The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-16

EARLY P'LEDG.E
AR DANGEROUS.
Citizens Urged to Promise Their
Support to No Candidates
Just Now.
TICKET BY BUSINESS JUS, len y
Efforts Being Made to Select
Best People for Adminis-
trative Board. .
TICKET BY BUSINESS LEN

org gians are being. perfected for an
Chamber of Commerce, the business
Mems Club, the Retail Merchants Asso-
G SnHn ti ana other organizations which
put into the field a citizens ticket
Tor thel first Administrative Board. SO
fur far the plans have not assumed definite
shape but the officers OF the organi-
Iattons referred to urge voters not to
p pee tn themselves at this time to any
Held open until the best available
men can be selected and brought be-
lore the public.
While the ConSlon Council and
Mayor arc to he elected in the spring
June; with q Democratic primary in
April. the first Administrative Board is
elected in the November general cleo
tionIthe Tuesday after the first Mon
cratic Committee will probably mr.
range special primary about Sep
TENDER lot for the selection. of NOM
bers of the Administrative Board. The
poll tax list has already closed for
Iualihcation to vote for Mayor and
Stouncilmen, but citizens have until
taxes to qualify themselves to take
part i'll the November election for
members n,e, Of the Administrative Board.
POLL taxes must be paid six months
prior, to the general election in which
one desires to vote.
Fight Only Half Won.
ence yesterday fully realize that the
Ugh: is only half won. The City Coun-
ell. with public spirit not hitherto
way possible ny voting away Its pat
ronage and large part of It's power.
But. as well known man expressed
for good government in Richmond cit
is chance--not cinch." The Coun-
Gil has done It's part. 1t remains to
who have stood by the move thus far,
will be In at the finish.
large. number OF names have been
mentioned as tentative candidates.
Many OF these mon could not afford to
give up their private business to take
"A salaricd position. whatever the pay
give up and could take the position
were the salary half what is guar
anteed.
There is more or less talk al the
city Hall that various tentative can
didntes are already promising certain
petty Office holders rcnppointment pro-
tion. Henry =. Beck, the present Build
Ing Inspector, who has been mentioned
as possible candidate. said that he
being used and that IL he decided 10
run his platform would Zoe against Just
such methods OF politicating. A num-
Der of men in the Council have spoken
of Councilman John j. Lynch as
possible candidate, his aggressive at
titude on the Street Committee having
There seems to be some doubt whether
the quasi of Captain
Ere TaSe 9f the he Eoars
dldate docs not vacate his seat on
the Fire Bonrd. It. would certainly
vacate his seat were he on the Police
Board to have his name mentioned for
any office did he not immediately make
denial Of his candidacy. and while the
statute relating TO the Fire Board
what vaguely worded.
Must Withhold TIcdEcn.
Some Of those who are mentioned
candidates whenever there Is job
to be had, big or little. Some OF the
names are GhyioaslS without an.h9rity
the salary 1t Will pay, bank presidents
and men OF large Independent means
take man a eiss whGa 6 6e
time to 1t. OF the. twenty-five or
thirty names In circulation, many are
PROBABLY merely feeiers to test the
pulse of the public.
There are various interests which
would, of course, like TO have man
on such board. even II they could not
control 1t, but the advice of the best
business men Is that citizens generally
withhold their pledSes-wait until all
are In the leld and their qualifications
have been looked over. II present plans
do not fall through. the citizens ticket
Will go into the field with several
thousand votes pledged to Its support.
and with vigorous effort on the part
of business men to secure the vote of
every man interested III the welfare
Of the city. The first part OF the cam
paign will be to secure the registrar
ton and qualification OF hundreds who
have failed to take their part in the
government through negligence. At
present property owners may vote, be-
cause they pay their poll taxes with
other taxes IN time to escape penalty.
City employees may vote, because they
arc required to be registered citizens
to hold their jobs. The labor vote Is
only partially qualified; representatives
of special interests. such as the public
service corporations and the liquor in
terests. are qualified. The men who do
not vote are the great mass OF salaricd
men--clerks. hookkeepers, bank men.
business men of all grades below the
big property ownars-generally the
middle element which in the history
OF this country has always been the
safeguard vote between tho extremes
of special and private interests. II is
to secure the qualification OF this vote
| and its support In the selection OF suit
able commissioners for the first Adj
ministrative Board OF Richmond that
the commercial organizations Will bend
their first energies.
Il