Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-06-01

l
utter ignorance Of the situation which is
apparent to every Republican in this
state, unless perhaps it be Col. Elan
himself and possibly Gen. Malone.
II is my candid belieftha ont OF Of the
10000 Republican voters Of this state
an overwhelming majority are absolute
" and irrecOncilably opposed to the
present autocratic plan Of organization.
OF the thinking men in our party at
least ninety-nne out Of every 100 be-
lieye that this outrageous plan Of Organ-
zation and the desp0tic manner in which
the unlimited powers given by it have
been exercised has caused the present
lamentable condition Of affairs in our
party.
But how does Col. Elan get at his
figures when he boldly asserts that $780,
900 OF our 10000 voters favor the late
plan Of organization, under which the
state chairman can absolutely control
any convention he chooses to control?
lie certainly will not pretend to prove
it by the fact that in Gen. MahOne's con-
vention delegates pretending to repre-
sent 10, 800 Republican voters cast their
votes for this plan, for he must know
that this vOt., 50 far as it pretends TO
represent that number OF delegates, was
worse than farce.
This scaled vote was taken long after
Wise & Co. had withdrawn. Under this
vote the entire Republican vote OF the
Valley OF Virginia, embracing more
than $1,000 voters, was cast for Gen.
Mahone's plan Of organization. while. as
a matter OF fact, at least four-ffths Of
these voters are utterly opposed to it.
Take the three counties OF Augusta,
Rockingham, and Shenandoah as Illus
tratOns Of how this so-called vote was
taken and your readers can understand
how our people were wholly misrepre-
sented.
IN Augusta, by the arbitrary ruling OF
the chairman, the whole delegation was
returned in favor Of the Malone plan,
when every intelligent man in the COM
munity knows that large majority OF
the Republican voters Of Augusta are
bitterly opposed to thatplan Of organiza-
ton.
In this county buckingham, after a
thorough comparison of views, dele
gated convention was elected, under
Gen. Mahone's plan, and after full dis
cussion they instructed our fifteen dele
gates TO vote against the Malone plan OF
organization and against the unit rule,
instructing them further to vote for Gen.
Mahone's reelection as chairman, pro-
vlded the plan of organization was
changed i'm accordance with the sugges-
tons which had been made by Hon. Jno.
s. Wise.
But when Gen. MahOne's arbitrary and
unfair methods had forced very many OF
the self-respecting delegates to with
draw from the Malone convention, a
scaled vote was called for, three or four
OF the delegates who had gone on to
Petersburg from this county a day or
two before the convention, and who
seemed to respect Gen. Mahone's wishes
more than those OF their constituents,
cast all of Rockingham's 1850 votes for
the unit rule and for the Malone plan Of
organization, Notwithstanding the fact
that they had been instructed by I'M
animOus vore of the convention 10 vote
against that plan and against the unit
rule.
It Is probable, however, that the case
of Shenandoah county is even more
flagrant instance OF the voice OF the peo-
pie being stifed, or rather made to speak
against its own wishes.
The Republicans Of Shenandoah coun-
ty are practically unanimous in their OPP
position to the plan of organization UNI
der which the Republican party has been
carried to defeat after defeat for the last
five or six years.
Only three days before the Republican
convention OF Shenandoah met Gen.
Malone, exercising the powers given
him by the obnoxious plan OF organiza-
ton, removed the chairman, Mr.. John l..
Keller, a good Republican, and appoint
ed Mr.. Robert j. Walker, who for year
or more has not been cooperating with
the Republican party. Walker attempt
ed to change the place OF meeting,
there was no pretense that the
meeting called by Kellerwas not legally
called.
The consequence was the Republicans |
TO the number OF about four hundred |
attended the meeting which had been |
called by Keller, while scarcely a half |
dozen Republicans attended Walkers |
pretended Republican meeting. But |
the delegates chosen by the great body |
OF the Republicans Of Shenandoah were
excluded. and Mr.. Bob Walker, self |
appointed delegate, was admitted TO !
Gen. Mahone's convention, and cast all |
Of the $500 Republican votes for Gen.
Malone and his pet plan Reorganization.
These three counties are samples OF |
the manner in which the pretended vote
Of llO, 800 in favor Of the unit rule plan
Of organization and Gen. Mahone's re-
election as chairman was obtained.
It Is said that over hundred legally |
elected delegates were excluded from
Gen. Mah0nes convention by his rul-
ings, which he was enabled 10 make and
enforce under the plan OF organization
as it existed when the convention met.
Let us see how the plan works. I'm
der it the exectiye committee, composed
Of the chairman OF the state central COM
mittee and two members selected by
him 1.-THE chairmanl Gen. Malone then
being chairman, is virtually the execu-
tive committee, and all county chairmen
are removable at the pleasure Of the ex-
ecutive committee, /. e., at his Gen. Ma
lOne's) pleasure. Under his call for the
late convention, no delegate could be
put upon the roll OF delegates, or obtain
admission to the convention, unless his
were cOuntersigned by the
county chairman (all removable by Ma
lOne). In numerous instances Gen. Ma
lone's county chairman refused TO cOun-
ersign these credentials, and the legally
elected delegates were thus excluded
from the convention.
You car, therefore, see how it IS next
o impossible to get an expression OF the
rue will OF the people in a so-called Re
publican convention in Virginia, pro-
iided Gen. Malone and his chairman are
opposed to their will.
| will further say that the split in Vir-
ginia Is, | fear, serions. Although, per-
laps, less than one-third Of the delegates
n Gen. Mahone's convention left with
Ion, Jno. S. Wise, yet firmly believe
. large majority Of our voters sympa-
hize with movement in behalf Of fair
While few, reYyfe intelligent Re
,ublicans still adhere to Gen. Malone,
ret it is well known that a large prepOn-
lerance Of intelligence, as well as OF
are unalterably opposed to the
liam of organization under which he has
O arbitrarily, but so unsuccessfully, at
empted 10 run the Republican party.
| will not attempt to give you all the
names OF those who sympathize with this
novemen. i'm behalf OF business and free
lom. but when mention only few OF
he influential men who take this view.
'Ou, sir, who know something about Yir. |