Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-20
The President and the Readju.ter.


The Virginia coaliJionists affect to regard
the remarks OF the President, in the interview
with the Wickham delegations, as more favor.
able to them than to the straight out repuo-
lcan5. That they do not really look upon IL iu
that light would seem TO be manifest from the
TACT that they are now arranging to send
delegation OF their leaders to argue the Presl-
dent out OF the views he expressed to Gen.
Wickham. IN the course OF that Interview.
according to all accounts. the President was
very decisive upon at least two points and
both are important. In the first place. he was
emphatic In his declaration that II the read
1uster movement is tainted with reputation 10
any shape, or to airy degree, republicans could
not afford to even touch 1t. He said, further,
that it was for the republicans of Virginia to
decide whether or not the faint OF reputation
s upon readjuster1sm; that he not being a
resident OF that state, could not be expected to
understand the precise relations of parties to
the state debt. In short, he would leave the
decision to the Virginia republicans, with the
admonition that they must not touch reoudia-
ton.
The republican executive committee OF Viz
giDia, In the Presidents presence, unau-
tmously decided, then and there, that readi15t-
ment Is Observation-Disclosures repudla-
ton. The most ingenious OF all tina coalition
lists certainly cannot make 1t appear that there
was anything uncertain or equivocal In that
portion OF the interview. Again; a member OF
the executive committee produced and gave I'd
the President to read, q letter written and
sigred by John F. Lewis, at present chairman,
OF The republican state central committee
and nominee for the second place On the
readjuster ticket II this letter Mr..
Lewis wrote: Il have seen the President
and lie Is In favor OF q coalition with the re.
acJusters." TIE President, after reading the
letter. said he had not seen Mr.. Lewis since the
readjuster convention; nor had he authorized
Lewis or any other man to say he was In favor
of a coalition This talk was plain enough,
surely. This was written to member of the
state committee (and also of the executive COM
mitttee. Which Is, In fact, subcommittee OF
the state committeel, informing him that a
meeting Of the committee had Deen called and
urging him to be present. At this meeting OF
the state committee, to be held In Richmond to-
morrow. the question of coalition will be virtu-
ally settled Ii Lewis and his followers can
muster majority they will prevent the calling
OF republican convention and declare for
coalition. II. on the other hand, Gen. Wick.
nam mas majority not only will a convention
De called, but coalition Will be condemned, and
Lewis will be displaced as chairman of the COM
mittee. The cOalitionists have been making
use OF the Presidents name very freely, seeking
In various ways to create the belief that he
FULLY sustains their position. The Wickham To-.
terVieW proves that the President has not au-
thorlzed any statement to that effect; that
neither has he actually condemned Coalition.
but leaves this question TO Virginia republicans
10 settle 1t without interference. II the inter-
View had lot accomplished anything else the
time was well expended In demonstrating this
ole fact