The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-21
.A|RsCHB[Re SAYS
He IS ASSURED Of
MAJ0R|TI0F VOTES
Fifty Out Of ! Crowd Of
800 Declare Their Al
legiance TO Him.
SOWELL SPEAKS
FOR CANDIDATE
Five New Aspirants for
Places IN Council Adj
dress the Meeting
Koch Explains.

Addressing a meeting of Clay ward
voters at the Randolph street public
school building last night, John
Htrshberg, candidate for mayor, told
them that he was assured Of the sup
port OF not less than 5000 Of the
registered voters Of the city. There
was = reason, he stated, that 20.212
men had come forward and paid their
poll taxes in anticipation of the elec-
ton to be held this year, and that
while large proportion of these men
were keeping their own counsel, and
had given no public expression to
their choice in the mayoralty contest,
he was confident that when the re-
turns were counted in the primary
election April s. he would be noni-
mated by an overwhelming majority.
The meeting was called by Hirsch-
berEs friends to give him an oppor-
tunity to address them. In an at
tempt To poll the assembly by pre-
cincts, probably fifty men stood up as
avowed Hirschberg supporters.
Mr.. Hirschberg was introduced by
W. l. Britt. chairman of the meeting.
and began his address with an appeal
to the Clay ward voters, friendly TO
his election, to organize In his behalf
Referring to the statement published
in morning paper that the meeting
in South Richmond, Friday night, was
packed with "Hirschberg camp fol-
lowers noisily demonstrative. he
denied that his friends in the audi
ence had created any greater dis
turbance than the supporters OF
Mayor Ainslie. many OF whom. he
said. were officers in citizens clothes,
distributed throughout the assem-
hlage.
Charging that the City Hail vote
was being co-eced in behalf of the In
cumbent in the mayors ONCE. In this
connection he announced that il elect
ed mayor he would sec to II that no
.enpipyc OF the city should be dts
missed without a hearing, no matter
what the courtSsfnay decide and that
h would arrange for an appeal In all
cases to the advisory board
Mr.. Hirschberg repeated the state
ments made in previous addresses that
he believed an increase in city taxes
was unnecessary, that he was in favor
OF free siaduets in an parts of the
city, and that il elected he would see
to it that the Virginia Railway and
Power company complied with the
provisions of its charter both as to
service and the running OF the one
man cars.
At the conclusion of his address.
MIR. Hrschbrg called on Edward l..
Ryan. OF First Clay. who stated that
he had gone unto this election with
no prediction as to choice for mayor.
bit -tAa+-3+%- lasta-new decided to Eirc-
his wholehearted support to John
Hirshberg.
James B. Sowell. former chief OF
police, who stated that he was un-
Justly dismissed from ofRce. also
urged the election of Hirshberg. He
denied that he had been offered the
position Of CHIEF OF police, or that
he was seeking any, ofIice.
Explanation OF the methods OF
registration. and instruction to new
voters was made by O. l. Koch regis
trar OF second precinct Clay ward.
Though the meeting had been CALI
ed by his friends, Mr. Hirshberg ex-
tended an invitation to candidates
for the city council some OF whom
were present. to present their claims.
short addresses were made BY can
didates Branch, Roscher. Fensom,
Mann and Balck. all new aspirants
for places in council None OF the
incumbents were present Five are
to be elected.