The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-04
REVELATIONS BY AN BX-MAYOR.

sised the leaders Of the intruders that
when the convention met again, he would
nominate any men they might select
his promise, and the protesting voters
thought they had won a great victory
until they learRe that the adjourned ses-
Sion of5the conV ention had been held two
days too late to get the names OF me
nominees on the official ballot. But the
machine boss had properly and legally
flied petition which placed tho names
OF the candidates he wanted on. the bal.
lot. Had the indignant voters been Ia
smlllarS With the law they would nave
known that all nominations either ~
conv ton or petit must ne ilea VIII
the proper public official certain NUM- i
Der or days before election. day; This
knowledge would have enabled them 70
see the trap set by the crafty politician
who did know the law. I,
sgS Z hnve said that n SURPRISINGLY large!
number Of men do not even Know noW.so
properly mark a. ballot This was t u demon N
sstrated In an election for mayor ~ my
city. IA wave Of reform swept the town,
raised by Ii man who was running Tor
mayor al ID Il z dependen q number @ :
Doodle aldermen were up for re-alec tlon,
but a ,se, i e sas ayes
as < the boodlers would be swept +. on
8thers feet The independent candidate
carried q number OF wards iii " hicfl the
Doodle aldermen were running, y on IT. - :
the surprise OF the reformers, these ,pooa-
Slers were by large ma'ot 2,
found q that thousands Of ballots were
Sftund on which the only mark was the
cross before tho nnr1lo Of the independeht
candidate for mayor. This name was way W,
on by itselt,sunder no party headlns SsI me
enthusiastic independents ana relormer =,
when they voted. tlrst made 2 cross to
vote FOR their. Independent nRyoral can
$dld1te. ana then. without voting for the
decent Candidate for alderman folded
4 their ballots and had them showed
through the ballot box slot. But the
practical organization men, knowing now oN'
to mark. a ballot, voted not only Tor
8theirSpnrty's nominee for ma yor, but Tor
the DOODLE aldermen who also were orr
#ganization men +. A T his neg lgence or ig-
nora1lce on the part OF thousands Of IN
Atellgent citizens undid the good work OF
the reform commune {. s, ny g,
but many unfit t men were elected alder
smer, & atsyear. nd the independent NJ
+ dlda te for mayor was defeated Sln the bar
gain III 5s53s Z /.
III have cited these cases because the best
mayor who can be elected cannot prove
$hls worth or give a good admin
unless he is supported by the better ele-
@ment9 In his city, and the most effective
+ way this support can be given is by elect
ing competent, honest, dlstnterested mu-
Srlicipa1 officials. These men can be elect
D ed only after being nominated, ana they
can be nominated only VII len the better
element the decent, ctaole &ci ~
take an, active personal part IN ante GO
syention campaigns. ~ y, M,
II dom like that said q party ead g!
to me one day, pointing to an y. =.
y ia one 81 the great daily papers hats
apt to mako trou blc.'' ,8a
s The EDITORIAL announced that a. week
from that day would DO a prilna " ele &c,
ton day, and urged all members OF the
party to arrang go to vote and work IN their
! districts on that day. 1t gave, in brief
paragraphs, essential informatio Ion and was was
Z strong appeal for practical poiitica'al
work. a 4, y !, :, !,
continued the politician. but when they
nut people onto our game p don, :. IKE !, ~
II tho crowd follows that edltor'al y g e IS
Skinned to a FRAGILE 4, !, =, Z. 81 8.
$yntcr, viii wake Up and decide 70 DO q
Blitta practical political work himsel
Then its God by" to- the pollt teal boss
mi his heee rs. lt hero WI be LEADERS,
Nit tie leaders VIII be select ed and not
8self-appointed. When every voter y y q
practical politician public otilcai IS MI MI,
really be the servants OF the pup ll's
Office OF alderman VIII be rega US
honor and not a specula ton. Taxes vii VII.
III. lover and civic pride Will be hls her.
ana a man will be able to serve his hi ;, term
Eas1mayor without becoming a connT r,t
scynjc TSnr@ AN incurable peaslmis I hat
Id WIN / advocate the teaching OF p rac-
&tical DolitIcs in our schools and COLLEGES
copyright, 1904, by Joseph 2. . Y "ies''