Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-10-24
THE LAST BEFORE THE ELECTION.
A LIVELY ROCKINGHAM MEETING-THE
COUNTY CANDIDATES ON THE STAND
EXCITING TIME-FINE SPEECH OF MAI.
GREGORY.

HARRIsONBURG, Oct. 20
Reported for the Staunton VINDIcAToR]
Looking out of the car window Sunday
evening the cold sunset and the leafess
trees brought the autumn season home to
me in contrast with the court day journeys
made to Rockingham in the leafy
June of last year. And with them come,
as write, membranes of those
leafy days that the Readjusters of this
county enjoyed in those warmer and bet
ter days. Things are greatly changed
since then. The Readjusters were then
as plentiful as the leaves. Then DR.. Moi
felt, the great Bell Puncher. was power
by himself. To-day the political tree has
many limbs bare, the exemplary Puncher
is but a shadow cast by Paul, and that
staunch readjuster, Reuben N. Harrison,
is not even shadow. Excuse these tears!
Stepping into the Revere House, the
first man saw, looking over the register,
was the Hon. John T. Harris. Having
examined the slocal papers, SO confident.
ly alluded to some days ago by the Metro
politan press as about to appear with his pc
sition on the debt question in full, and hav-
ing failed even with the aid of microscope
to find it initheir columns. I saw my op-
portunity at once, I remarked that the
weather was fine though chilly. He frank
" admitted that it was, not COM
misting himself however to the 'schilly''
portion of it considering that simply a
state question. then remarked in way
that thought he could not evade, as d.
rectly committing himself, that it was
nearly o. clock. He said that he felt so
little interest in the matter Of time that
he had not looked at the court house clock
for some days. Many of your readers may
mot consider that this is definite state
Enent Of Mr.. Harris position on the Nc
tCslloch bill, but have the consolation of
knswing that it is fuller than any state
mem that have been able to find in the
local papers, and is record which those
gentlemen who have been feeling around
for his shoes will do well to cut out and
paste in their hats for future reference.
The situation in Rockingham is mixed
up BY q plethora of candidates. Here is
tho list with their occupations-For the
Senate, Gen. Jno. E. Roller, lawyer, and
Capt. Jno. Paul, lawyer; for the House,
the McCulloch settlement men are Judge
C. T. O'Ferrall, lawyer; Col. Emanuel
Sips, farmer and merchant; W. M. Sibert,
farmer, and Robt. A. Gray; and their op
ponents are Col. r. N. Harrison, farmel'
Goo. Strayer, farmer; J. I. Wood, farmer;
Col. G.. T. Barbee, hotel keeper; DIR. b. IL.
Mofett, merchant. The McCulloch men
I tear will scatter their vote for
Delegate, while the Repealers will vote
solidly for Mofett and Harrison. As to
The prospects of the election, have said
before that it is extremely probable that
Paul will not be returned. What 1 hear
To-day does not change that opinion, The
srlembers for the House will, I think, he
O,Ferrall and Moffett. These are the
opinions Of men active in the CANVASS, for
I am not familiar enough with the county
70 give one of my own.
THE MEETING TO-DAY.
This was the largest court-day gathering
that has been held here for years. The
r,ourt.house was packed, and there were
still hundreds of people loanging and traf-
ticking in the streets. Both the Conserva-
.;yoa and Mozartexs had appointed to-day
For q, meeting, and 80 after a conference
a,.I.oen the representatives Of both it was
aepeed that Maj. W. +. y, Gregory, Of
p s who was sent by tbs State
Committee should defer his speech sEAl
eo.night and Al the candidates IN sns