Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-09-26
RECOUNTS OLD STORY
Continued from page -

Capt. Lane. as of Sept. the lst.. and
Mr.. Coles just handed in that night.
the election of officers to ill these
vacancies was ordered.
Mr.. r. T. Casey. put in nomination
for one vacancy. was declared elected
Attention was then called 10 my APP
phcation for this very place lying on
the table unread. though it had been
in the hands of the clerk from the
beginning of the meeting. When
this application was read. there was
ominous silence for several minutes.
Finally one member arose. and said
this application verv much embar-
rassed him. which tact as to each
member was evident. He said had
told him the day before was not
candidate for the council. and the
night before the members Of this
body had met and selected suitable
man for the place. Each member
confirmed Mr.. Vaiden's assertion.
and being accorded the privilege Of
p the floor. made a statement OF all
I the facts herein before recited.
To each of these men. with one
5 exception. who I could not find. l
had already stated these identical
/ facts, though they seemed so sur
@ prised. made the point that the
ie election should be held in open sss-
+ sion at a fixed time and place. al
4e which the public might DC present
and not under cover Of darkness in
D. secret room at a time unknown 4
u the public. and from which unde
SIS these conditions. il was excluded
-Fs BY the merest chance lsarne
'ng that there was 20 be secret meetin
es' on Thursday night. and though c
10 the day following talked wi
RS nearly every member, cot one ga
lng one the slightest inimation or q
ter character of their secret work {
nr. night before. II an election in su
Aiss secrecy be valid why go through
the form the next night at the appoint
'eo' time and placer Was this to 81
ateo their faces before the puohcT
cot the election in secret on ThursC
'eea- night was invalid and my writ
Mr' application before that body at
Sno proper time and place. was as ol
MIS- ~ and Justly entitled to members
'nes, OF the council by virtue OF my :
ano ular vote 10 the primary as any
'sSls' these men sitting then IN cou
"a AL objections were finally orus
N aside and the name OF a new
proposed to fill the vacancy Gre
Z by Mr.. Coles resignation not
hour old. for remember Mr..
,h,.rs participated in the secret NEE
hen held the night previous. He
Miss a man picked 10 supply a vac
hons. that does not exist. a reserved
- Z lstor 10 supply any future vac
: ~. that may arise. Should Mr..
This DC able to make up his mind
D.. -. lively to resign at some future
h.,d they would have a man selected
60 voted on, Mr.. Cole himself Y
:. m tor his possible successor.
-, farcical character of the whole
ceedings would be ludicrous il
extreme were not the resul
serious.
70 was Well. who do you think is Z
tore in as this reserve councilman reac
cd to a assume office under a possible
ity and 6ngency9 Il is Mr.. J. 7. Chr
luties. one Of the electoral quartette
= ing or playing 'possum last
ON and thus defeating the exp
wish of the people. Fidelity
1t trust has always been esteer
virtue to be rewarded with 2
o reeog- of greater responsibility. Tn
lnnot be caught sleeping on his post
en- hum sixties suffered the penalty Of
p 800, This council seemed 70 thin
,vsnsnsrs conduct worthy of larger life.
- va Ious citizens I hardly think /,