreshments We're
served.
From President Robinson a reporter
for the Daily Press learned that the
Grub started out With membership of
$50.
Here is a pledge that an applicant
for membership must sign before he Is
admitted:
'''' :. :. : . :. :. : :. -
NEWPORT NEWS, VA. .1S9
+. Renouncing allegiance to all 9th
er political organizations. I desire
to be enrolled as a member of the
:. NEWPORT NEWS DEMOCRATIC
CLUB.
Observation-Disclosures. Applicant.
The club adjourned until Monday
night. February Z. It VIII meet semi
monthly thereafter until the campaign
gets hot