Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-06-02
THE SOUTH.
Virginia.

The Readjusters-The Contest for the
Chief Magfstracy-The Republicans
Opposed to Coalition-A Sharp Struggle
among the Candidates.
RICHMOND, June 1.-The delegates to the
Readjusters State convention, which will be
gin it's session o-morrow, are rapidly gath
ering. By an odd coincidence the list foots
up seven hundred and ffty-eight members,
just the number of delegates at Chicago
Mr. Malone and his ieutenants have arrived
and are in earnest consultation. They real
ize and confess that the present is critical
juncture. Republican support is essential
and yet they dare not ally themselves openl.
and formally with that element. They op
pose, therefore, even fusion by agreement
of separate conventions. They ask for the
votes of those whom their organ styles ''ou1
humber citizens" but are unwilling by their
own confession to assume the odium of q
formal union with them. They are exceed
ingly anxious, therefore. that the Republican
party as such should actically, for tn
present at least, disband- The straighrt +
sect of Republicans naturally object to this
programme General Wickham, for instance
says that it must not be adopted, unless, in
deed, the federal administration have con
cluded to obliterate the Republican party i'll
Virginia. For one, and he speaks for many.
he will support a conservative policy as OPP
posed TO the rea0JuSClnR Ln0Or1eS
Mr. Cameron is by far the leading candi
date for Governor from to-days indications
g says that his strength is greater than he
thought and now claims 285 votes on the first
b Hot 379 being majority. Be this as ii
may, he has decided advantage and cannot
be beaten except by d combination. He has
Mahone's confidence and probably his sup
port, though the Senator processes to have
no personal ticket, Massey, Grover and Wise
complete the quadrilateral of candidates who
will divide the convention the first ballot
with Riddleberger as dark horse and Ma
hone himself as remote contingency in case
of quarrel and deadlock. Mahones great
ambition is to become Governor of Virginia
and it is thought that he would give VI
even his seat in the Senate If he could reach
this throne of honor, power and revenge.
The struggle between Cameron and Massey
is quite bitter and is likely to defeat both
Their contest places Malone in rather del
icate position, as both are his trusted friends
and he is indebted to both for important po-
litical services. OF the two his relations to
Cameron are perhaps more intimate. Wise
has expressed to-day his desire to retire, but
his friends insist upon his running. He ma,
develop strength as compromise candidate
platform has been framed though it is
yet to be perfected in detail. From the
rough draft see that it will be simply re
affirmation of the well known principles OF
the party. Ihe RlddIeberger Dill Will De ap-
proved. Some emphasis will be laid on the
Importance of the protection of the ballot
An extension of patronage of the common
schools is advocated, and the position of the
party on the poll tax for educational pur-
poses is defined. The readjusters will not
advocate repeal of this tax, but its collec
ton from taxpayers in general, not from
parents as preliminary to school privileges
the tax itself must be retained and collected
The Malone people have been quoting to-
day an alleged statement by M"hone that he
had made treaty with Blaine,'' and that in
consequence thereof the administration would
not actively antagonize his policy. To ascer
tain what basis this rumor had telegraphed
to Washington and have received the follow
ing authoritative dispatch:
1.-THE Secretary of State and Senator Ma
hone have never exchanged word in rela-
ton to Virginia politics.