Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-04-08


House on Saturday night brought out
q larger number than that for Wednes-
day lights gathering. Numbers, how
ever, came expecting some spicy scenes
In resentment OF the action of the demo-
cratic committee 10 refusing to defer
the primary election in accordance
with the wishes of the delegation rep
reseuting the citizens ticket" Such
were doomed to disappointment, as no
reference whatever was made to the
committee nor of the colloquies which
took place at its meeting, nor was there
anything outside OF the ordinary. The
proceedings, which occupied about an
hour, were conducted quietly and moth
ing ssvoring of spirit was manifested.
About q quarter past s o'clock Mr.. J.
Il. Cation assembled to the stage and
called the meeting to order, while Mr..
James Bayne took his place as secre-
tary. Mr. Citon stated that the first
busint y 10 order would be the reading
of the report of the committee on or
ganizition which had met al the room
of tho Business Mems League on Thurs
day night and performed the duty IS
signed them. He then gave 10 a sue
ciDct manner resume Of the platform
OF the formulstors oil the movement to-
ward street improvements. cheaper gas,
iocandescent lights, lower water rents,
re duced rate Of interest on city debt,
etc., all of which was detailed In full in
the circulars sent out last week, the
substance OF which has several times
appeared in the Gszstte. Mr.. Cation
said those present had not gathered for
the purpose OF launching new party
nor for disorganizing the democratic
party, but the assemblsgs had been In
vited as business men having the city's
interests at heart, and 10 order to see
10 what extent the principles as out
lined appealed to the sympathy of tbs
community. Those engaged in the
movement we're not thirstiDg for offics
nor political preferment; they were the
champions of no corporation save thai
OF the city OF Alexandra, they had nc
| ambitions to crafty, and their first, las
and only sim-wss for the betterment o.
the city and to induce others to come
aud live with US. The issues which
had been precipitsted and which vii
be considered at the coming primary
election had been before the people fol
the past ten or fifteen years. They
had often been agitated and men hat
occasionally been elected to Council
| who promised to carry out the idea'
| and interests of their constituents
Some feeble movements had beer
made, but this Was the first iDstsnct
| where there had been an organic 70
| movement 10 the direction indicated
| Many felt that the time had come wher
such an organization should be effect
! ed, and those engaged in it claimed
| they we're but exercising Q right aDd
that their motives should not be i'm
| puned. The paper embodyiDg the
principles OF the movers did not adyo
cate the issue OF bonds. 1t did, how
ever, urge some specific plan of stree
| improvements-tha i5 to improve al
much of the city ss possible each year
Pave a square at q time il no more no
I'll the fruits oil the movement becom
manifest. There must, he said, be
start, and those engaged 10 furtherini
the plans advocated favored max
ing an early beginning, and that thu
work be prosecuted conservstively blu
earnestly as fast as our meanswill carry
ns. Mr.. Cation appealed to his hearer
to know il any proposition he had
enuucisted was unreasonable or vision
ary. II what be said did not appeal t
the convictions OF the voters it wa
their privilege to vote against the can
didates dominated on such platform
whose names, he said, would be placed
on the democratic ticket 10 the comiDi
primary election. There Was no inten
ton OF starting an independent party
and consequently no reason for AM
disruption in the democratic Organiza
ton.
Mr.. Bayne then read the platform
printed on the circular calling the meet
iDg of Wednesday night, and upon
vote being taken 1t was adopted by
unanimous vote.
Mr.. Bayne also read the report OF tn
committee on organic ,tion which me
on Thursday night. The substance o
il was embraced in the proceedings o
the committee published 10 friday
Gazette. An amendment to the plaDl
in re cara to lower water rents was ais
read. This provides that 10 case sewer
age is made compulsory that the Waite
Company be petitioned to grant lowe
rates for such purpose. The report q
amended was adopted.
Mr.. Cation subsequently announced
that his duties as temporary Chairman
now ceased, and he called on Mr.. J. Il
| Zimmerman, who had been elected
permanent president by the committed
on organization, to assume the chair
IL was stated that Mr.. zimmerman wa
out OF the city. Mr.. Cation then called
on Mr.. L. Z. Downbam, who had beer
elected one of the vice presidents, u
act. Mr.. Downham went on the stag
amidst much applause. Upou takin,
the chair be said he was no speaker
but be was proud to say that years sg'
be had taken the initiatory steps to
ward carrying out the programme 10
street improvements as set forth by tn
present organized movement. WheI
Mayor of the city some years ago b,
had entered into correspondence will
the Mayors of Buffalo, N. Y, and othe
cities for the purpose OF sscertaiDinl
their methods of bringing about thi
desideratum, and had enclosed tn,
same in communications to Council
but for some reason no definite move
msnt toward carrying out bis sugges
tons had followed. Had bis sugges
tions been acted upon Alexandra
would today have had some goot
streets, at least, and financially the CITY
would have been just as we'll off as it i
today. He alluded to the alleged ridi