Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-05-11
Progressive From a Way Back.

To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette
am a merchant a id not politician;
hence it seems out of place for me to
undertake to explain anything politi-
cal, but being a good progressive
citizen and at all times willing
tc do my fellow citizens good turn, /
feel that | should not hesitate TO ex
plain, even to one too young as yet to
have name, the simple workings of the
Progressive Association so far as my
own ward is concerned, leaving the
other wards to their respective COM
mittees. The Progressive Association
consists of all of the gentlemen of the
city who have sufficient interest in the
improvements of the city of their
nativity or adoption, whether demo-
Gratis or republicans, to attend its meet
ings. Consequently when the time ar
rived to nominate candidates for the
two branches of our city government
an invitation wal promptly ex-
tended to all, through the Gazette,
to give us a helping hand in our
efforts to push along the wheels of
progress, therefore the writer "Not Progress
sive," in Mondays Gazette, who evidently
opposes any and everything that would go
towards giving us the name Of city and who
prefers country roads ard cobblestOne streets
to those made of beautiful and durable yitri-
fed brick, such as we now have on King
street through the persistent efforts Of the
Progressive Association, should have given
us the pleasure Of his presence and the great
knowledge he has Of men and measures. He
evidently sees no bright star in the future,
clings to the dark days of the past, and re.
minds one more of that other great political
leader who cannot be elected TO Office himself,
and can find no one sufficiently exalted in his
own estimation who should be elected. The
association, though il is only few years old,
has a name and is willing to listen and learn
from the experience Of any one who so far
scars above them in the knowledge Of con-
Quoting a campaign end of the selection Of
candidates. Instead, however, of giving Us
the assistance we so badly needed he retained
all his knowledge until after the tickets had
been completed, and then comes on! in the
Gazette with all this gratuitous information
when il is toe late for US thereby to profit.
This brings me down to the ticket Of my own
ward, the noble Fourth. Mr.. J. T. Sweeney
has represented her faithfully and manfully
in one Of the two branches Of the city govern
ment for years too numerous TO mention. Mr..
Clark. about whom mot a Progressive"
makes such great to-do, has represented the
third ward, the most important one in the
city, to the satisfaction ofal the voters Of that
ward for the last two years, hence why should
he not be desirable candidate for the Fourth
In regard to substituting Mr.. Clark for
Capt W. H. Sweeney | unhesitatingly say
there is no voter in the ward who has not the
highest respect and regard for Capt. W: ii.
Sweeney, both as a gentleman and an Alder
man, but the question was raised as to Capt
w. II. Sweeney being eligible on account Of
his being public school teacher, and while
our committee had read and reread the con-
stitutiOn pertaining to this subject with all
due respect Il" Not Progressive 1--WE did not
consider ourselves such constitutional lawyers
as il seems he is, hence we consulted
several eminent legal gentlemen and they
each and everyone unhesit9tingly said no
man drawing a salary from the city should be
"A member of either branch Of its city govern
ment.
Capt Bryan and Mr. Spinks, members Of
our ticket on account Of TIE heart and soul
interest taken by them in all the proceedings
Of the last Council ARE too well known and APP
preciated to require any eulogy from me. Mr..
Marshall the new man on the ticket is n
member of a family, the largest real estate
holders and therefore the largest tax payers in
the city. ] do not regret my actions Of the
past and have no apologies to make to anyone
for the humble part have taken in giving
my fellow citizens good streets and sewers.
The latter by stretching out their gigantic
arms in every direction have been in my
opinion a great source of comfort TO all, es-
pecially when it has all been accomplished
without one cent increase in our direct taxes.
As 10 the special street tax, we who were bene-
itted.paid it cheerfully and viii ever so con-
tinue TO do +. S. HARPER,
Fourth ward Committee Prog. AssO.