Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-08
The Situation in Virginia.

THE FrSpERs EXPECT To wrN-BUr THEY HAVE
AHARD FIGHT on HAND-MAHoNE's MEN BUSY
THE CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY
Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR
WINCHESTER. VA. Sept. 6. 81.
The DRIFT of popular sentiment in the present
political canvass certainly seems to be i'm favor
OF the democrats. or funders as they are more
frequently termed here. This is very conclusive
after having questioned men as I have met them
as to their own political preferences and that of
their neighbors respectively. The better Classes
of the population are undoubtedly with the
funders. The merchants whose credit stands
highest. and the farmer. who is spoken of
as an "honest man." will almost invariably be
found among the anti-readjusters. One of the
shining lights of readjusterism not thousand
miles from this place is a man who bought all the
goods he could get on time sold them for less
than cost and swindled his creditors by closing
business. There are very few. even among the
best classes of Virginians. who believe the
state can pay her entire debt with the rate of
interest originally agreed upon. Nearly every
man you meet says in substance that the cred
1tors must consent to a reduction of the debt
70 refunding at lower interest: if they want
payment. This. it is universally believed. can
De accomplished without any difficulty. The
general opinion is that the creditors will consent
to composition very readily. whenever they
can feel assured of the payment of the reduced
OeDt. Man0ne does not seem to have made any
converts i'm this part of the valley. while he has
evidently lost some of those who followed him
last year. met on the train the other evening
young farmer who seemed to be type of a
pretty large class. In talking with him of the
political situation he attached but little inn
iortance to the debt question. He said the debt
would have to be reduced before il could be
paid, and that this reduction would be brought
about. no matter which party might win. He
said he had been one of Mahones original SUBJ
p0rters. and had followed him into the support
of the July Hancock ticket last year. but"
he added, Il can't stand Mahone's affiliations.
His votes in the Senate last winter separated
him from me. / am a democrat and i'm nv
neIghborhood there are many others who have
lett Malone for the same reason. The reason
assigned by this man for abandoning Malone
will apparently influence hundreds of votes i'm
the shenandoah valley at the coming election.
The funders have made the most of Mahones
votes and of the efforts of himself and lieuten-
ants to coax the colored people to his support
III must not be concluded, however. that the
readjusters are not going to get votes in this
section. They are working untiringly and mean
10 poll every vote they can get.
The best informed and coolest headed
democrats realize and frankly admit that they
have no holiday job on hand in their effort to
beat Malone. Still, the prevailing opinion is
that he will be beaten by $1,000 to % 600 ma
Jorlty in the state. The white republicans are
naturally divided Those who are engaged in
business pursuits and in farming and tho have
no special interest in politics-are not after
VI those who take an active part in the canvass
majority are with Malone while some are work
ing for the success Of the straight democratic
ticket