The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1953-12-12
Offers Plan
For People
10 Select
A Nominee
ALI Aspirants To Be Balloted On
At Much Publicized Mass-Meeting
Winner To Be Pledged Support

Rev. F. E. Alexander who made an unsuccessfu, hid
Tor seat on the Roanoke City Council last year an
nounced today that he will not be candidate in the 1854
election. 1t has been the general belief that be oa
enter the coming contest when there will be three seats
to be filled. 'oN"'
Rev. Alexander's withdrawal from LARGE ,;s+ IF
poental candidates gives him free-hand as editor and
Puoser OF the only Negro paper published in South
~s' virginia to work with the people in can affort to
select nominee for the office and throw behind the
candidate the type of community support needed 70 t
the selected ~ e'e''
lie thinks the white people of the citv are ra.dv
10 hep elect Negro to City Council provided the
cezens give evidence that they really want one
rev Alexander it is unreasonable to exnect the
wnlte people to manifest more interest in orr wall
being than we do ourselves
II is almost certainty that all of the men whose
names are so frequently mentioned will not enter tba
race But 1t is reliably reported that some are saving
ey are going to regardless of who else NAV enor
~ iace' Ihose men are all respectable citizens of orr
ihey are taxpayers and voters. They are all in
-eu III the CIVIC and political welfare of our city
anu 10 oeslre to serve in the capacity of Co,ncilmen
unsei1lsh and commendable on their part To darnar
e interest or discourage their ambition is far from
sne intention OF all thoughtful people But there will
~ Any uiree vacancies on the Council next year and
egro cl1zens are hopeful Of filling one of the three
seats therefore, united and concerted effort ON tb
VI ee Negro voers in the support of one candidate
is mandatory in order to succeed
, LII view OF that fact, Rev. Alexander offers n,.r
tnat Will give each hopeful the democratic onnortunt
oi appearing before the people in great massmeet;no
heu ior the purpose Of nominating candidate for
e coming councimanic election Ballots will he nr;nted
anu distributed (one) to each person in the audience
ne name OF each asprant will be printed on the ballot
IN the IKE manner of regular election ballot Mer
S Oh she audience will be given the privilege of voting
c she'r cnoIce by marking (x) opposite the name
of their choice. W pp INC iahe
mere VIII also be one blank line over which tho
wo,os WRITTEN" will be printed Should anv nerson
is e nomination of someone other than those whose
appear on the ticket he may write it in nrov;ded
ae ne does not mark his ticket for either Of the
dIdates above mentioned - ~ '"'f
TWO or three minute speeches may be made IN tho IN
Oh tne respective candidates. Then the votes will;
&c eohected and announced by tellers The person no
'e ehe largest number of votes will be declared tba
peoples candidate. " No''' Gu "'e
before the votes are counted and the results an
o"hced both the candidates and audience shouId nod
oy Standing vote to support the nominee with all tbe;
er ana ability Anyone who dares to break his nedoo
VIII not soon be forgotten by the people
Ihls is only the beginning of this plan Watch tho
'oiun's Oh Ihe Tribune for further DEVELOPMENTS W.
are open for suggestions. Write The Tribune and Give
1our opinion OF the plan. The time is short II NAV Ia
alter than Won thnI, N'' ~ may De