The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-07

procurement and with the connivance of
the State chairman. On the question OF
their own seats The tWtntysiX delegates
from Richmond could not. of cOul Sc, vote
and dedueting them from the folty-five
opponents of the unit rule but nineteen
were left, so that the twenty one friends
of the unit rule and plan Of organization
we're III a maj 'riiy of Two. These twenty
one did not have The courage to openly rob
the lawful Richmond delegates of their
seats. but by vote of II To 10 admitted
the contesting Richmond delegation to an
equal vote with those seated. 1t was the
Same thing as kick lhg them out. 1T ut
terly emasculated the vote vi the lawful
delegates from Richmond, and left the
twenty one friends of the unit rule in con
troll. The proposition was an insult to the
intelligence of lawful Richmond delegates,
us well as an outrage upon their constlt
uents. and they denounced the fraud and
refused to stay in the body. withdrawing
with their friends from Hanover, GOoch
land and King William. and adjOurning to
Richmond, where the following day they
elected delegates to Chicago. These pro-
-ceedings in the Convention of the 7 bird
District of Virginia were conceived, orig
mated, and carried on under the direction
of the State chairman, and made possible
by the unlimited powers vested in HIM by
the plan of organization.
At that stage of the proceedings. and it
being manifest in the light of the conduct
and in all the other cases of contest, that
our rights would not be respected, it was
determined to withdraw for conference.
Upon conference we unanimously resolved
that there was no hope for any fairness
from those holding the party machinery,
and no hope of securing our rights. no
matter what our Majority, under the plan
of organization, las they have the machinery
and can crush out majOrities with it with
all ease. In the way that conventions are
formed and with the chairman of eight or
more counties IN which no meetings had
been held, voting the full strength of their
counties, there is no telling what those
present as the friends of the unit rule and
plan of organization did really represent.
or how they were selected. Revolution
against the plan of organizatio ion is the only
nope of destroying it. To fight against it
ana under it at the same time is as idle as
to attack buzz-saW edgeWlse. The same
thing which may be destroyed easily by a
side attack can destroy ten times its
strength If the attacking party will fight it
on the groove IN winch III saws.
After careful watching of the operations
of the plan of organization as conducted
10y the State chairman. we have resolved
that we will not submit to that plan. 1t
will destroy the virlity and the voice of
any party, and place it at the mercy of
one-man power whenever he chooses to
exert that power. 1t is contrary to every
tenet of RepuhIicanism and destructive to
our manhood. In our Judgment. it not
only repels recruits. by the feeling that in
joining our party they are enlisting in the
service of an individual, but it is so framed
as to place it in the power of any chairman
who may 10 vlndiptiVe to eNpel, it he see
tit to put the full party machinery to bear
upon him. the most trusted veteran in our
ranks. We thiEk it requires no argument
and illustration to demonstrate that this
may he done. The history of the past is
TOO recent.
The unit rule, in our Judgment has been
repudiated beyond question by the Repub
lican party. Why it shQuld lie revived
here. and made a condition of loyalty, we
are at a loss to conceive, unless it be with
the purpose of delivering our whole vote
by contract.
The course insisted upon of demanding
that all district conventions be held first
in Petersburg, beyond the limits OF their
districts, was violation of the national
party law. But, while both of these things
relate to national politics rall.er than to
State, they have Influenced our action to
this extent.
They show, in our present patty MAN.
agement, reckless self sufliciency which
cares nothing whatever for precedent or
authority, that pauses at nothing which it
wishes TO do by any considerations OF what
any one else has thought or what the feel
ings of any one else may be-and that is
determined to rule or ruin the Republican
party of Virginia.
This being apparent in these as in all
other things, we despaired of accomplish
ing anything under the plan Of organization
and its present management, and encOur-
aged by the countenance given to insur-
gents in the convention from which we
retired we resolved to express our convic-
tions by independent action. Until these
things are reformed there can be no united
party in Virginia, and we appeal to all
Republican to join with us, as against
the plan of organization complained OF be-
! lieving as we do that it enables designing
ones to sink the principles and policies OF
Republicanism, and subordinate them to
the wishes of one ambitious and malicious
| man. 10 this end we invite meetings in
every county of the Commonwealth. organ
iZation under our plan and communica-
tion of the facts to our State chairman.