The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-08
Sore Because He Thought Plant
Might Be Leased With
Ptofit to City.
TRIED TO BEAT HIM IN COUNCIL
What Grimes and Mayor Say
About Situation-Some
Sharp Talk.

According to stories heard around
the City Hall and In political circles
generally. John r. Grimes, the new
member OF the CO mmon Council. was
never forgiven by the voting army OF
employees In the Gs s Department. when
he once suggested that the gas plant,
owned by the city. might be leased to
a private corporation and managed In
dependen, Mr. Grimes !, ds Is said ,n
that move, but IT was understood that
he thought the interests of the city
could be helped by such change
Friends OF the new member from
Marshall Ward contend that the polit-
zeal ring" in the Light Department.
used all the Influence at Its command to
defeat him In the last election, when
he CAME out sixth on the ticket.
Indeed. it is said that this element
openly declared itself. the one infer
ence being that IL the Grimes plan
should prevail. not few heads would
be chopped OF by the concern which
might possibly get control of very
rich franchise.
Went After Him AEnin.
With. the defeat OF Mr.. Grimes a
feeling of the utmost satisfaction
spread through the department with
would be nominated to fill the vacancy
caused by. the resignation of Mr. Nea-
gle, this so-caiied political ring got
busy again, and from statements made
by certain members OF Council they
We're urged To support MIR. Gentry, tor
the one reason. 1T is alleged. that Mr..
Grimes was persona non Sratt with
the men paid By the city government
TO manage the Light Department. state
ments from the reported opponents OF
Mr. Crimes could not be definitely de-
termined yesterday. but the air IVES
full OF the talk.
Outsiders WHO have watched the trend
of municipal affairs with special refer
ence to this MARSHALL Ward contest. can
see that the election of Mr. Grimes VIII
create more or less d!scord, although
he showed that he has majority or
the Common Council with him I ne
should resor, to retaiintory tactics.
which would be unfair to charge at the
moment. he could make 1t rather warn,
for the gas '.ring'' which liz always be-
fore the Council for an increase IN sal
airy. SO many petitions have been re-
ceiyed from this department, asking for
higher wages. that 1t has become Joke.
and there is an everlasting drain. or
would be. II all should be granted. Mr.
Grimes is not on the Light Committee.
preciates most substantially. 1t may
not relish the information. however.
that he is OH the Ordinance. Charter
and Reform Committee.
Ring IL All Powerful.
Nobody attemps to deny the fact
that the so-called gas ring Is the
most powerfully. politically. in the city.
II
qualities. and when a candidate for
office takes any position affecting the
possible welfare of the employees he
can gamble that~the ring will sit up
and take notice.
Councilman Grimes was asked about
the ring story last night. 1T is
true of course" he said, that they.
were after me in the last election and
also In this fight the other night. One
LOT the employees in the gas works said
in the City Hall the night of my nom
Observation-Disclosures at might be elect
ed by the Council to al! vacancy.
but that they would attend to my case
! next spring.
THE opposition to me from this pc.
litical faction came about because I
stated. after a trip to Philadelphia.
that If the city of Richmond did not
rehabilitate the gas plant 1t ought to
be leased to outsiders. IT you VIII
look in the files Of The Times-Dis :
patch you will find a statement made
by the Mayor that the .gashouse ring
was about broken up. but / think q
good part OF 1t is still there"
Mayor Mccarthy, when asked il he
recollected his speech to which Coun-
Gilman Grimes referred, said he GER
tainly did. I'm a speech somewhere
in tile city. said the Mayor, II stated
lsthnt il a man wanted to run for public
! Office he had to get the approval Of
| the cmptoyes at the gas plant first"