Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-10
A LUCKY ANGLER.
HOW CLEVELAND CAUGHT BASS AND
VOTERS IN VIRGINIA.
Result OF His Recent Fishing bxpeaition
on the James-He Captivates
the People.


The New York Herald Of yesterday
has the following interesting special
from its Richmond correspondent, Colo
mel Eccles Cuthbert. 1t is dated Clifton
Forge, Va, September Sth:
The recent visit of the President to the
mineral section OF Virginia has been pro-
ductiye of good results. He fished 10
some purpose in the counties lying along
the banks as well as in the headwaters OF
the James river. He landed and netted
black bass from the latter and he secured
and baoQed votes in the former. Inc
effects of the visit are just now beginning
10 crop out. and il is astonishing how
the mere presence of man, without any
effort on his part, should have accom-
plished such satisfactory political results.
cleveland was all the talk while he was
here. and Cleveland and his policy have
been all the talk since he went away. III
men are susceptible by contact, then Mr..
Cleveland's handshaking has told largely
in his favor here IN Virginia
Intercourse with the iron and furnace
men and the rairoad-men for the past
few DAYS shows that the President made
a fine impression on them. The same is
true as 10 the farmers and the farming
classes along the James river. In TINS
section something of an anti-Mllls-blll
feeling existed prior to the Presidents
Z L Eeh trsr M aXfDn0p0
even TO Democratic workingmen.
similar prejudice WAS prevalent among
the farmers, many of whom either
believed that they had coal or iron
under their farms, or that they would be
benefited by the opening of mine or
the starting Of a furnace in their vicinity.
| These conditions were conducive to
strong protective feeling, and an antago-
nism OF anything opposed to that policy
Fortunately, however, the gross mlsun-
Outstanding of the effect OF the Mills bill
was thoroughly counteracted by the time
| " visit of the President. The presence OF
| the man occasiOned full discussion OF his
policy. Asa result it transpired among
| the voters that the Mills bill gives coal
and iron all the protection they need,
| and that their interests as Democrats are
much safer IN the hands Of the present
Administration than they would be if a
bloody-shirt, sectional, high-tax one fol-
| lowed It under Harrison and Morton.
| Convinced On the score Of iron and coal
that they are safe should the Mills bill
become law, Nirginians have too high
a regard for their social and domestic
security TO imperil them by voting for
Republican sectional Administration.
THE BIGGEST MAN.
It was also enthusiastically noted and
successfully demonstrated that the Presi-
dent, with whom they had been shaking
hands so freely, had only quite lately ex-
ploled a terrific bombshell among the
British free traders in his message on
the fisheries question.
THAT message, said Pat O'COnnor,
who is in himself political power among
| the workingmen, makes Cleveland the
| biggest man in America to-day. He has
completely knocked out the northern
Republican aristocrats and capitalists"
The more the workingmen talk about
the President the more they become en-
Unused by the bold policy advocated in
his message and by the breadth and
| liberality Of his Americanism. They
feel that he is their real and not their
pretended friend. THIS is the way one
| OF them argued
"Who are in favor Of high tariffs and
high taxes Why, the monopolists,
| tho capitalists. and the trusts. High
taxes and high tariffs mean money for
them and poverty for the workingmen.
Whose money viii be used III the Re
publican campaign? Why, Of course,
the money of the big Republican rob
bers. And who is fighting them ? Why.
Cleveland, and if he Is not elected it will
he worse day for the poor people-the
farmers, the laborers, and the working
classes-than they have ever seen III
America before"
| ACCOMPLISHED WONDERS.
This is the kind Of political infection
that has been caught by the voters while
the President quietly fshed and shook
their hands in Western Virginia. The
remarkable effect is SO clear and apparent
that q Workingman was led to remark /:
"lf the President would only travel
around a little more than he does,
and let the people see him, without
making any speeches, a great deal would
be accomplished toward bringing the
voters to proper realization Of
their true interests. His visit here has
lust done wonders" Judging by the
quiet. earnest, and unmistakably changed
sentiment Of the people here this work
ingman was right.
There are quite a number Of stories
current among the rural population
anent the Presidents fishing campaign.
One of these illustrative of the way he
can "put his foot down" is worth re-
lating.
PUTTING HIS FOOT DOWN.
Seven wise men iourneyed from Fin
castle TO greet the Chief Magistrate
They found him, with rod and line, four
miles from Jacksons. At great incon-
venience the President suspended his
piscatorial recreation and came ashore
TO give the seven from Fincastle "a
shake-of the fist" He was cordial,
affablc, and IN the pleasant mood of q
successful angler. So genial, Jolly and
brimful of good humor was he that
one of the seven, who was a politician
and who had "an axe to grind, thought
the opportunity favorable to "get his
work in. This wise man from Fincas-
tie had q friend who craved for govern
ment pap-he wanted m Office. So he
adroitly got the President by the button
hole of his flannel fishing shirt and
poured sweet words in his ear and then
preached the main subject-the Office
that his good party friend wanted.
But, alas cloud passed across the
presidential brow, the smiles that played
on his yisage vanished, and with a grim
frown, and in n severe tone, Cleveland
said: Enough, my friend, thou wise
man of Fincastle, even the seventh wise
man. Icame here to fish, to catch the
dusky but elusive bass, and to get away
from the Washington beggars and
winners for pap. Prithee, allow me to
recuperate and give me no words about