The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-15
QUESTION SIGNATURES
ON WHITES PETITION
Report That Paper Was Signed Under
Misrepresentation May be Brought
Before Committee.
CANDIDATE is IN DARK.
Says When Presented to Him He Was
Requested TO Get Into Race For the
Board of Aldermen From Lee
Ward.

When the city Democratic commit
tee meets at Murphy's hotel on Fri
day night, a question of some interest
concerning the petition of w. Stewart
White, who was chosen to represent
| Lee ward in the board of aldermen
may be raised.
I At least that is the impression among
! politicians and public men around
| City Hall A report has been going
the rounds ever since the primary
election to the effect that many of
those who signed the petition calling
upon Mr.. White to announce himself
a candidate, was done SO under the
impression that he was to be a candi-
date for common council. Later 1t
was stated. the petition was changed
to read board of aldermen" and as
such was handed to the city clerk and
to the secretary OF the city Dem ocratic
committee.
This report has grown so insistent,
however, that The Virginian represen-
tative has made inquiries concerning
the facts in the case, and has learned
that the paper was originally pre-
pared by friends of Mr. White who
had intended calling upon him to run
for the lower branch of council. but
that later, and after the paper had
been signed by several citizens, the
promoters of the plan had found that
perhaps the chances for getting Mr..
White into city council could prob
ably be better II made by way of the
board of aldermen.
Thereupon the men who had signed
the paper previously, it was said.
were called up or seen personally. and
the situation explained. They agreed.
L -. a
let their signatures remain upon the
paper.
Mr.. White was asked yesterday to
make statement. He said he had
heard the report. but that he knew
nothing about 1t. He did not circu-
late the petition. he said, but it was
handed him by friends after it had
been filed out with the necessary
number of signatures as required by
law, and he accepted the Invitation
TO run for the board of aldermen.
Il was chosen for the board OF al
dermen,' said Mr.. White. IT know
nothing of the manner in which the
petition was circulated. When it was
handed to me, requesting that ! an
nounce myself for the board of alder
men ! accepted the invitation, and
Immediately set to work TO insure nv
l.
fight and be defeated. / am glad
the people of Lee ward thought
enough of me 10 give me the vote
sufi1cient to win out. and I shall try
to reciprocate by giving them a good
administration of their affairs in the
board"
1t was said yesterday that several
of those who signed the petition may
enter protest before the committee
Friday night AS the law requires
that "a petition signed by at least fifty
qualified voters shall be necessary in
the case, and as the White petition,
1t is said, contained but fifty-one
names, If but three OF them declare
that they signed the paper under a
misapprehension, then the committee
may refer the case to hastings court
for adjudication.
The committee itself can take no
action, except to hold up the certih-
cate until the question has been set
tied by the court.
No one feels that anything OF a
fraudulent nature has been done. so
that the matter may resolve itself
into technical disregard of the re-
qulrements of the election laws. and
II the report amounts to anything a
new election for the board Of alder
men may be ordered for Lee WARD.