New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-26

VIRGINIA IN THE CHICAGO CONPLNi1o-''
The State Committee appointed by the he
publicans who withdrew from the recent con-
yention in Virginia and formed separate or c
ganization is preparing to issue an ADDRESS
This will undoubtedly be the basis OF It's ap-
peal to the Chicago Convention. This conlro-
versy is the most serious one, as REGARDS INC
right to seats in that body, that will engage lhe
attention of the Convention. There are lew
others. if any. II is a remarkable proof OF the
harmony prevailing in the party that the elec-
tions of delegates throughout the country nave
been singularly free from bitter contests.
II is important that the differences between
the factions in Virginia should be clearly I'M
derstood in order that no mistake shall be made
in Chicago The questions presented are OF
intrinsic importance TO the whole party. In
the first place il should be shown what sort OF
an organization General Malone has built up.
All power over the State organization is lodged
in an Executive Committee of three, who are
virtually chosen by the chairman, he beng one
of them. He is practically Dictator and the
chairman, it is hardly necessary to say, is Cen
eral Malone himself. The Republicans OF
county cannot elect their own county chairman
They have only the right to recommend, and
General Malone accepts the recommendation or
not. as he sees fit. This places the selection OF
the local leaders all over the State absolutely
in his hands. But the singular subsection OF
individual Republicans to the central authority
goes still further. When delegates are elected
TO State Convention, the officers of the meet
ing electing them may certify the credentials,
but these are absolutely void unless counter
signed by the county chairman This is the
perfection of Bossism. Under this system Gen
eral Malone haslabsolute power to decide who
shall represent any district in the State Con-
vention, because if he cannot control the county
chairman, he can remove him at any time and
put one of his own tools in the place.
The practical workings of this system were
shown in the election of delegates to the recent
convention from Senator Riddlebergers county,
Shenandoah. According to "The Valley Vir-
ginian" Mr.. Keller who had been county
chairman for three years, called mass meeting
of the Republicans of the county to elect dele
gates to Petersburg, giving three weeks no
tice. Three days prior to the date fixed for the
meeting Malone removed Keller without con-
sulting the Republicans of the county, and ap-
pointed to succeed him r. j. Walker, who last
fall defeated Republican nominee Walker
called meeting for the same day with that al
ready called. Both meetings were held, about
400 Republicans coming together in response
to Kelers call, while Walker, it is alleged,
gathered less than dozen men, several of
whom were Democrats The delegation.elected
by this latter meeting was admitted to the State
Convention by General Malone to represent
the county! It is charged that this is but one
illustration Of his methods. Whenever his chair
men could not control the meetings, bogus del
egations were arranged and admitted to the
convention. In this way, it is claimed, III
legally elected delegates were denied admls-
sion to the floor Of the convention In all cases Of
contests, except that Of Richmond, the Malone
delegation was placed on the roll of the con-
vention and the opposition were consigned to
the gallery or left to walk the streets. Even
uncontested opponents of Malone were refused
admittance. The Hon. Jacob Yost, member
of Congress- was elected both by the Malone
and apti-NIah6ne factions of his county, but
after the meeting his name was stricken from
the Malone list by the Malone chairman, and
without the knowledge or consent of the peo-
pie who claimed to have selected the ticket.
He also held an uncontested proxy for High
land County, and was even then shut out until
the convention saw the absurdity of such a sit
uation and admitted him. The incident is worth
mentioning to show the despotic character of
General Mahone's rule.
1t is not necessary to multiply details. The
decisions Of the convention upon contests were
on this line, and many delegates withdrew
There is every reason to believe that, as regards
number Of the Virginia districts the will of
the masses Of the party was nulliicd by Gen
eral Malone. The Chicago Convention must
weigh all the evidence and decide in which of
| them this has been done. The Malone
party claim that they are entitled to the dele
| gates from six out Of the ten districts. Under
the Republican system Of popular representa-
ton, the convention deals directly with each
| district, except as regards the delegates-at-
| large.
The practices by which General Malone
maintains his power have no rightful place in
the Republican party. One of these is the unit
rule, which no National Republican Convention
will ever enforce Also in preventing the cleo
| ton of district delegates in local conventions
and in forcing their election by district subdi-
visions Of the State Convention, so as to beable
to control the choice he has run counter to
party custom, and violated the spirit, though
not perhaps the strict letter. of the instructions
of the National Committee. The new party has
adopted plan Of organization consistent with
! Republican ideas. The hope Of Rcpublicanism