The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-29
SOMETHING ABOUT RlCHMOND'S
NEW DEMOCRATIC COMMIT TEE.
Pen Pictures of Its Officers and Ward Superlntend
Chairman Gordon Is Heightened Man.
Mr.. Wallace Will Still Act In an Ad-
ylsory Capacity
Vlso1y Capacity.

TO INC t.SsLCI. NsloSc !DiSttSt
In politics is limited 10 the intellsgen: cx-
ercise of the FRANCHISE on general cleo
zion days and in municipal primary cleo
lions. the necessity for the existence of
party committees, which /, IS The fashion
just now 10 call machines" is not APP
parent Tbs type OF voter who frequent
~ prices himself on being independent
IS doubtless 4mbued with the Idea TINT
everybody else does as ne does, that is,
goes quietly to the polls on election day,
and casts an uno5trusive and sacrealy-sec-
ret ballot. But the politician is better in
formed: he appreciates the necessity for
an executive committee thai will dis
crcetiy manage the campaign; will see that
the indifferent are eHthuSed, that laSSards
are brought 10 the polls and that every
possible vote is cast.
WHERE THE BRUNT FALLS
In this city, which is the rock-riboed
Gibraltar OF Democracy, where nomination
by the Democratic party is equivalent 10
election, the brunt Of the battle Always
falls upon the City Democratic Committed
While county committees depend upon inc
State Democratic Committee for funds ana
speakers. and frequently for plans, the
City Committee. so TO speak. hoes lis
own row. 1t provides plans for The pri-
mary elections, conducts them, canVasses
the returns and after the nomination, II
there be opposition, conducts the cam
paign. So fhnt the makeup of the City
Democratic Committee is a matter OF i'm
mediate concern to the people of Rich
mond. even the Republicans being inter-
ested in knowing tina. the committee IS
composed of honest, fearless men, who
have no axes to grind.
The committee contains thirty members
,s-;,- IL VI
usually elected at the biennial municipal
primary. These thirty men choose from
their own number a chairman, vice-chair-
man, secretary, treasurer. six ward su-
per:ntenden1s and six assistant ward su-
perintendents. The chairman appoints
an Executive Committee, composed of
three members Of the general committee,
which Executive Committee usually
hIndleS all campaigns. It is the officers
of the committee, the ward superintend-
ents and the members of the Executive
Committee who do practically all the
hard work of an election, the general COM
mittee usually doing nothing more than
providing plans for and conducting pri-
mary contests.
MR. GORDON.S GOOD RECORD.
The present chairman of the Committee
is Mr.. James w Gordon, an able young
lnwyer and junior member of the firm of
Smith. AIoncure & Gordon. The selection
of Mr.. Gordon has been generally con-
ceded to be Il very happy one. He is a most
capable man, an earnest party worker;
clean, conscientious and fearless; and has
been connected with the party organizn-
ton for six years, during which time he
has successfully filled the positions of
ward superintendent, vice-chairman of
the Committee and secretary. He was
elected to the Craftsmanship by acclama-
ton at the beginning OF this month, sue
ceeiing Mr.. Jefferson Walnce. who with
drew from the management of the party
affairs IN this city after ten years of con-
1inuous service
The vice-chairman IS Mr.. James B.
Doherty, who Is the State Labor Commits
sioner Mr. Doherty's duties are purely
honorary. except when the chairman IS
absent from the city or for other reason
is unable 10 discharge the duties of the
Craftsmanship. In such cases Mr.. Doherty
will become the head Of the party for the
time being. and those who know him are
confident that he will fill the bill admir-
ably, as he is a man of large executive
ability. MIR. poherty is Il cigarmaker and
an e1-president Of the Central Trades
Council of this city.
THE NEW SECRETARY.
Mr.. Albert O. Boschen, a promising
young attorney, who has just begun what
bids fair to be q prominent political ca
reer, IS secretary of the Committee. Al
though new member, he was unanimous
ly elected 10 the position he holds. which
makes it very apparent that the Commit
tee believed that he was the right man for
the place.
The treasurer of the Committee IS Mr..
Henry NJ. Tyler. half-brother of the Gov
ernor- Mr. Tyler has rendered distin-
GuIshed service during the past seven
years as superintendent Of Jefferson
Ward and treasurer of the Committee.
He is a genial. lovnble man and in poll
tics S always conservative and therefore
a safe adviser. He is a snrewd and as
tute politician as Is evidenced by MS man
agement of his brothers campaign in this
city in the summer of 1897 when thirty
Tyler delegates We're elected from Rich
mond to the State Democratic Conven-
ton.
WARD SUPERINTENDENTS.
The superintendent of Clay Ward is Mr..
Clyde ". Saunders. the well-known
printer Mr. Saunders Is one of the most
active ind untirirg party workers that ever
was connected with the Richmond organ
ization. He never leaves stone unt1rn-
ed and always brings out the Clay Ward
majority. He IS a man who never was
known to .'straddle the fence being
loyal. devoted friend. or an uncom-
promising enemy, but never neutral.
Jackson Ward affairs. during the next
two years. viii be managed by Mr.. John
r Leaman. q most energetic and earnest
young Democrat. who. though this is
his first official connection with party
management, has been doing hard work in
Jackson Wnrd all MS life. He is a broth
or of Mr. w. P. Leaman, the well-known
Jackson-Ward politician
The superintendent of Madison Ward is
Mr.. Minetree Foikes. of the firm of Mosby
& Fo,kes. attorneys at law. and a brother
OF Hon Elben c. Folkes. member of the
House of Delegates. Mr.. F'olkes has held
his present position for several years,