Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-09
PRIMARY DATE FIXED
CITY COMMITTEE SELECTS MARCH
18TH AFTER A WARM DEBATE.
LARGE MINORITY FAVOR LATER DAY.
Fear That an Independent Ticket
May he Put -Governnen
Leaguers to lie Out In Force--some
of the Candidates for the CoanciI.


The City DemoeratIc Committee met
in the Powhatan Club last night, and. by
vote of IA to r. decided that the pri-
mary OF the spring municipal election
should be held on Tuesday. March 18th.
This conclusion was not reached with
out very spirited and lengthy debate.
and though the session was held behind
closed doors. many members did not
scruple 10 say that the discussion was
one Of the most heated that has ever
occurred on a similar proposition. The
vote, as may he seen. was a very closs
one, and the minority included some OF
those who favored an earlier date than
the one selected, and those who were
anxious TO postpone the primary unit:
the latter part Of April.
The action OF the committee may be
considered as decisive since II would
need two-thirds vote TO reconsider last
nights action, and the majority were
very emphatic in arriving at their con-
clusions.
TWO MEMBERS RESIGN.
The meeting was presided over by
Chairman NJ. l. Dawson. The first mat
ter taken up was the resignation OF Mt
G. r. Winston. OF Clay Ward. who gave
as his reason for withdrawal. that he was
a candidate for the Council. His reslg.
nation was accepted. and Mr.. G. l.. Blunt
was elected i'm his stead.
Captain Morgan r. Mills a representa-
tive Of Jefferson Ward. sent In his resig
nation for the same cause. and II was
accepted, but the election of his success
sor was passed by at the request OF the
other members of the ward delegation.
The resignation of Mr.. X. ST. John
Coalter. of the Monroe-Ward delegation,
submitted at a former meeting. was taken
from the table. and accepted. but the
vacant place was not filled, in Difference
to the wishes expressed by other repre-
sentatives from the same ward.
The resignation of Mr.. Walter f. JOY
ner as sergeant alarms. was presented.
and accepted. and. on motion of Mr.. JEFF
ferson Wallace. II was decided that
hereafter a member OF the committee
shall be elected to perform the functions
or such an officer without compensation.
The committee then went into the cleo
tion of successor to Mr.. Joyner. and
unanimously chosen.
DATE OF THE PRIMARY.
After these matters had been disposed
of the advisability of fixing the date OF
the primary was introduced.
Mr.. Jefferson Wallace moved that the
committee should postpone action in the
premises for two weeks.
Mr.. Duke moved as an amendment that
fha nafrafe eos. 81 b.. In.
structed TO report plan for a iegalized
primary to be held March 18th.
The question was debated for more tnan
an hour before the result stated above
was reached.
The announcement Of the vote led to
the usual parliamentary motion 10 re-
consider, which was lost, and the COM
mittee adjourned.
PLEASED THE CANDIDATES.
The result OF the meeting was viewed
with satisfaction by several candidates
who were seen last night. The Office.
holders have been particularly anxious
that an early date should be set, the
strain on their patience and their purses
being very great. The other candidates
have, for the most part. been anxious
that the date should be fixed as near the
day OF election-May 2sth-as possible In
order to give them time to make as com
pIete and effective a canvass as possible.
But candidates who were seen last night
expressed themselves as quite satisfied.
Most OF them have been working for
several months, and are able TO devote
more time To the canvass than the Office
holders.
The great fear has been that a very
early primary would create an opening
for an independent ticket. which would
greatly complicate matters. There was a
large crowd OF prominent politicians at
the club last night, gathered In the expec-
tation OF hearing the primary question
debated by the committee. and the dis
appointment that the session was a
secret one was very keen.
GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE.
Mr.. Il. A. Catlin. president OF the Good
Government League. was present, and
had intended 10 ask the privilege OF the
floor to voice the sentiments OF the
league. In petitlonlng the committee 10
fix the date Of the primary as late as
possible. After waiting for some time,
and learning that the meeting was a
secret one. he left, saying that under the
circumstances he would not ask to be
heard.
Mr.. Catlin has said that the league will
put out a full Council ticket in every
ward, endorsing only such members as
will stand firmly by their pledges. An
old politician said yesterday, th1. II this
were done Il would bring about one OF
the fercest and most uncompromising
fights that has ever taken place in a
municipal election in the city.
Nearly all the old councilmen viii be
In the race. Mr.. Sol Bloomberg said yes
terday that he would not run again. Mr..
Robert Briggs. who Is a candidate for the
city sergeancy. and Mr.. o. A. Hawkins.
who is a candidate for the Office OF Com
missioner OF Revenue, will, OF course. be
ineligible.
Mr.. f. NJ. Foster said on Monday night
that he would not run again, as he found
the late hours to which the Council sat
affected his health, and Mr.. II. w. Roun-
tdee has repeatedly asserted that he
would not come out again as the great
amount OF work entailed by proper at
tention TO his duties. Interfersd with hls
business.
Mr.. Chris. Manning. Jr. denies tho
rumor that he will be a candidate from
Jefferson Ward.
II Is said that Mr. Samuel Stern may
be a candidate for the Board OF Alder
men. Mr. Stern made the closing argu-
ment at the meeting OF the committee
last night I'm favor Of an early primary
Mr.. Henry cohn and Mr.. ID. Osullivan
are candidates for the vacant position
on the City Committee from Jefferson
Ward.
AMONG THE CLUBS.
The regular weekly meeting OF the Old
Dominion Democratic Club will take
place tonight. Candidates are invited 90
attend.
A call has been Issued for the Demo-
cratic voters OF Jackson Ward 20 meet