The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-13
SECRETARY DUKE
/ EXPLAINS ACTION
Of CITY COMMITTEE
Warmest Meeting of Campaign
Held at Chimborazo School
Auditorium
CANDIDATE BAILEY
SCORES COMMITTEE
Bays Official Body Is Rotten
and Dehes 1t to Do Its Worst
at General Election Today.
Personal Rights

Personal Rights
CALL TO VOTERS.
The polls will open at sunrise
4:50 o'clock today and will close
At sunset, 1880 O'Clock. There
are thirty-one precincts. With
the exception of the party fight in
jefferson Ward. there will be lit
tie opposition. In jefferson, Madi-
son and Clay Wards the Socialists
have candidate out for Conn
mon Council. That party also has
u candidate for Mayor.
Chairman Saunders, of the City
Democratic Committee, urges all
Democrats to get to the polls, and
help swell the total vote.
Declaring that IMPRESSIONS by in
fyidual members of the City Demo-
ratio Committee were not reflections
bf the committee as a body. Secretary
Walter G. Duke. of that committee,
{ the mass meeting of Bailey follow
rs. last night at Chimborazo audi
Drum. defended that committee vehe-
nently.
He interrupted Captain James T.
Bailey, who was In the midst OF q
peech, in which he had referred TO
he City Democratic Committee as a
rotten organization and said that
le would say, on behalf of the COM
nittee. that that body would heartily
DIN hands with Captain Bailey and all
thers who had the desire 70 purify
he political situation, II there were
nything which needed such action.
Several speeches In the advocacy OF
captain Bailcy's election had been de-
vered- During the course Of the ad-
resses. the speakers had charged the
ommittee with attempting TO thrust
nsavory morsels down the Threats OF
he people Of Jefferson Ward Alleged
emarks OF individual members OF the
committee, which had been printed in
ONE of the papers. were referred to,
nd much had been made of them.
The crowd OF nearly a hundred, ap-
|arently all Bailey men. laughed at
nd hooted all references to the COM
hittee. which were not compliment
hry to that body,
Oncrs Services of Committee.
Secretary Duke. who had entered
he auditorium unnoticed and unan-
ounced, stood II as long as he could.
( a. +. Watts. who proved himself
omethtng of an orator. and he lis
ened quietly to the remarks OF John
Wicker. Jr, When Captain Bailey
dded fuel TO the flames, the quiet
secretary arose. and offered the ser
ices OF the City Committee in a gen.
raj house cleaning OF the political
ltuation.
4 number OF the auditors, upon
acognixing Mr. Duke, Immediately
egan firing questions at him. A dox-
n voices rang out at once. The sec
stary found himself the target. and
egan the attempt to reply to the
ueGtions Disorder became rampant.
khen John T. Sloan. the dignifed
hartman of the meeting, called the
ody to order. He announced i'm
rsssively that no cross firing could
. engaged in. that any gentleman
rho desired to address the meeting
ould do so at the proper time.
Captain Bailey continued his
pesch. He said the movement now
progress in Jefferson Ward would
5foaA over the entire city, and that
khether he were elected or defeated.
he movement would go on. and the
eople OF the city would show the
ommittee that they could conduct
heir political affairs without the aid
the City Democratic Committee.
Dedes the Committee.
'"rhs City Committee nor any one
lse can take me down." declared
aptain Bailey. Il did not desire to
et into politics. for II is a most rot
en thing. But At the instance Of sew
raj hundred Of my friends, I am in
and I shall minsie with you tomor-
bw. during the day. leaving my can
dacy In your hands. II you feel
hat Mr.. Grimes should be elected, 1t
your privilege to vote for him, and
am defeated shall not feel Of
bnded"
At the conclusion Of CAPTAIN
alleys speech, MI. watts arose and
lggested that II there were any man
tho audience who believed the
peakers had made misstatements or
istAkes, he should be given the OPP
prtunity to correct such statements
Hartman Sloan said that any man
no wished to address the gathering
ould be given the opportunity at the
roper time.
John j. Wicker. Jr., was then called
pom. He said he was moro interested
the pending fight than anything
bitch now touched the public mind.
"a election, he said, would show the
60pIo Ok tHS Saty WA0tHcT Tag pcopIo
Jefferson Ward would continue to
kmain under the heels OF the city
emocratic Committee. He declared
lat neither law. nor custom gave to
he committee the right to name John
Grimes for the vacancy in the
ard. He said that the committee
"a taken upon itself the filling of the
cancy, when that privilege should
ave been lefx to the people.
Personal Rights.
ut 10 our right to choose whom we
hse," aid Mr.. Wicker. The COM
lftee 10 designed for clerical work.
ainly. But It has grown insolent,
rogant and tyrannical in attempt
% encroach on the liberty Of the
Iooie. If thought Grimes the best