The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-07
CONCERNING MAYOR TAYLOR.

The Times has never been an admirer
of Mayor Taylor as a city official. but
we do not see what right this community
that he stands on his record. and well
he may. lie has been Mayor Of this city
for several terms, and he had made his
record long before the last mayoralty
campaign. The voters knew exactly
what sort Of an Official he was. They
his ideas of Office and his methods OF
Office They had seen him In the Mayors
chair; they had seen Tim upon many a
public occasion and heard his speeches;
they had seen and heard him on the
stump: they had read his messages to
hands with ''the boys and heard him
talk about his job They knew all
about him: yet, when the election came
around. they turned out and voted for
him and elected him by = handsome ma
jority.
Ave repeat that the Mayor may well
afford to stand on his record. He has
every reason TO believe that his record
is well pleasing to the voters Of this
community, for the voters have stood
by him and by their votes have e&-
pressed their approval of the Mayor and
his course If the voters did not like
him they had the opportunity Of express
ing their disapproval at the polls and
OF elcctinE the rival candidate. II they
did not like the rival candidate they
might have induced some other man to
run. But il there was any concerted
effort to bring out another candidate We
never heard of it.
Several years ago Colonel John S. IIar-
wood. one Of the most progressive clti-
gems of Richmond. and one of the most
popular men in the city. ran against
Mayor Taylor He appeared >before the
people and discussed the issues in a
digniflcd and conservative manner and
offered his services to them. But the
voters preferred Mayor Taylor and
reelected him.
Later on. Captain Carlton Mccarthy.
a man who had done valiant service for
his State in time of war and who lad
done valiant service for the city as City
Accountant offered his services to the
peoDie. and conducted one OF the most
vigorous campaigns ever known in Rich
mend He made speech after speech be-.
fore immense audiences. and he did not
spare tie Mayor nor the Mayors record.
he had been living for several years In
the City Hall as city official, and he
nossessed much valuable information as
to the manner in which the affairs OF
TIE city were conducted. lie told every
thing that he knew; he cried aloud and
spared not. If the people had had any
doubt as to the kind Of official Mayor
Taylor was. that doubt was removed by
the speeches of Captain Mccarthy.
Yet, when the election came around.
the voters reelected Mayor Taylor by
an Overwhelming majority
In view Of all these facts, it is too late
for the voters to begin to criucise Mayor
Taylor and say that he is not the man
Tor tho place. They knew quite as much
about him when they reelected him
as they know now. If they did not like
him, il they did not think he was the
proper man TO be Mayor, they should
have said so at the polls long ago. The
voters made him Mayor, and it comes in
poor grace from them now to be de-
CRYING the work OF their own hands.
There is but one fair and sensible.
course for the voters Of Richmond TO
pursue. If they have finally come to
the conclusion that Mayor Taylor is not
the man for the place they ought TO
make ready for the next campaign, bring
out a. canoloate to their liking. and then
elect MIN.