The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-11

tOral people OF the SOuth, however, 40
not seem to have learned that lesson yet.
The Democratic party after all its woe
full experience with the negro breaches
self-government for race like the fllipi'
nos. who are not even a. capable as the
negro
"Do you intend to affiliate with the
Republican party henceforth -
No. indeed, a" responded Mr. Fitzhugh
tartly. Il shall have nothing todo with
either party shall keep aloof from
them"
Have the Republicans any chance IN
the campaign this summer in Virginia
"None in the world, - came the straight
forward answer. They haven I even
decent organization in any county IN the
State. They are divided among them
selves. with two or three rivalcandidates
for governor. One Of them, Col. Hoge,
You remember. President Cleveland start
ed across the country for n mission in
China"
MIR. Fitzhugh il very much alive to the
industrial advancement of Fredericks-
burg and. although be never has time to
devote to oiIIcehoding, he is always
ready TO exert himself To bring new en-
terprise To the town. II have been IN
correspondence. said he, for long
time with different capitalists, and ire
ouently have believed was right on the
verge Of inducing them TO come here and
purchase the fine water power that isgO
ing TO waste on the Rappahannock.
Such n purchase would mean a great
deal for our city. 1t would mean more
factories that would pay out money
every Saturday night to scores and
scores OF operatives. 1t would mean
larger trade for our grocers and our
merchants. who have to depend for their
money TO n considerable entent on such
people. lust as in Washington, the gro
GERS and merchants depend on money
from the employees of the department.
Already we have good diversity oil
manufactures, but there is room for
many more.
The National Battlefield Park Associa-
ton. as proposed last winter in bill be-
fore Congress, is warmly championed by
Mr.. Fitzhugh. He was one OF those who
fought valiantly on the Confederate side
in the long and bloody warfare oi this
section of Virginia, and was badly
wounded. "Nine physicians came TO me
one morning" said he, "and informed
me that | could not live. | assured them
that their diagnosis was wrong, and
am here now to prove the correctness OF
my assertion.
"There has never been any objection
to raise to the proposed park, he con-
tinued. las far az know. 1t has been
endored by two different national en-
campments of thee. A. r. and also by the
United Confederate Veterans. The bill
nassed the Senate and was favorably re-
ported to the House, where it was block
ed by Speaker Henderson, who said he
feared TO open the door to that class O
legislation.
"We are not discouraged" concluded
Mr.. Fitzhugh. "We shall try again next
winter and then we expect to succeed.
HON. II. =. cRIsMoND.
The smaller cities of the Old Dominion
are restive under the prospective action
Of the Constitutional Convention lest
some of them lose their present munici
nal charters. Fredericksburg is OF that
class. The present law requires a popu
lation of 1000 before charter for city
government is granted by the legislature
Mr.. Horace F. Crismond, a prominent
business man of this city and delegate in
the Constitutional Convention from
Spotsvlyania and fredericksburg, has
been talking over the subject in an in
formal manner with his colleagues OF the
committee on the organization of cities
| and towns.
"There has been discussion among the
delegates, said Mr. Crismond "abou'
raising the limit of population for cities
to 10 600. That is Just what am very
much opposed to, for it would leave Fred
ericksburg. a city with something like
6 600 inhabitants, in the lurch. We dc
not. of course. want any provision in the
constitution that will deprive us OF ouI
charter.
"There are several boom cities in Vir
ginia, particularly in the Southwest, con
tinued Mr.. Crismond, "where the resi-
dents are grooming under a burden o
taxation. There are ways known tc
those who are booming real estate and
cities to increase the population. Now
that the bottom has dropped out ofsom'
of these places the people there would
welcome any higher requisite OF popula
ton that would disqualiiy them as cities
! am not a lawyer, but it occurred tome
and suggested it to some OF my col
leagues, that those residents OF depopu
lated cities of Virginia where there arr
less than 5000 people could find relic
| from taxation by refusing payment anf
taking the matter, when pressed, TO thu
courts, where they could prove that the,