Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-04-06
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.

A called meeting of the city demo-
cratic committee was held last night in
the chamber of the Board of Aldermen.
There ere present Messrs. o. F. Carter
chairman. Mr.. g. L. Boothe secretary,
Messrs. Dobie, Price. Desmond, Penn,
snd Summers. Several OF the demo-
cratic candidates for Office and q num-
Der OF spectators were also present.
Mr.. Carter stated that the meeting
had been called at the request of sew
eral business men who had asked for a
postponemeDt OF the primary. He had
told them that II they could get the
consent OF the candidates he would
agree to a postponement. Later he
had been informed that all the csndi-
dstes bad agreed to q postponement
and he had called the meeting to take
action.
Mr.. Boothe moved that the chairman
OF the business mems committee be al
lowed to present their request.
Mr.. Cation said, representing com.
mittee OF number of business men, he
appeared before the democratic commit
tee to SIX postponement OF the primary
till the 23d or 26 b inst. Their reasons
we're that they wished time to induce
other business men to become candi
dates for Council and to give an oppor-
tuDity to the people to select from q
larger number OF candidates to repre-
sent them in Council. He had inter.
viewed the candidates for the salaried
offices and so far az be knew none of
them was opposed to postponemeut.
Another question to be presented. was
the manner of voting; he wished the
committee to require each ballot to con-
tain the names of four candidates for
Council 10 each ward and to prevent the
voting OF "plumper" bsllots. He said
q great many who went into primaries
went 10 to support one person only and
in the election would support only
| that one.
Mr.. Carter did not think the commit.
tee had right to dictate to people how
they should vote or say that they should
vote for four men when they did moi
want to do 80.
Mr.. Boothe did not think it within
| the province of the committee to sag
that voter should or should not vote
a "plumper." He moved that the com
mittee take no action regarding
"plumDers."
Mr.. Penn said that on Monday some o
the candidates wanted an cal ller date
than bad been agreed upon by the com
mittee and wanted to know If they
were now willing for pcstponement o
the primary. II so the first thing to bt
done would be to rescind the action o.
The last meeting.
Mr.. Cation said his committee did mol
want to be understood as debating t.
the committee; his was only respect
fol request.
Mr.. Dobie said II the candidates ha(
no objection to postponement be
would move to 6x the date OF the pri
mary on the 9th.
Mr.. Carter said action on this motor
would be taken behind closed doors.
Mr.. Boothe seconded Mr.. Dobie'
motion.
Mayor Simpson wanted to know |
the date OF the primary was postponed
from the 10th If the time named, tn
10Th inst, for candidates TO presen
their names would also be postponed
He could Sea no reason for postpone
ment at all, as any candidate for Coun
Gil could make canvass OF mis- ward il
three days; the date of the primary wa
immaterial to him, but In Difference t
the other candidates all should submit
their names by the 10Th inst.
Mr.. Hubert Snowden said he woul'
again be candidate for Council frou
the First ward and be hoped the com
mittee would not change the date Of tn
primary; the date had been fixed ate
due notice, and fifteen days had beel
given all candidates who wanted t,
enter the primary, which date would b
week later than the primary held TIVE
years ago. He said the democratic
party was by right the dominant party
in the city and State, and its commit
tee should be firm and not weak
kneed men; the rank and file of th'
party did not like weak and vascilatinl
men; as the date of the primary hal
been fairly set it should remain, and ,
change would cause much dissatisfac
ton; the date gave no one any advan
tsge for he had known men on a day
notice to defeat others who had beef
cand dates for months; the primar,
would be open to ali who would suppor
the ticket, and that was certainly liberia
enough; az yet the gentlemen had pre-
scented no candidates. He had beer
taught TO beware of gift bearing Greeks
and when these gentlemen come her,
aud promise TO send men 10 Council
who would wipe out the city debt by in
creasing 1t, reduce taxes by increasing
a, sssments and bringing about the
millennium he questioned their motives
| be had been 10 Council long enough tt
know that periodically such movementi
were started, but that when new mer
got there they found the city's receipts
Just 30 much and that expenses must bt
Incurred accordingly; he believed mosl
of the Councilman did the best they
could under existing circumstances
we're Just % anxious to improve thu
city as other people were snt
that many would be glad to retire from
their disagreeable lsbors If better mer
were found to take their places.
Mr.. Boothe said he had seconded
Mr.. Dobie's motion to postpone th'
primary under the impression that 81
the candidates bad agreed to the pos,
ponemeDt; az, however, some OF th'
candidates had objected be would with
draw his second. He wanted it known
that he was not weakened demo
crat.
Mr.. Snowden said he did not thipl
1.-THE candidates wanted postponement
be had talked with three that morning.
while they were all together and haI