The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-30
Bumgardner and Yost in Bath.
WARM SPRINGS, VA, Sept. 81, 1886.

GuttoT OF valley V5rgaaa5d1
The canvass was opened in Bath on Sat
| urday, the 18th inst, Circuit Court by a
( JOINT discussion between Capt. Rumgard-
her and Jacob Yost, Esq, nominees for
congress of their respective parties. The
terms of discussion were courteously
agreed upon and were as follows Mr..
ost to open with speech of one hour,
Mr.. Bumgardner to follow, taking II
hours, Mr.. Yost then to have 80 minutes,
Capt. Bnmgardner closing with 15min-
utes speech. The above terms were hon
estiy o. served. The discussion was pleas
ant and polite between the speakers and
the audience was attentive and entirely
free from anything like disorder OF bad
behavior. The crowd was composed
nearly entirely of farmers who came to
hear fair discussion and to learn all they
could that would enlighten them and help
them in casting their votes intelligently at
the coming election, Our gallant nominee,
MI 0st, made a very favorable impress
sion on the minds of the voters. He ably
and eloquently defended the record of the
Republican party, and fearlessly pro-
claimed his adherence to the splendid
platform as formulated by the convention
which nominated him in Staunton on Sept.
], 1856, He charged the Democratic
party with the failure of the Blair Educa-
tional Bill. and reminded them of their
promises to abolish the internal revenue
system, and proved that it is beyond doubt
owing to the free trade tendency of DEM
ccratic Congress that 'hard times" are
now prevailing throughout the country.
MI. 1ost's speech was so clear, manly,
torcible AID eloquent, and so positively
endorsed by a majority of Lis hearers that
his voice was often drowned by loud and
enthusiastic applause.
Capt. Bumgardner has many personal
friends in Bath, and your correspondent
would not willingly OF knowingly do him
any injustice. Many of us like him, but
love not his politics, and many of his
friends in Bath wish that he was fighting
in abetter cause. No matter what he may
be as IN able lawyer and courteous gentle
man, yet, i'll the Bath discussion there was
one truth made very conclusive, that was,
Capt. B. is no match for Mr.. Yost in dis
cusslng the political issues now agitating
the minds of the people of this district
Nominated without a platform be knows
nothing to say. Pronouncing the Blair
Bill unconstitutional and giving Federal
control to state schools, he can't con
slstently promise his constituency to sup
port it. Being a free trade man he cannot |
promise to aid in supporting any system |
OF tariff that will protect American labor
or encourage American industry. Capt |
b. did the best he could in Dad cause |
He wearied the people no little by frequent
illusions to reconstruction days, and re-
counting the glories of past Democratic
days. He was tedious to say the least,
and many of the people felt relieved when
he concluded his last speech The discus
sion could be considered rs IA fair test of
the ability politically of the two nomi-
nees. The audience was composed of fair,
honest men. No better attention could
have possibly been given to any speakers
than that accorded to Messrs. Yost aud
Bumgardner in Bath. Mr.. YOst made a
fearless and aggressive speech which was
endorsed throughout by the happy applause
Of his supporters. Capt. B. fought the
best he could on the defensive, and by re-
viving dead issues, closing his speeches
with little applause or enthusiasm from
his followers. The voters of Bath are left
to decide between them. They will decide
wisely it is to be hoped, and it they do
Bath will give Mr., Yost a large majority
at the coming election. BATH.
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