Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-02-13
AN UNwARRANTED ATTACK.
Communicated.

1 ~ 80
T Several weeks ago an article ap.
peared in one Of the Alexandria pa
pers headed Honesty and Justice,
signed by ar" The following lines
appeared in said writing: "Fcr my
part i can really understand the ma;
jority's misgivings to let the voters
of the First Ward determine the Sc:
lection. They remembered, no doubt
the voters faulty and unfair ,ap,
praisement of one Of the city's best
and most faithful members Of the
Council now in retirement because OF
this woeful blunder, and wish to
spare US like misfortune" The
same paper of Wednesday, evening,
February 18th, just after the meeting
of Council, contained an article, which
said that Mr.. Spinks was living in
the Second Ward and representing
the First Ward in the lower branch
Of Council 1t gathered little more
nerve and instead of characterizing
him as the "woeful blunder" and "like
misfortune" it presented his name to
the people.
Who is this "woeful blunder";
what "like misfortune" has the peo-
ple-the qualified voters of the First
Ward-infiicted upon the people of
our city? What has Frank Spinks
done to merit this villifcation and
abuse which is being hurled at him?
Is he a good citizen? If not, why
did the people of the Fourth Ward
elect him to Council and keep him
there? If he is not honest and trust
worthy, why did the voters Of the
First Ward elect him as their rep
resentative, thereby retiring one the
paper referred to called him the one
of the chest and most faithful and
intellectual members of Council?"
Let's examine the records and see
what this "woeful blunder" and "like
has done as member
of Council. Who was in the lead in
the fight against the horde of car
petbaggers who tried to wrest from
the city the Gas Works, one oil the
most valuable assets the city now
owns-this "woeful blunder"- fight
in which he was successful and the
peoples interest protected Again,
a few years ago, owing to the finan-
cial condition of the city-it was de-
termined to sell the electric light
franchise. Where do we find the
"woeful blunder" and "like misfor-
tune?" Standing like stone wall in
the interest of the people. 1t came
to vote and fifteen out Of sixteen
members of Council voted for it
and "woeful blunder," true to his
convictions, against it. Being out
voted, he never gave up. When the
bids were advertised for, and one OF
them was about to be accepted, which
wanted to give the people electricity
at fourteen cents a kilowatt, this
"woeful blunder" and "like misfor-
tune" got out an injunction against
the powers who had control-and
prevented the deal. After holding
the mater up for about year
Council again advertised for bids and
the result was that the people Sc
cured their electricity at seven cents
per kilowatt, Or a saving Of fifty
per cent. or at least $4,000 a year
all on account of this "woeful
blunder."
Another thing which "woefil blum
der" and "like misfortune" did.
After the new management took
charge of the electric light plant 1t
was found that they were rot living
up to their contract in regard to the
2,eOO candlepower lamp. He intro
duccd a resolution in Council and
special committee was appointed and
the trouble remedied. The facts con-
corning investigation are well
known to all, except the paper re-
ferred to, for it has not been in ex-
istence long enough to know the geo
graphical lines dividing the ward, es-
pec:ally when it says openly that Mr.
Spinks-"this woeful blunder" lives
in the Second Ward and represents
the First Ward in Council. But
there are none so blind as those who
will not see.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, on Sun
day last when the fire bells warned
a quiet city that danger lu'ked In
and around some fire side, young
ard old wendell their way to the
scene of the confagration-some
for curiosity, some for amusement,
o+bors Nbeca,fsa il is the natural trend