The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-04
$Mr. CrenshaW Attacks:
Conduct Of City Col
leCtOr'S Office.
I CUNNING OH AM GETS
+. GREAT OVATION.
Replies, Defending His Record
and Touches Hearts Of His
Hearers-W Gets Fine
Reception Mr.. Massie
On Torrens sys-
s.. TEN. y

$a Bclviderc Hall has been the scene OF
many warm political meetings but she
outstripped her own record last night,
when in tho presence OF a large audience
there was an almost dramatic scene.
precipitated by an acrimonious debate be-
tween Mr.. WA. Crensha W and Captain
wv. Cunningham, who are rival can-
/. didates for the Office or city collector.
now and for many years held by tho
latter. ISL l
The fiery Incident came mt the end of
8s the meeting. when a long list OF other
candidates had spoken. Next to this
the feature OF the evening was the first
ovation given Officer William II. Wyatt
5 who made HIS first public appearance
for the Office OF high constable.
Captain Cunningham followed Mr.. Wy
att, and made neat little speech, In
which tsarc was no reference TO his
{S competitor. s5e35 II +.
When Mr.. crcnsi,a W arose. the audi.
SS encc was all expectancy. AS d It had been
III worked around that he would criticise5
Ri the Sincumbent's official record. He did,
and IN SO doing took the position OF
the aggressor. boldly charging that the
858j%s Office of#ciy collector had been run in
Sj q manner not in keeping with the. pros
sible'' and l.absoutely mex cusable.''
Was Carefully Prepared.
Mr. Crenshaw read his speech from
manuscript. going intotthe details OF the
alleged recent conduct Of the Office and
reading some records from the Finance
s Committee, OF which he was for two
II years a member, by which records he
sought 10 substantiate Ills conten-
lions. ,s34s 5ssssft
aS The charges were biting in their SCI
ser tl,x,, lu<>s f.,
to- declare thatsihe Council had BY reso-
luton threatened the collector with Inns
pcachnlent III tllc alleged offcnses were
repeated. Il III was heard patiently and
several lines ppplaudc,l by II portion Of
3 his audience, but when Captain Cunning
ham came forward to sreply y there was
@ an ovation which was remarkable for it's
enthusiasm and duration. and as the
u speaker proceeded he was often inter-,
rlpted By further cheering ana hand
clapping. ~ e IA
55s IF I've got TO secure a public office"
he said. amid a whirlwind of applause,
"by blnckguarding and vllifying the good
name OF some ono else, don't want IT..
How Il Happened.
S& Captain Cunningham explained that
a like all other accounting Q ffices he wa
troubled with ''shortagcs" and over
Sagesit hut they were always found and
that his accounts were entirely straight.
a He could prove this by the auditor. the
Mayor and the city accountant, and said
Is his bond had been renewed by the Viz
ginia Trust Company for $50, 900.
& But his most vigorous reply. that 1t had
been OH Mr.. Crenshaw's motion that an
irreglilarity Ii, his office, which, as soon
as discovered. was promptly corrected.
had been kept from the public. and then
sprung to injure and drag him down so
that he (Crcnshnw) could be elected TO
position.
Stirred Them Up.
hi, This was Wildly chccred. and when the
speaker concluded the audience fairly
~ made him sing, In sweetest strain he
commenced, ,.Whiles the days are going
by.''.3fand as he repeated,
edo all tho good you can:
There's no time for idle scornins;
Il Is Help n fellow brother risc.' 81 if{s
tho old hall fairly trembled with ap-*
f plausc Mr.. Crensllaw spoke briefly In
rcjonder and tho meeting closed
CrenshaW's Statement.
Mr.. Crenshaw's exact language relat-
Ing to the conduct OF the office was as
follows:
now make; that tho Office has boon
conducted In II manner widely at va
III rance with the law Of the city and z
S in a manner highly rcprehenslblc and 4,
absolutely inexcusnble. Tho present
city collector has violated the ord-
Y E3 nnnces in spite of repeated warnings 35
and repeated critic!sirrg reports OF
tho officer charged with the oversight
III OF the Office. Tho city accountant
has on several occasions madef writ E
ton reports crticising the conduct OF
the ofiiccs tho City Council PAS by /
resolution expressed what is in effect
b d rcbuke = tho Finance Committee has n
reprlmandeds him ana Informed him NJ
that a recommendation for iimpeach,
1nent would follow q repetition OF n
the offence Of which hc was found /
@ guilty, and te whicl,5slhe confessed. s4
lie has in several instances collected
Sji money for the city and held Il out
for several months before reporting
1t, and then did not report 7 until II
the city accountant had made q de-
1nand, for 1T ss3 st 53$ i y 5
III appeal 10 the voters Of this city
to rebuke In no uncertain terms such Il
malfensance and serve notice to It's u
public servants Cone OF w ,om ! 4 hope iST
to gbe) that official integrity Is n badge
5jpf honor demanded to be worn by
$s all who seek public Office In the city
OF Richmond. '''s5, g ssS s
Held His Temper.
When Captain cnnnlngha m arose II to
II reply 1t was evident: that he WAS fired
up, hut he held his temper and snolie
deliberately s38z Ss 53e /! "
After prefacing his remarks as tndl-3
aS Gated above, tho sneaker said !; III my
1 s conduct Is wrong now, It was wrong
when on, Mr.. Crenshaw's motion (fei
expressing great love Tor me), II was jsup-I
pressed from the public. He said then
1t would 40 no good 4 ask him What good
\ can 1t do now, except 70 'n1ure mo, 70
N promote him, * & y. i5ss %
s;Y .As ~ sworn officer Of the law, II iwasi
H hls duty Ito see that & i I VAS \. prosecuted
IL n had done wrong, and not ~ rpre,ss y