The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-08
norfolk SITUATION
DATES away BACK
Continued from First Page,

r
collecting from unwilling patients and q
record of seventeen cases OF obstetrics
in one night. was chosen. Dr. RiddicS
led the reform hosts to victory and now
he is the Mayor OF this seaport city, with
an eager lot of sabbatrians. reforners.
and temperance advocates. 70 urge him
on and many OF the best people In the
city wishing his success.
THERE ARE OTHERS
While DR. Riddick is an horcst. car-
nest. intelligent cool and fearless man,
however with the best OF intentions ard
an opportunity to make necessary and
sensible reforms in the conduct of the
city government. it must not be forgotten
that Captain W. ". Dey IS a shrewd and
verSatile politician and that his inimedi-
ate lieutenant. if not. indeed. the real
boss of the situa ton is Jim" Prince.
Jim Prince is saloon capitalist. He
owns several saloons in the most fire.
Gucrted parts Of the city. and has long
seer known as one of the most infiueh-
tinl practical politicians in the city. Ho
IS Supposed to- haso absolute control OF
Sc nc OF the members OF the City Council
and to be able to influence the whole body
Oh occasions. He has had Influence
eucugh to reinstate his brother, Michael
the charge of murder. OF which he was
acquitted SO that wi1a tever reform comes
must be agreeable to Jim Prince and BEN
ctic,al to w. W. Deys political aspira-
tons
THE FIRST ACT.
The first act of Mayor RiddicfSs reform
administration is clean sweep of the
police department. The chief. W. u Vel
lines an old ard sturdy officer. formerly
a Confederate soldier and a man of ex-
cellent character. Is retained, but all the
cartains sergeants and special officers
are removed with the exception of Chief
detective Fieppel. who Is reduced to the
ranks for Prince. the new chief. The pa
trc;nen have been changed in the same
radical manner the majority of them
hetrs, replaced by those who agree with
the present administration who had
been previously dismissed for not agree
ing with former administration.
THE FIRST ORDER.
Following the first order, and before the
day set for the change in the police
force which is to occur on the 9th.
Mayor Rfd,iick issued an order that all
saloons were to be closed Sunday:
that all violations of the law must b.
suppressed. and that. in effect. Norfolk
should be closed and dry 1t vas q
close and dry city YESTERDAY. But still
any person who was anxious could get
u drink
In fact. a novel method was introduced
here by several of the saloons to facili-
tate the thirsty, and increase the pa
tronage OF the closed bars. y negro
vidette. awaits the passengers on trS
street. and if they appear faint or
weary, says, Captain. if you are looking
for a drink push open that side door.
REFORM PROSPECTS.
During the progress OF the reform
movement and after the new police forcs
shall have been thoroughly installed.
Norfolk may prove TO be an absolute
closed and dry city on Sunday. That
is what the reformers hope for; that IS
what Mayor Riddicl1 will strive for; that
is what many conservative and wise citi-e
zens believe to be impossible. However
that may he. there is a change.
There Will be Il greater change. Mean
time, the opposition is neither asleep nor
dead. Trehy. Joynes. Senator Martin. \.
P. Thorn. former Mayor j. G Brooks
Johnston. Judge Thomas II Wilcox and
many others allied with the Swanson
faction in State politics are watching the
movement with the serene satisfaction 1T
absolute certainty that Riddick is a. one
term Mayor. They see evidences already
of as much disappointment as joy among
the men who assisted in putting him In
office because they expected rewards he
finds it impossible to bestow.
PREPARING: TO RETURN
The Trehy-Swanson faction men are
preparing to return to peer. They are
not sure even. that the Dey faction is'
in possession There Is some doubt about
the majority in the Councils.
They expect to increase that doubt by
picking out man here and there till
they will be in control OF that body. They
have already secured several reluctant
concessions in the retention of officials.
and ,.-ey won distinct victory In de-
feat;ng the reform candidato who was 10
replace Judge TaZeweli Taylor in the
City Court. It is futfmated. indeed, that
there may be scheme by which, In the
event Mayor Riddicll fails to please the
saloon followers and SATISFY the Sabbath
tartan reformers. who are backing him.
that he may be impeacfed or bluffed into
s1,bserviency Mayor Riddick will prove
a strong and tactfuf man. phenomenon
indeed. il he manages successfully amid
the diverse clements OF his followers. and
still resists the ATTACKS and the blandish-
ments OF an opposition which includes
some of the shrewdest and boIdest poll
ticians in Virginia.
THE COMPLAINT.
The evils complained OF here are SINH
lar to those OF any other city. They ara
that gambling Is protected. that liquor
saloons are open on Suday: that the
Sabbath IS not observed by either the
officials or the citizens VINO choose to
break the law either for profit or for
froc Added TO what usually happens
IN every other city. this is j. resort whero
a large number come to pass day or
two OF pleasure, which they often turn
into license. There is more or less de-
mand that the saloons shall be open
TO meet the wishes of these stran gers
There is more or less profit TO the owner
in running the risk of Il fine or In pay
ing for the protection OF the police. Hence
the complaint here is that drinking
and gambling are rife: that vice is not
suppressed and that the police authorities
have been too lenient or two wilfuIly
ignorant of the bad effects OF Il wide-open
license system from which the city OBJ
tains only partial revenue and soma
one else gets the rest.
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