The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-20
PROTEST AGAINST
WARD CONDITIONS
Open Air Meeting Not Held
but Delaney Tells Basis of
Complaint.

For what appeared to be a variety
of reasons the promised open-ar
rally of the voters OF Jefferson Ward
did not materialze last night. Al
though it was decidedly cold, prob
abiy 100 men gathered at the athletic
field of Christ Church Association, in
anticipation of something worth hear
ing. No lights were in evidence, those
who had promised to provide them not
being present
Four OF the candidates for the City
Council were on the ground. The old
members We're not present, ii being
stated that they would appear after
three members of the City Committee
declined TO cali the meeting to order,
saying 1t was not their affair About
an hour was consumed in chatting, and
al last 1t was mutually agreed to quit
W. f. Delaney, who at the meeting
al Liberty Hall on Monday night
promised to make disclosure of prac-
tees of which he did not approve, was
present and was disappointed at not
being able to keep his promise. He
later prepared this statement of his
case, covering what he intended to
say:
IL
AT a meeting held al Liberty Hall
on Monday evening by the East End
Citizens Association, of Marshall
Ward, the chairman very courteously
extended to the candidates from JEFF
ferson Ward an invitation TO address
the voters of that ward who happened
TO be present I, with others, re-
sponded / said that l had been in
formed Of very unusual departure
in the manner of selecting men to
govern the public affairs of the city,
and that owing 10 the absence of the
author OF my Information / would
defer until tonight at the open-air
meeting, the nature of the unfair
methods being used in Jefferson
Ward.
The facts in the case are as fol-
lows: on Thursday morning, April H.
/ was accosted on the street by gem
tleman, who is fellow candidate, who
said TO me: Whats the use in Mr..
Davidson, Mr. Jeter, Mr. Johnson, you
or myself putting up SIS to run for the
Council, when we haven't the ghost
of show Il. wing Ny reply was
How do you Come BY such informa-
ition?
lie replied. Why. don't you know
the thing is arranged for four of the
incumbents and one new man TO wine
inquired, Who says all lhis?' He re-
sponded, Mann Rogers.
Mr. DcInney's Position,
Il told him that l, for one, would
denounce such methods. The position
1 take is this: Mr.. Rogers, whom i
know and admire, has a perfect right
10 espouse the cause of any one OF
five men--as a citizen, taxpayer or
voter-but | do not think that, as u
IN member of the City Democratic Com
lnittec 1t is fair to the people of
Jefferson Ward to tell them. one week
before they have the opportunity to
make their choice. who is TO repre-
sent them in the City Council for the
next two years. Neither is it fair for
MIR. Rogers, as a member OF this COM
Inittee. to take part in any secret
meetings to further the interest OF
any one or of several candidates,
1T will be admitted by all that a
member Of the City Democratic Com
mittee should al all times be abso-
lutely impartial towards every candi-
date. | have conducted by campaigns
OF TWO years ago and of this year on
clean basis, from which / do not
propose TO deviate, but | do offer this
my mild protest against the method
now said TO dominate Jefferson Ward
politics | hone that those who win
Will be the men selected by the best
judgment of the people"