Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-09-26
RECOUNTS OLD STORY
SHOWS HOW He WAS TURNED
DOWN BY COUNCIL
Editor The Gazette:

some facts and my connection there 2
with. Last spring. before the De S
mocratic primary to nominate candi-
dates for the various city officers
was held. was approached time
and again and urged to become a
candidate for the city council. Ad- /
vanced age and the fact am a very
small tax payer to the city treasurer
were the arguments with which I
| lopposed these overtures. Finally
four days before the election was 20
be held I agreed to enter the race.
| Though had only two days in which .
TO canvass. being in Richmond two
days on business. and in the face OF
strong competition. I was nominated
over several excellent men. When
the general election in which our
. Republican citizens are allowed 70
. indulge in the farce of voting was %
f; have been held, and for which cleo
t ton certains forms are necessary 70
Z be furnished by the Electoral Board.
D. lo, every member of said board, in
Guiding the clerk. were asleep or
playing 'Possum. The election could
not be held in spite OF the protest OF
thoroughly indignant citizens.
Under our half baked election laws
a combination between the electoral
board and the party in power tn'
city council can perpetuate itsei
: indefinitely. To hush the clamor
~ one member of the council. who haC
not stood for denomination in th
. primary. asserted he would. resigr
- when MS present term expired. II
- fill this expected vacancy It wa
" generally understood that I, who Ia
received the larger number of vote
= in the primary. would be chosei
H There were many who doubted IN
promise would De kept.
- The months dragged along and
- Sept. the first. Capt. Lane resigne
On the day before the regular NEE
80: ing for Sept. was to be held in whiC
- il was understood there would be
e. reorganization of the council. thOug
g new in name was but the same oil
hold over body, when among 9th
-. matters. the election OF some one
- fill the vacancy caused by Lam
- resignation. I stated to each memt
:: I was not a candidate for election
that body, but would be for
clerkship when the time came for
election. This was on Thursday.
- day before the regular time for 81
-. an election.
and Friday morning. when I IcOncer
a as a number OF my constituents. call
r NJ 70 their attention that I am BY
means wealthy. and thought I CO
81 90 render equal service as clerk and
100 salary would be a great help TO
. 90 each one condemned the COZ
90 proposed; said had been electeC
I 90 the city council for a purpose,
90 as clerk I would have no voice
100 good or against evil legislation.
90 I would be recreant 10 the duty
90 pected of me. I confessed l
100 not thought of it in that light
100 went at once to the place OF busi
so of each member of the council
so stated my change of determine
and reasons therefor. I state
each I was not an applicant foi
clerkship, but was for member
on the council. Besides making
statement in person to each me-
:. - of that body. l could find. T
-, written application which was Ia
the clerk TO read when the CO
3 ooI,o convened.
fected AT the duly appointed place
have time the council assembled.
NJ sale -