The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-23
Yost and Bumgardner In Amherst.


DEMOCRATS REFUSE A JOINT DISCUSSION
--REPUBLICAN ENTHUsIAsM-A PROM,
INENT DEMOCRAT SPEAKS FOR TIE RE
PUBLICANs-BRIGHT PROSPECTS
Correspondence of the VIRGINIAN.
AMHERST G, H., Sept q, 1856.
The political campaign was opened in
Amherst Monday. Il very large crowd be-
ing III attendance. Both Of the Congress
SIGNAL candidates were present and the
people were evidently desiring and expect
ing joint discussion AS usual the Re-
publican candidate was the challenger.
On his behalf the County Chairman
addressed a note proposing discussion to
the Democratic chairman, but no one
could be found authorized to represent that
party, the late chairman having recently
resigned, leaving the organization without
an official head.
To cut the Georgian knot the Republican
candidate addressed the following to his
competitor:
AMHERST e. H., Sept. GOTH 1886.
Capt. Jas. Bunagd7dner. IT.,
Dear Sir by reason of the recent resignation
of The Chairman of the Democratic Committee
of Amherst it seems there is no one authorized
to correspond with the Chairman of the Repub-
lican Committee with reference to a division of
time to-day. l therefore write You directly,
respectfully asking joint discussion upon
such terms as you may suggest
Very truly yours,
To which the following reply was sent !:
AMHERST G. H, Sept Goth, 1886.
Dear Sir Yours of to-day received. l have
Just met The County Democratic Committee and
referred your note to them. The Committee
see reason to change the policy heretofore
prevailing as to joint discussions, and acting in
accordance with their views your proposal for q
joint discussion is with all consideration and
respect for yourself, declin ed.
Truly yours, &C.,
JAS. BUMGARDNER, JR.
TO j. Yost, Esq.
The Republicans were promised the use
of the court room upon the conclusion of
a case under trial. They waited until l
O'Clock, and then being told that it would
be impossible to determine how soon the
court could take recess, erected stand
in the yard. Mr.. Allen, the county chair
man, had scarcely introduced the Repub-
lican candidate ere the court house bell
commenced ringing and the announce
ment was made that Capt Bumgardner
would speak inside. Both candidates
commenced about the same time and at
first the crowd around Mr.. YOsG was but
little the larger. 1t soon began to increase
whilst the opposition diminished. Ere
the speeches were half finished the audi
ence in the yard numbered hundreds,
WuliSU NY COuuu bHC ilum uCl Ill OIC
court house was 81.
With the Republicans seemed to be the
enthusiasm and earnestness. AS the
records of the two parties were shown up
by their speaker, and the issues presented,
they listened eagerly, manifesting their
approval by heartiest applause as each
point was scored. The speech was prac-
tical presentation of the real questions in
volved in this canvass one that all could
understand and appreciate, and which
produced a marked effect The demo
cratic candidate appeared to excite little
enthusiasm. The writer of this did not
have the opportunity to hear him and is
therefore unable to state the line of his
argument.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Y ost s speech,
Mr.. Clark Leftwich, former prominent
democrat mounted the stand in response
to calls, and was proceeding to address the
crowd when Mr.. Whitehead, of Lynch
burg, interrupted him by declaring that
he was disappointed office-seeker and
party falter. Mr.. LeftWich replied that
he had been an applicant for a consulate,
and was backed by the democrats of three
states. Cleveland. however, had appointed
a mugwump Republican to the position.
He then proceeded to score Mr.. White
head. and hot words passed between them.
FRIENDS, however, 1nterfered ana Gill
Guilty was prevented. The days of QUILL
doing are over in Virginia, and the sooner
the Democratic party finds 1t out the bet
ter.
There is marked change going on
among the masses in Amherst. Access
sions to the Republican party are reported
from all sections. The people are begin
ming to find out where their interests lie.
They are feeling the effects of democratic
ascendancy in the State and nation. They
are realizing that they have been blinded
by prejudice for years that they have
allowed politicians to lead them against
their own interests, and that in following
after the name of democracy they have
brought want to their homes and hard
ships unknown before to their dear ones.
Amherst will do her whole duty in No
vember. A.