The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-20
.Old sIedge" I'm Reply 10 "Draw
Poker"
n the Editor OF The Dispatch !:

uOld Sledpe - of the 4th instant, in which
Iyentured the opinion that il would be I'M
uolitjc and fatal to the Conseryatiye-Dem-
ocratic party of Virginia TO nominate or
support the Hon. John L. Massey Tor con-
gresham at large, and | respectfully ask
space for brief reply to some Of its most
salient points. 1t is very grave question
in dispute that involves to great extent
the fate and future Of the Democratic party
of the State and country, and it had better
lie understood and settled at once.
Now, "Draw Poker" is most interest
Ing and fascinating game, whether with
cards or i'm politics, but most dangerous
and hazardous one-not eXcelled even by
faro. When the player can stand "pat ..
with "flush" or ''full" he can afford
TO pile up his bottom dollar on the result
with the certainty Of winning in nine cases
out OF ten. But when, as is most generally
the case, he has to "draw" card or two
and fails to Gill;" his loss and discontinue
is very damaging to his purse and depress-
ing to his spirits. / have seen thousands
OF dollars staked and lost on Just such VEN
lures, and bet that, in the long run, no one
ever realized a dollar by the game UNI
less he was professional gambler
or played the "lizard" part for the
game. On the other hand, the old
Virginia game OF "Old Sledge,"' Though
not so attractive and fascinating, is far
more certain to win when played with
only common skill, and never so disastrous
in its results to the purse. This is pre-
cisely the distinction in point between
"Draw Poker" and myself. His is clearly
brash game Of draw poker, with all OF the
hazard and dangerous losses attending it.
He holds neither " flush" nor "full."
and is standing "pat " and stalking high on
a very weak hand. certainly not on more
than ''two pairs" which are much weaker
than the other two, and he wants to stake
the whole fortunes of the Democratic party
on the single turn of doubtful card
Has "Draw Poker" any right to make
such venture! / think not.
Let us look at this matter in dispas-
sionate and common-sense light:
No one will pretend that the Democratic
party should support Mr.. Massey unless he
can be elected. Can he be. say clearly
not. Let us see Last November Cameron
polled $4,000 votes, OF which at least $4,000
were Republicans, leaving 10000 Reid
iuster-Democrats upon which Mr.. Massey
can draw. To be elected he would have to
get at least 1000 Of those Readiusters and
the lrhOle Of Daniels 10000 Democrats.
Can Mr.. Massey do any such things! l
think clearly that he cannot do either. We
have 10 sort OF evidence that he can COM
mand even 5000 Readiusters. The Re-
adiusters of not single county OF town.
ship i'm the State have yet declared for him,
while ii is VIGOROUSLY certain that he Will
lose, or fail to get, at least twenty or
thirty thousand Democrats. In either
or both cases Mr.. Massey would be
hopelessly defeated at the expense
Of the Democratic party by thousands OF
votes. But "'Draw Poker" may say that
every Democrat ought to vote for Mr.. Mas
sey. That may possibly be true, but it is
perfectly certain that thousands OF them, as
good Democrats as we are, will refuse to
do so, and that ends the question. Can my
talented friend OF Halifax have such poor
opinion OF the consistency and integrity OF
his own party as to suppose that 100, 00C
true and trusted Democrats can be in
duced in a single day TO radically
change their opinions Of men and
things and flop from one side to another
j should think not. Besides, If, as it l.
claimed, Mr.. Massey and his following are
"good Democrats" Disguised with The
bossism OF Malone, and do not intend {
follow him into the ranks OF the Republ
can party, will it not be far easier and more
gracious and honorable in them TO CONT
back to their allegiance and support OF thei
old party friends than for the old party t.
90 over to them? How is that for high
Should the dog wag the TAIL or should tn,
tail wag the dogg That is the question.
But "Draw Poker" very plainly init
mates that II the Democrats do not give al
the honors to Mr.. Massey and his "four
Cameron will call an extra session Of tn
Legislature. and they will go back on u
and on the good they have done and vot
for Mahone's infamous measures, whicl
they helped TO defeat last winter. This in
timation, | think, does those gentlemen
gross injustice; but even il true, it woul
only prove my conviction that Mr.. Masse
is not the proper man TO be put in the lead
II he and his following have to be bough
ut such dear price and held by such THU
tenure, then i would say emphatically, lie
them slide, and let Malone do his worst.
When alluded in my article to such O
our tried leaders as "Wise, Cabell, GoodC
Trigg," Of course did not intend to spe
ciaily champion those gentlemen or to il
innate that they should continue to hold til
field against all new corners or aspirant
On the contrary, after naming them | ado
ed distinctly "and Others" which eli
braced the widest latitude. But "Dra'
Poker" seems to have construed me di
ferently, and makes the following som,
what inconsistent and curious declaration
"New issues are upon us, and young an
new men must take the lead. Will il
better for the country and the party to III
up old leaders as fororn hope, or ne
men, alive to the condition Of affairs an
with new record!"
Now, respectfully submit ii this is n
complete surrender OF the whole que
ton as TO the policy OF Mr.. Massey's ca
didacy, for he is neither Il ''young man
nor "new" one, nor is he dentifit
with any " new issues" that am aware o
On the contrary, he is one of the "olde
leaders" in the State, and with an oil
record" which it would be difficult,
think, for any Democratic press or speakt
I'm Virginia to defend with any sort OF pie;
sure or success. fully agree in the vii
dom OF the remark that some OF our oil
leaders may well stand aside, and let ne,
ones be brought TO the front. For In
stance, Colonel Cabell, Of the Fifth di:
frict, who has been In harness 10
some eight years, might and probably vii
give way and let Hurt. Edmonds. Sims
Hale, Lybrook, Sutherlin, and others, hav
chance. Ran. Tucker, too, of the Sixth
who is full Of honOrs and Of years in on
public service, might yield to the aspira
lions OF Thurman, Taylor, Berry, ant
numerous other rising young statesmen Ia
that district. Colonel Barbour, OF thu
Eighth, and the gallant Wise, OF the Third,
are both new beginners and young mem
bers, and are entitled TO have one or two
more chances. But II we are indebted to
Mr.. Massey anything more than our thanks
and gratitude, then why not reward him by
pitting him against the traitor Paul in
bis own district, whom he helped to elect ?