The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-02
POWERFUL LOBBY
FAILS TO BLOCK
UNION OF CITIES
Belief Almost Certain
| Now That Council Will
Ratify Ordinance.
WOOD TO RESIGN
AT NEXT MEETING
Dabney Explains Why Presidents
of Board Changed Plans About
Retiring in January-Busi
ness People Vigorously
Take Up Fight for
Greater City.

Virtually out of the Jnws of defeat
came the assurance yesterday that tho
ordinance providing for the cons0lidn-
ton Of Richmond and Manchester will
not be killed by either branch Of City
Council.
Despite the claims put forth by menn-
hers and n professional Iobby-the most
active known here since 19O3-that tho
measure would not be ratified, bnsIncss
people took hold Of the fight, appeals
ing to the higher anu patriotic sense,
MS against personal profit or narrow
ness.
With the overwhelming buslncys
sentiment of Richmond In favor of tho
union, the commercial organizations
! take the position that the will Of the
people can hardly be thNartcd by the
desires of few, who, In one moment.
would destroy the work of years for
the welfare and upbulldius of srea
er city.
! Lobby Work Disastrous.
| Even those who have fought so bit.
| ~ " uS1Cdl lulS pldIl OIL luc peOplG
realize that a terrible blundcr was
made in sending professional lobbyists
| to the City Hall to warn and intimi-
date members of Council that If they
voted to take In new territory, with all
the advantages which that would bring,
they would be crushed in their own
Il warda In tho spring primary
Y - :
+. Indeed. the lobbyists started the re-
, port that indignation meetings would
be held in the East End to denounca
those councilmanic candidates who sup
port a measure indorsed by the Cham
} ber of commerce, the Retail Merchants
Association, the Travellers Protective
l..Association, other associations and cit
liens generally 1t is known, more
over that the fight against annexation
has been led by certain property own
ers who would profit hy confning tho
population to limited area instead OF
extending it over wider area with
adequate bridge facilities.
4 But that which provoked the great
est INDICATION was tie fact that the
/ lob bbyists--whose names are known to
/ pEs
the business orsanizations-should uh-
dertake, for selfish or financial rea-
sons. to ruin everything now and put
Richmond in the attitude of finally
breaking faith with Manchester after
Manchester had been charged by some
with that same crime when the facts
\ were not sufficient to Justify 1t.
Alderman Wood to Resign.
(,opcerpinrr a pOSitiOn of PreSideN H
i James B Wood, of the Board of Alder
men. now Superintendent Of the State
Penitentiary. 1t was stated that he
. would send his resignation to the next
,,,aat,, ~ the Roard AR wood has
.hees,ns =. e - 1asfarsnn Val.
~ a. ~saus 49,, u, :, t,,e,.
a.'u - uap' ,,,,,' ss,,,,a,.ir.
ward Wnlch Is lui.iisneu Wy =
. tendent ny Tue ala.c.
I wish voluntaI1iS TO siNe t.,c m pt'u- p9.
lie attitude OF Mr.. Woou on the sun
, ject of consolidation" said BUSINESS
; Manager William I. DaDney Of the
Chamber of Commerce. yesterday
, ..Mr. Wood has never used his influence
4 against the project to my knowledge,
n. said in my presence that he was
$ ,,ii,;ne. IN vote to annex Manchester.
h w., ca,,,d not consent to vote for such
r ,,,,.ra, tarns ne recommended by the
- committees
i l"o ~, i.u''1s Ia,1.ls ,,noy that he did
s t,leln.o' ,p - H. last Meeting Of the
r not resisn -, a. ~. as he fullv intend :
Soard OF .slae son that his asso-
!. ed TO uo' " -. ur.rd and Alder-
clates ~ y. ,11,,,ttatt II who. Il Mas
: man h@oue,' @ 49, - succeed him. as
= understoou' maa ga thot ne not ten :
!, presiush', sanue s;rna,inn ,ntil The follow
a