The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-23
CITY HALL CUSTODIAN
RECEIVES FORECAST
rs Given Inside Information Concern
ing Political Situation IN All
Sections of City.
RuG FIGHT IN EAST END
South Side Would Gobble Up Most Of
the Piun1s While Alderman Paul
seems to BE Up Against IL.

retained, and from the mayors once
to the street cleaning department all
was still.
The mayors proclamation had its
affect; and the soft fall of snow lay
undisturbed by hurrying feet OF city
employees. The Offices of treasurer,
auditor, and collector remained closed.
while the attaches of the water and
gas departments spent the day else
where.
Court clerks remained on duty all
day. with little business disturbing
yheix vigils-
Justice Crutchhsld held high car
rswAl. with an audience made up
largely Of men on holiday. The civil
court held no session. nor were there
cases set for hearing in either the
cAanoery, city circuit. musings or law
and equity courts.
A few stray politicians wandered
INTO the building. strolled sinieSsiy
around, vainiy seeking supporters, ana
then stroiied away again.
Few gems of thought were scattered
along the pathway OF the statesmen
kN0 fRw expressions Ok OpahBbS
heard. but II was said by man from
Jefferson ward. who had been misled
80 20 the closing OF the City Han
Offices. in conversation with the Gus
todian who had 80 stick to his post,
holiday or no holiday, that the real
excitement Of the municipal cam
vaign would center In his ward
Fights In Old Jefferson.
There "a going TO be tight on
letter" said this seer. land. in iact,
the fight 10 now on There Is also
nxht on Grimes, and that fght is also
on. But the chances are that new
man will step into letters place, and
that Grimes will have fighting
chance fog last place among the I've.
TN the alderrnanic fight. the Mel
ton men are claiming big votes IN
three precincts. but X remains 20 De
seen whether this vote will Re OF SUI
actent force 10 wipe out the avalanche
which the opposition lie likely 20 put
up. Just think of the opposition, The
father-in law OF Melons opponent ts
president OF the East End Citizens
association. and he IL related TO Mr..
Davis. OF sltterding. Carneai Il Davis.
and sttterdlng ia VICE president OF the
Virginia Railway and Power company,
and naturally the candidate Will get
the support OF the members OF the
citizens association. and the street car
people And that's some com oinacon-
But I almost forget TO remind you.
TOO. that the Church Hill Tigers. with
Jim Dfckerson at the head. lie for the
new man Looks like cinch. but II
amt For the antisfreet car people
are pretty strong in the Fast End, and
~ re are aome who are strong tor
Melton because he voted for the char
which NAYf
10 the legislature. which showed his
@punk And Melton. too. 10 one OF
the fathers of cheaper gas, which
counts for something to people who
~ot@ for man who doe@ what he can
FOR the good OF the whole people.
AIderr4,nszic Contest Interesting.
with this speech the East End seer
left the City Hall IanItor, and went
hiE way.
The janItor was Eliminating and was
shaking his head. when Clay ward
voter hove In sight, looking for place
TO pay his gas bill.
whats the news from old C1ay~
asked the custodian.
None. except that cid raan Pau
In up against II some He aint loser
by O long shot yet. for the old man
IN som ething OF a hustler, but he will
have a hard fight before the campaign
closes They are going around kissing
the babies. and doing little gun,
shoe stuff all right Edgar English
looks like he will lsad the ticket. and
Lee Peters will overcome that same
old opposition that he has to handle
every year. Don't look like no changes
In the council end of II. but the can
didats& for the board are got to CHASE
every possible voter and Gilbert Pol
lock 10 a good chaser"
A policeman from Lee ward came
In the hall to brush the snow off hts
shoulders
They tell me there's something 90
ting In the artstocratio West End" re-
marked the custodian
X tall you. cap" said the police
man. '.ft's against the rules for IL,
fellows to get into politics. but take
my word for II. this increase in pa,
has got us going. and we can't he'll
he.pptng them what hep US, Looks
10 me like a clean sweep for the OLD
mon In Lee ward, but from my OBJ
sarvations along the beat. that fellow
Airport In making something of a i'm
preston II he wants TO win. though
he has got to ait one of his tastes
mobiles and chase them Lee ware
voters, for most of them has theil
own ears"
AkdlSOu WGfa hh0h OEeI hGAEt
from, but Just az the policeman wen
out the Broad street door. a man from
South Richmond came In from ths
door with southern exposure, looking
for Dick Saunders He was told tina
Dick Saunders hung out in the Fed
sraI building. and he was sized VI
by the custodian as a man who ough
10 know the political trend In Madi
son ward. as It Ia generally accepted
that every man in South Richmond Il
more or less of a politician.
South Side Claims All.
''Iow's the Campaign 2"
I'VE got II cinched." was the reply
Morton Ia going TO beat Jesse Ladd
and Joe Nunnally Is going to beat LAni
Christian. and that will give us fire,
state men tho whole Madison ware
delegation but Mr.. Cheatwood. Som
says that Morton Is going to beat Johi
Moore, but II amt sensible to bea
the best man In the delegation. Nov
Il It? / leave II TO you. John Moor,
sacrificed hisself for the people whei
he voted to abolish Washington ward
and he has been for the people al
the time. as his record shows. Car
ter Jones is being mentioned for some
thing else. and hope he gets 1t. Tha
boy Morton. though. is a dandy, ant
he is going to get in. even II he haste
osat the best man."