Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-19
PRIMARY DATE
| NOW APRIL GOTH.
Democratic Committee Decides to
Allow Other Candidates in
MayOraIity Race.
DENDHElM'S STRONG SPEECH.
Chairman Urges Committee to Open
Primary in Interest OF Party IIar-
momy and Plea Is Successful.


ary for mayor and members of city
council was changed last night from
Tuesday, April 23rd to Tuesday,
April Both. This action was taken
hy the City Democratic committee on
account Of the death Of Hubert Snow
den, who was Il candidate in the prim-
AIRY for the office of mayor. Candi-
dates were given until noon on Mon
day, April 22nd by which time they
must file their names with the see
rctary Of the committee.
The committee met nthe parlors
of the Hotel Rammcl and ali oil the
members were present with the eN-
ccpion Of Richard Gibson from the
fourth ward In addition there were
Il large number of persons Interested
in the election. many Of the candi-
dates for council bein gpreSent. A.
-. Brockett, who is 4 candidate for
mayor. was not present nor was he
represented by any authorized per-
son.
Chairman Charles Bendheim pre-
sided and asked for suggestions from
anyone present. There seemed to be
Il disposition on tn part Of every
one to remain silent, until Councilman
j.. G. SpinkS, who is 4 candidate from
the First ward, and one Of Mr.. Snow
den'S active supporters, arose and
asked that the primary be opened so
candidates for mayor. There was
still silence when Mr. SpinkS took his
seat ana Mr. Bendheim repeatedly
:lSkd for ideas from Mr.. Brockett'S
supporters who were present, us well
as further suggestions from those who
were inclined to favor MIR. SpinkS'
request. But he was unable to get
any expression whatsoever from the
audience
After Il few minutes silence, Oscar
Phillips from the First ward moved
that the primary date be changed to
May Z, and that other candidates be
permitted to enter the mayOrality
contest This was seconded by S. i.
Fisher from the Third ward, and Mr..
Rendhcim again asked for expressions
on this proposition.
Howard w. Smith and Frank Ma
son, candidates from the Second ward,
opposed the proposition, Mr.. Smith
stating that it would be manfestly
unfair to the candidates for council,
now that their campaign had been vir-
tually closed, to compel them to go
through another week on the Sus-
picon that some one might want to
oppose Mr.. Brockett in the primary.
AS there were no other views eX-
pressed by any of the candidates,
Mr.. Bendheim took the floor. and in
4 forcefu and eloquent speech IA
yored the resolution introduced by
Mr.. Phillips. He said that he had
miven the matter the most careful
consideration entirely from Il non
partisan standpoint. At first he was
inclined to believe that the primary
should not be opened, but that Mr..
Hrockett should be declared the NOM
inee of the party, but on further con-
sderation he had come to the con-
clusion that the best interests OF the
marty demanded that the voters Of
the city be given an opportunity to
express their preference. He did not
wish to give any one an opportunity
to bolt the Democratic ticket in the
general election nor did he want 1t
to be said that the committee was un-
fair if they declared Mr.. Brockett the
nominee. The party plan left the
entire matter in the hands Of the
committee, and he wanted to do the
fair thing, and if possible preserve
harmony in the party. He said that
the family scraps should be fought
out in the party primary and not in
the general election.
Mr.. Fisher spoke in like vein,
There was some discussion as to
the date to be set for the primary,
and April 3Oth was finally agreed
upon. Upon the passage of Mr.. Phil
lips motion as amended all the men,
hers voted for it with the exception of
Mr.. Brent.
1t was decided that all candidates
for the mayorality must file theil
names with the secretary before noon
of next Monday, April 22nd.