Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-20
RAIN INTERPRETERS.
ELEMENTS INITIATE AGAINST
THE LEAGUE MEETING.
THREE INFORMAL SPEECHES MADE,
Colonel CouiIing Replies to Mr..
wendenberg's Utterances, and
Crfffcises HE Coursc--TaII<s by
Messrs. werth and Rountree.

The meeting OF the Good Government
League at Corcoran Hall last night wa
initiated against by the elements. ant
the attendance was not as large as WA
anticipated. In view Of this fact, thu
regular session OF the league was post
| poneo, and an informal meeting wal
held, speeches being made by Colonel w
NJ. Coulling, Mr. James r. .Werth, anC
Mr.. II. w. Rountree.
Mr.. w. T. Snellings called the meeting
TO order, and announced that because o.
the inclemency of the weather the Coco
Government League meeting would be
postponed. but he introduced Colonel w
NJ. Coullng, who made a short speech
setting forth the principles of the
league. He asserted In the outset that
the workers in the league were not men
who are seeking personal aggrandize-
ment, but are working solely for the In
terests Of the people of the city.
ATTACKED MR.. WENDENBERG.
Referring to Mr. l.. o. Wendenberg' S
utterances concerning the Democracy of
the league members, Mr.. Coulling said
not a Democrat. Becoming personal in
his remarks. Mr. Coulling referred to
Mr.. Wenderbergs politics, and humor-
ously called attention to his efforts in
favor of the gold cause as originated by
Gold-Brick Smith. Calling attention TO
the last campaign the speaker asked IL
during that campaign Mr.. Wendenberg
had ever raised his voice in behalf of the
party.
He answered the question in the mega
tive, ana asserted that Mr.. Wenden-
berg's only reason for raising his voice
now was that he desired to secure the
office o. City Attorney for himself. lie
openly accused Mr.. Wendenberg Of an
attempt to disrupt the Democratic party
in the city. and then dismissing him, re-
turned to a discussion of the efforts Of
the league for an economic government
He told Of an effort he had made to in
duce capital to come TO Richmond and
reopen the Talbot Machine-Works, and
of how the effort had failed, partially
because of the financial condition of the
city and its excessive bonded indebted
ness and taxation.
MR.. WERTH TALKS.
Mr.. Coulling concluded with an appeal
for the support of the league candidates
for Council, and Mr.. James r. Werth
followed him. He asserted that he mad
travelled from Richmond 20 Portland,
Me-, to endeavor to bring capital to Rich
mond. He was invariably downed, he
said when the question of city taxes
was brought up. He said he was not
jeremiah, but that unless the people Of
Richmond could get capital here they
would have to go away from here to
where capital is. He concluded with
odx RI alQNfOrQ
to vote for their own best interests.
Mr.. II. w. Rountree was next called
upon, and after disclaiming any candi-
dacy on his part, commented on the fact
that not a single candidate was in at
tendance upon the meeting He spoke OF
the absolute necessity for reform in the
CITY Government, and asserted with en-
phasis that his service in the Council
had opened his eyes as nothing else had
ever done, and that had he known some
years ago what he now knows be would
never have built his factory In this city
or invested one dollar here.
In his business, he said, he was ham,
pered by excessive taxation, and was in
terfered with thereby in meeting com
petition on the road.
ALARMING PREDICTIONS.
He made alarming predictions concern
ing the city'S future, ana salu lhd' IL
matters continued as they now are, In
five years he would be forced to move
his plant from the city, and that many
other manufacturing enterprises woulu
he forced 10 do so. He had already been
forced. he said, to establish branches OF
his business in Atlanta and New YORK,
and though he was trying to stand TO
the ship" he feared he would finally De
forced to desert her.
He asserted that he and his colleagues
were not in the Council for revenue, and
said that since he had been there he had
nut his hand in his pocket ana paid Tor
the work for the city. rather than can
unon the treasury TO do so. He did not
see. he said, how n poor man could at
ford TO serve in the Council, and said
that In that body were many amateurs
who had no business there.
Touching upon the school question, MT.
Rountree said that the failure or the
school Board TO receive sufhcient
amount to run the schools the entire
term was not the fault of the present
Council. The decreased appropriation for
schools was made by the preceding Coun-
ell. Referring to the necessity for having
men in the Council, MI
Rountree said that he would not vote for
a man who asked for votes for that Of
fee. He would fear such man had an
axe to grind.
The meeting was adjourned when Mr..
y orptrpa concluded.