The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-03
Communicated.
HARRfsoNBURG, Jan. 3Ist., Iss

-
Editors Valaey Viryinian.
At last the much talked of report of the
subcommittee Of the Republican Executive
mittee January 18th 1881, has appeared in
your columns.
I his report was made under resolution d.
recting the subcommittee 10 prepare state
ment of the facts connected with the appear
ancc of Messrs. Burr and Loveland in Virgin
ia. land such other matters pertaining to the
late campaign as they may deem proper
The subcommittee was composed OF Mai.
B. w. Hoxey, Mr. II. T Wickham and Mr.. A.
A Splitter, and right here it is but simple JUS
tice to Maj. Hoxey to say That he has been
very sick and confined to his room nearly ever
since Christmas and that presume land hope
for his own reputation) that he had not even
read the report.
Ifrherefore am correct in this assumption
nothing in this article applies to him, as lie is
not responsible for the report
Now Messrs Editors it is not nv purpose to
follow this report through from the time that
the Executive Committee passed resolutions
directing the Republicans in each district to
meet in convention, and nominate candidates,
no matter whether they had any chance to
elect them or not(which action could have only
tended to the election of the Bourbon candi-
dates for Congress) down to the time that the
Chairman of our Executive Committee was
snubbed by the National Republican Commit
tee for have neither the time ror the incli-
nation, and fear you have not the space, for
such review.
Now as far as the putting on record of the
appearance of Messrs. Burr and Loveland in
and if the committee had confined itselfto the
manifest intention Of the resolution under
which they were appointed, would have had
nothing TO say. But this they did not do, and
the report is about as responsive to the resolu-
ton as were the answers of the witness in the
celebrated case of cousin Sally billiard" to
the question propOunded to him, and the pur-
pose of the report is to unduy magnify the
services Of certain individual at the expense
of other faithful workers, who have done much
more effective work, no one who has wadcd
trough this so-called report will for u mo-
ment doubt
, 1t Is indeed true that few persons in each
district are patronizingly mentioned, and per-
complimented, but still the main point of the
report" is never for moment lost sight of,
except when the writer digresses to attack
some Republicans for their action, who are
even more thoroughly imbued with Republi-
can principles than il the writer of the report
with Bourbon Funder Democracy.
will, however, Messrs. Editors, with your
permission, review briefly some things con-
tanned in 1.-The Report" to show how much
weight ought 10 be attached to this document,
of which the Executive Committee has order
ed five thousand copies to be printed and dis
tributed
One of the obvious intentions of this docu-
ment is to show that it was the policy of the
party to have had candidates in each Congress
ional District, and to show that we lost by not
having them ; and to make this appear. figures
showing the Republican vote actually poIled
as compared with the registered Republican
vote are given in some districts, and altogether
omitted in others, just as it suited the purpose
of the subcommittee.
But even with the figures given they have
proved just the opposite from what they in
tended.
Thus in speaking of the 1st Congress sional
District the report extols the management of
the party in that district, and with great ap-
parent satisfaction proclaims that the Republ-
cans polled 10,s5o out Of a total registered Re-
publican vote of 1928 While in the 9th
District in order to show the folly of not rum
ming Republican candidate they say "but
$3.50 out of registered Republican vote of
l1,O67 votes were polled tor Garfield and Ar
thur"
Now certainly these astute gentlemen could
not have noticed the significance of these fig
ures, or they would never have produced them,
but sooatld haze suppressed them as hey dadsn some
other districts.
Now what do the figures show?
Why that in a district where there was a
Republican candidate the actual vote cast was
1878 less than the registered vote; while in
the 9th District where there was no candidate
ha Ofuo oof ,1x, xl.o.-
the registered vote. Thus, if this proves any,
thing at all, it proves that the advantage was
with the district which had no candidate, and
that to the extent of 1878 votes unpolled in
the 1st to 1885 unpolled in the Fifth
Now when We come to this, the 7th Con-
gressional District, this sub committee goes
out of its way to make charge which is alb
solutely and unqualifiedly false, against those
who dared to think it better policy not to
make any nomination for Congress
The Report says. "in the 7th District the
Convention broke up IN the widest confusion,
leaving the district totally disorganized and
torn with internal strfe-one party resolved
upon and committed to the support of the Re-
adjuster Democratic candidate for Congress in
advance of the Republican CONVENTION, and
the other party determined in what they con-
ceived the interest Of the Garfield ticket to run
a candidate"
Now say right here that any person who
makes this statement as to all or even ma
jority of those who opposed nomination in
this district either don't know what
he is talking about, or he knoaoingly and
'os4faIy states scladt is untrue.
So much for this part of "Me Report"
1t then goes on to say. IAN Independent
was attempted to be run and was
most violently opposed" and they might
have added fUifh frutI bnn Oh
acterizes the report in other references to this
district) that this candidate received only 1929
out OF Republican vote of 5367, in spite Of
VIC fact that all Of the money sent into this district
~ the Ececuioe Committee aoos sent to the friends
yf THIS so-called Independent Republican candi-
date, aolo aoas unbI,laingy running an the inter-
EST Of the Bourbon Democrats
But right here ii gives me pleasure to be |
able to say that the report in speaking of this
district does partially do justice to one or two
OF our Republicans.
1t says Mr. Cochran "did good work in har-
nonizing as far as possible" And it further |
says that Mr. j. Yost.the elector, BY his abili-
y on the stump did far more than was thought |
in getting out and holding the Re-
publican vote"
1t gives me great pleasure to add my testimo- |
ny to the great ability of MIR. Yost on the |
stump, and to say that his efforts in behalf OF |
Republicanism were not only able and effect |
we, but gave assurance that in the near future
ne would achieve place among the debaters
u the State high up in the first rank. But, as in
other districts. this one-sided report has done
'nly partial justice.
What for instance would have become of |
The organization in Augusta county, had it
not been for the indefatigable John A. Noon
Rockingham, Shenandoah and Page were
placed by the Chairman ofthe Executive Com
nittee under the charge of Collector B. B. |
Bolts, who assisted by such able and active Re-
oubicans as DR.. Points, Mr.. Donovan, Mr.. |
James Sullivan and others in Rockingham,
Mr. Lichliter and others in Shenandoah, Mr..
campbell and Others in Page, succeeded in
'unning up vote for CARRIED in these coun-
les larger by 257 than had ever been polled
~ Republican before, euen aehen there ,oas
10 fo1-tar restriction upon suffrage. Nor does
he report mention in connection with this or
my other district the able and effective SER
'ice on the stump of Capt. Warren s. Lurty,
Who at bis own expense stumped vari GUS
PARTS of OF the State.
Now just one word in conclusion. This re-
bort says that the action of those who opposed
! congressional nomination in this district left
he district totally disorganized and torn
With internal strife" while it shows that the
organization in the 3rd (the Richmond) dis
riot was complete, and that the party had a
candidate in the field until
bout three or four days before the election.
Now it is clear that if the view of the