Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-05-17
TUESDAY EVENING. MAY IL, 1904.

THE ELECTION yesterday resulted IN
the unhorsing by a slight majority OfMr.
George L. Simpson, who has been May
or of Alexandria since July /, 1897, and
the selection of Mr.. F. j. Paf as his
successor. The latter has been promi-
nent in AIexsndria's politics for the past
three years, during which time he has
been President of the Common Council.
He is a young business man by no means
q creature of accident, but has won his
way by hard work and attention to busi-
ness affairs. While many by their votes
Yesterday signifed their desire for
continuance of Mr.. Simpson in Office,
there is an evident intention on the part
of most people of both camps to uphold
the hands of his successor and in every
way vie with him in furthering the for
tunes of the city in which we are all IN
terested, no matter whose cause each
cbampioned A majority of the voters
mas called Mr.. Paff to high and
responsible position, and there is every
reason to suppose that he will discharge
its duties satisfactorily. He is, compar-
ed with his predecessor, a young man.
and will manifest an honest pride in his
high calling. AS is usual in close con-
tests. there are some who will doubtless
he longer than others in co1valescing
from sore places, but the fact should not
be forgotten that Yesterdays primary was
simply contest in the democratic party,
and now that the result has been announc-
ed let all resentment, umbrages and other
unmanly feelings be cast into one COM
mon heap and the match applied.
While small majority of citizens voted
for a change, this is practically no re-
Election upon the presentincumbent who
has increasingly worked pro bono publico
and has done all in his power to enhance
the interests of the city of his birth.
Conservative and logical in his conclu-
sions. he has ever shown his readiness to
embark in any movement which sayOred
of common sense or practicability. There
were times when his theories were con-
trOverted, and on some occasions there
NAV have been errors of the head on his
part. But the fact that the people
honored him three times in succession
for the Office of chief executive of the
CITY is of itself significant, as it is a COM
pliment seldom cOnferred'upOn any one,
and is proof conclusive that he enjoyed
their confidence. The tide of popularity,
however, reaches its flood in the history
of all. The recessiOn-inevitable and as
certain az the coming and going of the
seasOns-soOner or later sets in, especially
in political life. New voters appear
on the scene, old issues burn out, new
ones take their places and eventually
other stars appear in the political 6rma-
ment which attract, as did their prede-
cessOrs. Transitions in mundane affairs
have been going on from the beginning
and will continue to the end hence the
words of Horace Greeley in his autobi-
ography are pertinent:
Fame is vapor; popularity an
accident; riches take wings the only
earthly certainty is oblivion, and no man
can foresee what day may bring forth,
while those who cheer today will often
curse tomorrow.
Mr.. Simpson, however, will remain
prominent figure in our community as
long as he lives, and his name will 60
down in the city's archives as one of her
most estimable executives.