The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-24
The Triangular Fight.
ECHoLS, HARRIS AND PAUL IN ELECTROMAGNETIC
WOOL BEGINS TO FLY-PAUL WITH THE BOYS"

three separate offers to bet to on Harris cleo
ton. He was Harris man. That night as cam,
out from supper, individual in the hotel offic,
was pleading with anybody and every body to TAXI
up wager OF two to one on Paul. He was q Pau
man. That's just about the situation, and n
opens the most promising field of speculation fol
an enterprising disinterested third party that cal
well be imagined. BEAT Jno. Harris ?" say the
Harris men. Never! not all the combinations
that can be gotten up will keep him out Of Con
gress." who talks of Paul not being elected p
say the Paul men. "Why, he'll sweep the district
like food! He'll come over the mountain 1901
ahead, and old Rockingham will add 900 to it
The people idolize him here" and Just let any Mr.
Thomas doubt the verify of either assertion OF
suggest the possibility that one OF the other and
perhaps both will be defeated, and the fate Of
Cassandra would be like floating "to the skies
on fowery beds OF easc," to the torture which
awaits him. The Echols men are quiet, but de-
termined. You don It hear them talk much, but
when they stand up and say 81 would rather GO
down with Echols than win with either Of the
Others" it looks as if they would present solid
front when the time comes.
Even that suggestive term fred hot does mt
express the degree of temperature in Rocking
ham politics. The Congressio nal election is the
ners, over counters, in the offices, about the no
tells, and wherever and whenever,men chance to
meet. Business and pleasure are alike absorbed,
andnothing is thought, talked or dreamed of but
politics.
The county is equally aroused. From Port Re-
public to Brooks Gap the fever RACES.
The announcement that all three OF the candi-
dates would meet in Harrisonburg on Monday,
drew the sovereigns from remotest precints,
and the palmiest Court day OF ante.bellum times
could scarcely have mus tered its legions in such
force. When the bell commenced ringing they
poured into the Courtroom by hundreds. Every
seat and aisle in gallery and on floor was jammed
and packed. They were wedged in windows, sar-
dlned In the doors, and many were unable to gain
entrance at all. Presently somebody cried thur
rah for PAUL." and then the tumult commenced
Paul! Paul!' was echoed from every por-
ton OF the room and if that crowd was a fairly
representative one, believe four-ffths of the
votes OF Rockingham will be cast for Paul.
In the meantime the three candidates had met
on the platform. Paul and Harris both looked
sulky, and there were ominous shakes and coun-
ter shakes OF the head, while Echols stood by
smiling so blandly that one would have imagined
he more than half enjoyed the situation, In ten
or fifteen minutes the audience began to get i'm
patient, and General Echols stepped to the front
aud said there seemed to be some difficulty be-
tween the Rockingham candidates as to who
should have the close. He was willing to go on
now either first, second, or he might be prevail
ed upon to speak last.
Harris interrupted Echols,a and amid cries of Ego
on Echols,'' "hurrah for PAUL." and the like, ex-
planned that by agreement entered into some
days previous it was Pauls time to lead OF, and
his to close. Hereferred to General &c hols who
the programme the same way. This
brought Paul to his feet and the crowd to yell.
He stated that his understanding Of the arrange
ment was that in places where neither had spo-
ken the regular order should be observed. In
Harrisonburg, however, both had spoken, and
he had lead off, and now he thought it but fair to
be allowed to have the close. He intended to
speak last,or he would mt speak at all. [Applause
and cries OF "rightr' fright ri
Harris, between cheers and cries of Ego on
Echols, said that Paul should stick up to the ar
rangement Because he (PauD knew everybody
was for him in Rockingham was no reason why
he should seek to take an advantage.
Echols then commenced speaking, but Harris
kept protesting, and the crowd continued crying
go it Echols!'' and jeering at Harris
Finally, after ten minutes wrangling Paul
came forward and said that he was not the man
pie, and lust about that time the people gave
yell that deafened everyone, and threatened to
knock.all of the acoustics out of the building.
PAUL's SPEECH.
After the tumult had su bsided sufficiently to al
low him to proceed, Paul pitched into his COM
petitors rough and tumble. He said that his po-
sition on the questions at issue were fully known
to his audience. but he proposed to tell them
how he came to be a candidate. Before this can
vass commenced he had been invited to address
The people of Highland, Bath, Augusta, and other
counties, upon the State debt. At that time the
funders and funding papers were declaring that
no readiuster should be allowed to go to Congress
that to permit such a thing would be to disgrace
he State. In this way the gauntlet had been thrown
Town to the party he represented, and to vindi-
cate that party from the taunts and ieers cast up
IN it, and show the world that readJustment was
not the movement OF two or threepolitical agita.
,ors, but was conviction which found Judgment
N the breasts of the best people all over the dis
,rict, he had consented to take up the guage and
bear the peoples banner aloft. Now this read
ustment issue is sought to be ignored in the
canvass. and it is claimed that it has nothing to
10 with Congress, but the same cry was raised
when the Governor was elected, and now you
Know what followed. The man who represents a
people should feel with them upon all important
subjects, and he had no idea the people of the
district were going to throw aside one who was
in entire sympathy with them, who had fought
in the ranks and in the lead for their principles
'or one who was avowedly opposed to them, or for
mother who is worse-a neutral.
The General and Judge had been indulging in
lice little side-show all to themselves, The
General had complimented the Judge and the
Judge had complimented the General. One had
made hard money speech and the other a sof
money speech, but there was no contest between
lie intended to break up that little game now.
lie didn't want to indulge in personalities, but
Intended to tell the truth, let it hurt who it
night, and if that is called personalities, make
h most of it. Both of his competitors had re-
ords, and now let them stand upon them.
General Echols, in the legislature, had voted
gainst increasing the tax, and now he wants that
Increase levied. He had voted against the Mas
lie School Bill, the Barbour Bill, and every meas
Ire that looked to the protection OF the Public
schools. He had opposed the readjusters at every
tand, and if electe now it would be heralded
Is grand funder triumph. He was elected re-
djuster, and if he had used his influence to car
y forward its policy the State would not have
'een in helpless condition to-day. Echols had
10 right to claim expect the support of any re-
djuster, for he has done all he could against
hem, and his votes in the legislature were al
Ways hostile to their policy.
He then waded into Harris with gloves off, ac-
using him OF having opposed tacitly and openly
eadjusment measures, until it was ascertained
hat its advocates held the majority in the dis
riot, and then he came over and was the Oldest
eadjuster in the State. Harris thought that he
owned this district, but it doesn't belong to him
low as much as it did, for the readjusters who
we're masters Of the situation would see that its
hief office should be bestowed on one who was
eart and soul with their cause.
The people were also acquainted with his posi-
ion on the National Finance. 1t had been ru-
nored. however, that he was no better than an
open communist-wanted to divide property, sc.
lie prayed God to help the soul of man who
could utter such falsehood as that, and said it
le heard mere Of it he would brand the author
rom the stump.
Paul closed with two or three anecdotes that
'rought down the house. In fact, he was ap-
'lauded from beginning to end. His speech was
strange mixture OF bold aggressiveness, bald
badinage and agreat deal OF solid
ruth But it made no difference what he said,
brought forth the yells, and carried the crowd.
lie spoke for an hour and a half, and then
GENERAL EcHoLs
topped forward, but the crowd kept on crying |
PAUL." PAUL." as if they would never get |
nough of him Echols proceeded however and al |