The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-30
Many Surprises Expect
ed When CO uncil Vote
Is Counted.
CITIZENS TO NAME
MEMBERS TODAY
Attack on Vonderlehr Bitterly
Resented by His Friends, Who
Brand Charge as Unfair and
Untruc-Anderson Issues
Str ong De-
NAL.

Citizens OF Richmond who are quail
fed To vote will to-day select members
Of the most important branch of the
city government-the Common Coun-
Gu the body In which practically all
legislation. all plans for public i'm
rroNements and all appropriations
originate The new Council which
takes office September and serves for
TWO years, Will be composed of twenty
myA. five being elected from each OF
the four wards. thus cutting the size
OF the body exactly in half. Those who
led the successful night for redistrict-
ing claim that the new Council, elect
Ell by larger body of constituents.
VIII give a more select body OF picked
and efficient men. capable OF more
prompt disposition of business than
the old Council of siNty-tour members,
with its interminable committees. ana
its endless red tape and delays.
Polls viii be open TO-DAY from sun
ri.se-5s,7 ~ M.--to sunset-6:57 T.. NJ
Inc City Democratic Committee will
meet tonight at Murphy's Hotel to
receive returns. The ballot is short
and with prompt work on tho part of
election officers there Is no reason why
all returns should not be in at u
reasonably early hour
Unique Campaign.
The campaign which closed last
in Size Of the Sody means that many
men must lose their seats. This is tho
FIRST election since the adoption of the
new four-ward plan OF redistrictinS
the city, that there are no pre-
cedents on which to base predictions.
Some men of long and useful service
have been redistricted into wards in
which they are comparatively little
Nnown, and some surprises in the final
he a iC4 ed
Slates Of all sorts were in circula
ton last niSht-wet states, dry states,
secret society states. So far as they
could be traced, however, these were
in each case put out by a few men,
and were not backed by any effective
working organization. aud will have
little or no bearing on the final re
suit
Attack on VondcrIehr.
y feature of the final hours of the
campaign was the general circulation
yesterday afternoon and last night of
4 circular attack on Councilman y. l..
Nondcrlehr, who is Offering for re-
election in Lee Ward. An affidavit,
signed by II. *. Franklin, a real es-
tate agent, asserts that on April % Mr..
Vonderiehr admitted having been ask
ed by Henry w. Anderson, attorney
Tor the Virginia Railway and Power
Company, to remain away from a
subcommittee meeting and so break
ii quorum. Mr. Franklin's statement is
sworn TO before w. kirk Mathews.
notary public, and associate COUNSEL
for the Richmond ana Henrico Rail-
way Company, which is seeking a
lighting and power franchise in OPP
position TO the company represented
by Mr.. Anderson.
Mr. Vondcrlehr promptly denied the
charge. asserting that he neVsr re-
ccived any communication from Mr..
Anderson in his life. and therefore
could not have told Mr.. Franklin what
was asserted. He says he did have Il
telephone conversation with Mr.. Frank
lin, but did not say what Mr.. Franklin
apparently understood and now charges.
Henry w. Anderson issued a signed
statement last night in which he char
acterizes the FRANKLIN circular. so far
as 1t refers TO himself, as false in
every particular" He asserts that
he has never spoken or written to Mr..
Nonderlehr on the subject of the Rich
moId aud lIenrico franchise outside
OF the public hearings IN the commit
tee room, and had not seen Mr.. Wonder
;ehr, OF had any communication with
him. directly or indirectly. since the
last pubic meeting.
What The Record shows.
The record Will show that a subcoin-
mittee OF the Committee On Streets
has for some time be III considering d
proposed draft of a franchise for tile
Richmond and lIenrico Company. sec
tion by section. y IImber OF amend
ments designed to protect the city have
been off ered hy Assist mt City Attor-
ncy George Wayne Anderson, while
other amendments intended to protect
the existing company were proposed by
Henry W. Anderson. Point after point
mas been argued by Mr.. Anderson and
by Charles V. Meredith and s l. Kel-
ley. counsel FIR the Richmond and Hen
rico Company. the committee giving
patient attention at many long sittings
An adjourned meeting was scheduled
Tor April -. TO proceed With tho paper
Chairman Adams was out OF the city,
and notified Clerk Shepherd to the ef
feet that II a majority OF members
could not attend. the me .ting might
be called off. 1t was ascertained that
Mr. FERGUSON was ont OF the city and
that DR.. Miller was sick. also that
Attorney Henry w. Anderson was in
New York. Therefore the serg 4ant-at-
arms notified the members that the
meeting had been postponed. Later
some OF the members decided to so on
with the work. Notwithstanding The
absentees. and new notices W ere hast
lily sent out late in the afternoon.
When the time came w. s. Forbes and
Attorneys Meredith and Kelley were
present for the petitioners. and Will
liam Northrop for the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company. Members
present We're Messrs. Pollock and Don
Leavy. Later Mr.. Moore came. but
there appeared to be no chance of get
ting a quorum. and the meeting adj
journed and has not since been call I'd.
Predict Reaction mt Polls.
Mr.. Franklin alleges in his swora
statement that Mr.. Vonderlehr asked
him over the telephone to be released