Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-12
THE RESULT IN GREAT DOUBT.
Friends Of Meredith, Yendsnburs. and
Pollard Ali Working Hard.
LETTER OF THE CITY coMnnrrEn'
This Organization Appeals to coun-
cilmen to Vote Only for Democrats
In Full sympathy with the Party
Other Contests.

Rarely, IL ever. In this city. has such
an amount of acrimony entered into
contest for Council patronage as that
which marks the race for the city attor-
neyship The political prophets are non-
plsed. and though all aorts of rrmors
are aGoat. no ono attempts to predict tho
result with any degree Of certainty.
A gentleman who has been hard at
work In the interest OF enc OF the candi-
dates, said last night that the matter
rested entirely with Mr.. Pollard's sup
portsrs. whichever way they vote. II they
find II impossible of electing their choice.
may decide tho matter.
Thore is a growing belief that Mr. Poi- =
lard Is by ne means ous of the RAGS. lfs
is not car'iidate In the sense OF working
for the office, but his friends, like those
Of Messrs. Meredith and Weiadeaburs.
are putting forth vigorous efforts IN his
behalf. Tho fight IL primarily between
Messrs. Moredrth and " endenbufg, and
the Supporters of each of those gentle-
men claim that their forces will win. IL.
however, either of these aSpirants iinds
that he cannot be elected, his salppors
will, as Ear as possible, be thrown to
some one else rather than TO the leading
0pponenI
CITY COMMITTEES LETTER.
The subcommittee from the City
Democratic Committee, appointed to drafs
letter TO the Democratic members OF
the City Council. met at the Pswhatan
Club last night and drased TIA fohowinSs
signed copy OF which was mailed To
each of the forty-seven Democrats. who
are expected to participate in the caucus
tomorrow night:
Richmond, Va. june IL. issS
To the Members OF the DemocTStio Cau-
Gus OF the City Council 81 Richmond:
Conference.-The City Denocxstic Cons
mittee or Richmond respectfully requests
that you will use your best efforts i'm
securing the nomination to the various
city offices within the gift Of the Coun-
Gil OF men who ara In thorough accord
with the Democratic purity. In doing
this, we do not act hastily, but after
due elaboration, and with an almost
unanimous vote. Although this ia NOT
an unprecedented step for political
committee TO take, nevertheless We real
lie that It IS an unusual ono; hNs tho
present condition OF affairs Is so unusuat
as 10 make some action Incumbent upon
us.
The duty of a political committee is TO
Yacure the SUCCESS OF the party whose
servant II Is, and to that end to endea~
vor that every office may DO fliltd by %
man who is in accord with the ceclared
principles of the party. When offices ara
to be filed by an election OF the people.
Il exerts itself TO secure the sieetion OF
men OF approved faith. It's work Is gem
orally over when the election Is az an
end and the successful candidates havo
received certificates OF election. IL does
not concern itself about those oincers
whose election has been delegated by
law 10 the members OF representative
assemblies; for 1t is generally supposed
that, when the members OF such an as
sembly have been elected ana seated
as naturally as day follows night-the
majority. being Of ore political party will
ptst in Office only friends Of that party.
What an unheard-of act would II be-
enc which besgars belief-for safe ma
iority Of Democrats in any assembly 10
elect any but a true Democrat to ONCE
ELECT ONLY DEMOCRATS.
we. who are members OF the Demo-
cratic Committee, cannot for moment
believe that any such action - likely az
the hands OF our Democratic councllmen.
We have too much confidence In the IN S
tegrity Of those gentlemen who have re-
cefved the nomination at the hands or
Democrats. and have been elected on tho
Democratic platform. We cannot for
moment believe but that they VIII Keep
faith with the party and the people, Yet
we cannot, as honorable men. close our
ears 70 the daily talk upon the street
corners. nor our eyes to the constant pub
lication in the press, and affect TO be ig-
norant OF what everybody else knows.
namely, that determined EFFORT Is being
made 10 secure the nomination az tho
hands Of the caucus OF some, at least,
who are openlynnd defanily In opposition
10 the party, ana that public boasts are
being made, undenied by AMY Demo-
cratic members Of the Council. that their
nomination is not only possible, but prob (
able.
The consequences Of putting In ONCE any
but q Democrat, any but q member OF
the dominant party, are farreachlng and
malignant. Such an act strikes az the
very heart and life OF the organization;
II creates in the minds OF the party Lead
ers o. dependency which even "the con-
seriousness OF duty well performed" can
hardly remove; Il shakes the faith Of the &
rank and file, and spreade iiEsnay among
them; the news OF Il travels far end vide.
and In remote places it disconcerts and
discourages the faithful. Such action
drives men out OF tho party. and nakes
others feel as r. they had been betrayed;
IL BlayS honest GADII III Nfkt t4lSs 81 Hut3
a premium upon treaehery. IL denorsiizes
the party. DO not hope TO achieve any
thing by conciliating boilers; v is better
20 offend thousand boilers than TO insult
a thousand faithful partisans.
BE BREACH OF FAITH.
We beg 10 remind yeu that. nominated
upon the Democratic platform. and rro-
Tossing 70 be devoted 10 Its principles.
you received a majority OF tho votes OF
your constituents. you wero elected.
therefore, by men who believed your
pledges. and who at tho polls declared
that this city should for two pears be
governed by Democrats. Not TO realize
that expectation and obey that dsolara-
tiOn would be a breach OF faith wfth the
Democracy OF Richmond.
We know you are toe mindful OF your
obligation. too regar1ful OF pour honor.
TO ever place yourself in such IN eftitude>
and We call upon you. In tho name OF the
party. not to nominate 20 any eff1cs within
your gift any nam who Il not sincerelp
and gracefully In accord with mo doc
trines OF Democracy. We call upoh you
10 keep your pledges 20 the party. and
the party's pledges to tho peopls. By eot-
ing as Democrats TO the last and mosk <s- I
IRENE degree Respectfully
JEFFERSON WAIi4Acn.
Cha3rula<