National Republican., 1878-08-30
A CHANCE TO DEFEAT MIR. GoopE.

II is apparent that the present condition
of affairs in the Norfolk Cvaj district al
iords an opportunity for straightforward
political dealing which can only result TO
the disadvantage Of Mr.. GOODE and the
Democratic party. Unfortunately, there is
no Republican organization in the district
of sufficient force and commanding dignity
to inaugurate the required movement, and
it is to he feared that Mr.. GoODE will be
reelected by the grace of Republican mis-
or want of any kind of man
agement. The Norfolk Day Book explains
the attitude of the Democracy toward
GooDE as follows:
We have never seen more dissatisfaction on
the part of voters with their party leaders
than Is manifested in both parties here just
now. The Democratic party, Judging fairly
and impartally, are just about half and half,
in this city ; that is, half are disposed to
vote for Mr.. GOODE, the nominee, and the
other half are disposed to vote against him.
who, many of them assert openly, was forced
upon them by the ring management, il they
could get an acceptable opponent of his TO vote
for or not vote at all. Wearc cited to the fact
in this connection, that Of the ., 100 votes the
Democratic party polls in this city, from
which il had tweuty-fOur delegates In its
convention, but about 500, or ouc.third of
them, voted at the late primary for GOODE
delegates, or rather rs the vote was cast, for
Mr.. GoODE himself. We have never before
seen the Democracy more demonlized, and of
fering stronger inducements to their opponents
TO walk in aud carry oil the prize without
contest.
The Day. IiOok adds, in explanation Of the
-itnntinn nu ratfurls hn pnn,,ll;,,,,.,
following:
But the fact appears, that the Republicans
are even worse off than their opponents. They
arc "out Oh Il strike" against their leaders and
bosses The course tho Administration has
pursued with the party here, IN putting 1t un-
dor command of Democrats, who mostly fill all
the offices, some Of them even against the open
protest Of the party in mass meeting assembled
at the Butc Street Hall on January 2G 1915, as
well as the recent protest by the executive
committee, has completely broken down any.
thing like party organization and discipline,
and whatever Is dunu now must he done by
TcOrganiZa ion. There is evidently deter.
muatiOn an the part of the larger prcpOndcr.
ance pf the party, probably fDur-hfths, or may
be more than nine-tenths OF them, To do mo-
thing whatever toward rally unless their
Just demands are complied with, in the re-.
mOval Of Democrats from the control and
/
| themselves, to throw the blame Or Ccusuro for
| the loss Of the Congressman from this district
upon the administration, and let the National
organization settle the matter themselves with
the President in the next Congress- when the
| Democrats 20 for an custer
The idea of reorganization Of the party
herein advanced by the Day. Book is a sen
sible one and would be feasible if it were
not for the fact that the Dcmocratic-0r
whatever il is-custom- house ring would
exert itself to defeat any attempt in that di-
rcction. OF this ring the Ddy- Book says:
Probably Onc-1lth or One.tenth. as 1t may
be, consists mostly OF the Democratic office.
holders and their immediate hangcTs.On who
are opposed to any contest whatever, but seek
to name the candidate and control the canvass,
should the party determine to have one, IN
order to make themselves all hunkcy with the
party authorities at Washington. This, OF
course, is the so.called CustOm-house ring,
whom it would DO folly TO suppose never look
. out first, last, nnd all the time for No !, re.
gardless of what may become of the party
They are hunkers, and won't allow the party's
iayors or patronage to bo divided out among
the party fOllowers-preferring to take tho
whole hunk for themselves, their families, ol
their personal friends In the Democrats ranks
| In view Of all these facts, aud especially