The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-04-12

them selves on casual reading of it. 1t
will mislead and deceive 20 one who does
not want to be deceived, and will have just
the contrary effect to that which its author
designed.
Judge Newman's Letter.
We publish on the fourth page of this
issue of the VIRGINIAN communication
from Judge Newman, of Page county,
cIiticising the views advanced in the
recent address of Hon. John S. Wise to
the Republicans of Virginia. He discusses
the unit rule. In doing so he assumes En-
roneous premises, presents inappositei Illus
trations. and hence draws wrong conclu
sons. He omits to mention the primary
purpose of district representation in
National Convention. That is to secure
popular representation by districts, just as
we have popular representation in Con-
gress. After the district delegates and del
egates at large have performed their duty
and nominated ticket, then the AMT rule
is observed in the support of the ticket by
the minority and the majority. Judge
Newman's illustrations apply to that con-
dition and not to the primary relation,
where the purpose is to get an expression
of popular opinion in the nomination.
The units of the Convention are the del
egates and when majority of the units
have made nomination, then the whole
of the units consolidate to make the amt
rule. in the support of the ticket. 1t is
there where the argument of Judge New
man has application. and not to the pri-
mary condition.
We call Judge Newmans attention to
the fact that the attempt to enforce the
unit rule in certain States in 1880 came
very nearly breaking up the National
Convention of that year. This disaster
was avoided by declaring that the Conven-
tion of 1884 should provide for district
representation. The National Committee
when preparing the call for the Conven-
ton of 1884, had before it a resolution
stipulating that district delegates should
be nominated in the districts. but the
member from either Mississippi or Texas,
asked that it be modified so as to leave it
optional with the Republicans of State
TO elect either in separate district conven-
tions or by subdivision of the delegates at
the State Conventions. The reason as
signed for this request was that in the
State the member represented, the dis
tricts were large. some of the counties
sparsely settled and that the Republicans
were poor. In Difference to this argument
the Committee modified the resolution SO
as to leave the Republicans of the State to
select district delegations either way. The
Convention of 1884 did not approve this
modification, so the National Committee
in 1888 adopted rule making it mdndd-
tory for district delegates to be chosen in
the same manner that candidates for Con-
gress are nominated. That is the law of
the party to day and under it alone can
delegates to Chicago be legitimately. Sc
lected
The argument of Judge Newman, there
fore, is not appropriate. 1t is addressed
to a condition that does not exist, and can
not exist, as a precedent to the election
of delegates or in prescribing the rule to
govern their votes The unit rule is based
upon q misconception Of the principle
which underlies representation in Ma
tional Convention. 1t ignores the primary
purpose Of district representation, and
defeats the very objects for which dele
gates are apportioned to districts. That is
to secure a reflection of the sentiment of
the people in the votes that may be cast
for a Presidential nomination. II the
10th district prefers Blaine, the delegates
should be at liberty to vote or him, and
not be controlled by the delegates from
the 9th and Sth districts. who may prefer
some other Republican. That is the only
way to obtain popular representation and
secure an expression of the popular will
in the candidate to be nominated.
We do not question the sincerity of
Judge Newman. in expressing the opinion
that large majority of the Republicans
Of Page and of the State are in favor of
the unit rule. the prese MT plan of organs
Zation and of the retention OF Gen. Ma
hone as Chairman of the State Committee,
but we do question the accuracy of his
Judgment and the conclusion he has
reached. Indeed, we believe just the re-
verse of what he says is the fact, and our
sources of information, except as to Page
county. are equally as reliable as those upon
Il 30 al; To oI :
that he is right. would be to concede that
the Republicans of Virginia are incapable
of thinking for themselves or nationally
considering any important questions af.
not believe one fourth OF the Republicans
of the State, in their deliberate judgment,
approve either the unit rule, the present
despotic plan of organization, or Gen. Ma
hone ruinous and indefensible admins
tration. nor do they desire to continue him
as chairman. Numbers of Republicans
would prefer that he would decline the
use of his name for reelection, on perso-
nal grounds; few think he is the right
man to be in charge of tile party, while
many others believe that he has sufficiently
demonstrated his ineffieency as a Chair
man, to demand that he shall retire.
Certainly after the disclosure of the Sc
cFet circular, which he now acknowledges
that he write and clandestinely circulated,
no true Republican, who desires the sue
cess of the party, and considers it's inter
ests above the claims of any one man,
ought to desire him to retain the position
he now holds. That paper was deliberate
continuance to assassinate the party, and
sho uld forfeit all claim that might have
been accorded him to the management of
the organization. Thousands upon thous-
alds of true Republicans will never follow
him again. Rather than do so they will
remain from the polls. Judge Newman,
however, is entitled to his choice, and we
cheerfuly give him the use Of our columns
to make it public.
Mr.. James f. Crockett, prominent as an
iron manufacturer in Wythe county, died
last week apad 90 years. He had hean