Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-16
READY FOR THE FRAY
MANY CANDIDATES ARE OUT FOR
THE MUNICIPAL OFFICES.
HOT PIGHT FOR COUNCIL SEATS
An Early Primary Practically De-
cided Upon-Good Government
League VIII Put Up Tickets in
Every ward-some of the Piums.

Every ward-some of the Plums.
The local political pot begins TO seethe
and there is every indication that the city
Is upon the eve of very active cam
paign-one of the hardest, probably, that
has been known for many years. Any one
who doubts this should turn his ewes TO
the long list OF candidates for the various
public Offices, and II he listens attentiyely
he may hear in no uncertain tones, the
preparations that are In progress Tor
desperate struggle for councimanic hen
ors between the clubs and the Good-Gov-
eminent League.
The New Year, and its attendant press
OF business affairs has brought with 1t
the calm that precedes a storm; but the
next few days may see some interesting
developments.
One thing Is certain, and that Is, that
there will be an early primary. An effort
is being made TO fix the date some time
between February 18th and March 18th,
and a member Of the City Central Com
mittee is on record as saying that ma
tority Of that body were In favor OF mold
ing the primary during the latter part OF
next month. This seems to meet with
the approval OF all the candidates. The
lncumbents OF the offices believe
that with their prestige and the records
OF their work behind them they have
nothing to lose by going 20 the people
before their opponents have had overmuch
time to press their claims on the Dustlngs.
while, on the other hand, the aspirants Tor
office who have been working quietly ana
diligently for some time past and widely
disseminating cards Of solicitation, are
all fairly confident, and with great faith
in their prospects, are ready TO meet the
issue.
WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE.
The candidates who have thus far an
nounced themselves are:
For Mayor-Richard NJ. Taylor, the in-
cumbent; T.. p. Reeve, and John s, Har-
wood.
For City Audltor-E. ]. Warren, the
present officer, and r. S. Nj. Valentine.
For City Collector-Frank w. Cunning
ham. the incumbent. and Frank T. Bates.
For Commissioner of Revenue-R. y.
o.,
and II. NJ. Noble.
For city observation-disclosures Epps, the
Incumbent; James c. Smith. II. T. Briggs,
Marion b. Sutton, John A. Curtis, and
Edward s. Rose.
For High Constable-E. c. Garrison, the
Incumbent; Frank =. Burke, X. r Raj
ston. r. c. Shields, George Med. Blake
and John Krause.
For Sheriff-John T. Hughes, the incum-
bent.
MAY BE SOME CHANGES.
The above list may possibly be swelled
bv new arrivals on the field, or it may be
thlnned ont by Withdrawals. This latter
alternative is not at all likely. though Mr..
Edgar r, White, who was a candidate for
the High Constable's office. has with
drawn from the race in order to place his
influence and time at the disposal OF
Mayor Taylor.
So far. Sheriff Hughes has no opposition,
though Mr.. j. Donleavy has been urged
by his friends 10 enter the lists, but up
to the present ne has declined the invi-
tation on the ground that he had not re-
ceived sufficient encouragement.
In addition to the above offices TO be
filed one fire and one police commits
sioner will retire at the end of this term.
T.
term OF six years on the former board,
and Mr. Joseph w. Laube having served
his term on the latter.
Mr.. Levy will be opposed by Mr.. Charles
w. Tanner. but no one is out yet against
Mr.. Laube for the commissionership on
the police board.
The familiar cry Is being raised bv can
didates against the bleeding process. I'VE
have all seen our friends" said an office
seeker yesterday, but all the ground has
TO be gone over again, for the campaign
Is lust opening, and the work done in the
autumn of 1897 will count for very little.
FIGHT FOR COUNCIL SEATS.
Warm as will be the contest for the
municipal offices, however. 1t is not 10
be compared 20 the fight which is on the
tapis for seats in the two branches OF the
CITY Council. The record OF the present
body IS being industriously oyerhauled.
IL has been a retrenchment and reform
Council from the start but the fathers OF
IL think that it has not gont far enough,
while its opponents deride what they term
1.-THE one-sided effort TO retrench," and
say that IL has Disseminated In its re-
trenchng proceedings In the direction OIL
those having political influence, and mas
made cuts in the salaries OF the school-
ma'ams and department laborers.
A gentleman of prominence IN politicai
affairs offered yesterday TO wager any
amount of money that when the sum total
of all the retrencbing was arrived at IL
would not exceed $4,000.
On the other hand, the financial pros
meets of the city are indisputably brighter
than they have been for many years,
and her bonds are now selling at 100, an
advance OF Is on few years ago. The
Council. whatever may have been its
shortcomings-and no legislative body can
Law claim to absolute perfection-has been
a very Woodworking body, and has
framed many useful and beneficial ordi-
nances.
WHAT THE LEAGUE WILL DO.
It is authoritatively stated that the
Good Government League viii put up
strong tickets in all the wards, including
jefferson and Marshall, where no rght
was made last time. "Only tried men
and true" said one of the leaders yes
terday. will be put up; men who can be
relied upon, absolutely, TO stand true 10
their pledges, and TO work for the OBJ
iects for which the league stands
III there is only one such man running
In a ward, he will be the only one en-
dorsed by the league. but full ticket
will be named wherever men are availa-
BILE and willing TO serve. The league VIII
set the ball rolling at once and VIII nght
out the issue TO its end with all the en-