Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-01-27
MASSEY BLOCKS MALONE.
1.-THE MERRY, MERRY PARSON
AND THE BOSS"
FULL HISTORY OF THE BLOCK.

FULL HISTORY OF THE BLOCK.
THE ANGER OF THE READJUSTERS-THEY
CHARGE CORRUPTION AND WILL IN
vEsTIGATE--THEY THREATEN TO TURN
MASSEY OUT AFTER THE LEGISLATURE |
ADJOURNs.
&C.. &C., sc.
The most exciting event that has occur
red in Readjuster politics-tAat is to say
the scramble for ofice-is the rebelllon OF
Auditor Massey against Boss Malone. In
order to a proper understanding by our
readers Of the matter, it is necessary to go
backward to its history as it has appeared
in various quarters in print and rumor. 1t
appears that soon after Mr.. Massey was
elected Auditor, indeed almost lmnedl-
ately after, he made it apparent that he
did not intend to submit to the Interior
ence or even the suggestions of General
Malone as to the management OF his office.
One oft told story is that one applicant for
position there came to the Auditor with
a written request from the General him
self for his appointment. and that Mr..
Massey with genial smile over his spec
tacles at the presenter folded it and in
serted it in his vest pocket, where it may
have been buried ever since for all the
good it has done the applicant. 1t is al
legged by those opposed to the Auditor that
this opposition was the result Of chagrln
at Malone being made Senator instead of
himself. and by those friendly to him that
it was the result OF a conscientious desire
to administer the office to the best interest
of the State. At any rate the impression
got strong hold in the State that Malone
and Massey were TAT outs" The subses
quent defeat of the Auditor for the con-
vention nomination for Governor, and
again for the caucus nomination for U s.
Senator when Riddleberger got it, con-
firmed this and showed that strong hand
in his party was raised against him. Not
only this, but 1t appears that arrangements
were quietly perfected to make it lmpossi-
bic for him to retain his Authorship. It
the subject of having exclusive control of
his own office and the party 'authorities"
arranged that no head of Department
should choose more than one clerk, the
other clerkships to be divided out by the
party caucus. In Mr.. Massey's Office there
are ten clerks employed. When the eau
Gus first met to nominate State officers
Massey proved unexpectedly strong and
his case was adjourned over. When it
met again he was still immovable as to his
refusal to submit his clerks to the dicta-
ton Of caucus, and he was beaten, 5.
Brown Allen, of Augusta, being nomina-
| ted for his position by a vote of 45 to 70.
At that caucus, Senators Hale and New
berry, and Delegates Dickerson, Young
and Vaughan five of Mr.. Massey's friends
| solted. In the mean time the Richmond
''Wbig" opened It's battery on Mr.. Massey.
| AUDITOR MASSEY SHOWS FIGHT-A SHOT
AT THE BOSS.
| Auditor Massey's first show of fight out
side Of the caucus was made in letter of
JAM 10Th, to the Richmond "Whig," say
ing that he was too much engaged in pub
lie duties then to reply to its ''unlovsly,
unkind aud unwarranted attacks but:
If the autocratic reign to which the rep
resentatives of free people have been re-
quired to submit thus far, continues to
| control them, may soon be relieved from
| the duties of official position. L shall then
| be free to give proper attention to your
| publications, and to the men who are seek
| ing to destroy every feeling of lndepend
ence, manliness and self-respect in both
| the people and their representatives, and
] to subsidize the whole to crafty their own
| inordinate ambition.
| With due respect,
JOHN e. MASSEY.
| ADDRESS 70 HIS CONSTITUENTS HOW
| THE JOB WAS PUT UP ON HIM.
| On the day before, Auditor Massey had
written a letter for the information of his
| people in Albemarle. which appeared in
the Charlottesville ''Chronicie Of Jan. 20.
He shows how the thing was put up on him
as follows:
Upon the org anization of the Readjus-
! ter caucus a series of resolutions, aUhich
| had been previously prepared at "headqN0r
ters,' was adopted. Que Of these resolu-
lions, I understand, required each person
desiring nomination for any office to sign
written pledge that he would submit to
the rules of the caucus before his name
could be considered or placed before it for
nomination l asked for copy of these
rules but was refused it by the secretary.
[ was once allowed to glance over them.
They allowed the head of each department
| to appoint one clerk, and conferred the a p
pOintment of all others upon the caucus.
! This rule did not interiors at all with the
| Governor, the Attorney General, the Sec
rotary of the Commonwealth, the Super
intendent Of Public Printing, the Railroad
Commissioner, the Commissioner of Agri-
culture, or the Register of the Land Of
| fee. One clerk is all that either one OF
| these has. Hence the rule" was a dead
| letter. They could therefore Submit" to
J it without detriment. There are ten clerks
| and messenger in this office. Every dol
| lar of the State revenue, no matter from
what source it comes, passes through the
hands of my clerks, but through the hands
| of the clerks of no other office. [ and my
sureties are responsible for the official acts
of my clerks. Hence, with me, it was a
practical question as we'll as that it was
radically wrong in principle. [ therefore
declined giving the pledge" subse-
I Qu6uGly WIOb6 " lcGuGl W Guc CA
planning my position and the reasons for
it. 1 asked the liberty of being heard by
| the caucus. This beng denied me, [
again wrote, giving more extended state
ment of the duties and responsibilities Of
my Office and clerks
The caucus was asked to rescind or mod
ify its 'rule" so as to make the Auditor s
Office an exception to it. 1t howeve. re-
fused to do so, and nominated Mr.. s.
Brown Allen as its candidate. My pres
ent object being to give my friends a SIM
pie statement Of facts, shall reserve my
review of the Wig 50 remarkable edito-
rial for future occasion
| There is one statement in the "Dis-
patch" of this morning which 1 wish to
correct promptly. 1t IS as follows:
| 'Mr. Massey proposed a compromise, in
the shape of allowing the caucus to make
one-half of the appointments in his office.
and reserving for himself the privilege of
naming Others
| This 10 on aptira mistake T hava in st