Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-04
Gen. Malone Controls the Republican Com
mittee-A Threatened Contest,

Especial Dispatch to the Baltimore SUM-
RICHMOND, March 30.-At the meeting
of the Republican State Committee in
Petersburg last night almost Immediately
after the preliminary business had been dis
posed Of General Malone announced him
self in favor of adhering to the present plan
of organization, Of the appointment of dis
trict delegates by the State committee and
of the unit rule.
Quite unexpectedly decided opposition
manifested itself, which is the more remark
able as all the members of the committee
were originally Gen. Mahone's own choice.
The opposition was fortified by a letter
from B. F. Jones, chairman of the national
| republican committee, strongly condemn
| ing the unit rule and election of district
delegations otherwise than by district con-
ventions. This letter was laid before the
committee, and a hot fight ensued upon the
points at issue.
The contest continued for several hours,
but General Malone finally carried his
point, the vote in favor of State conven-
| ton and the appointment of delegates by il
being carried by vote of "a to 3.
The committee adjourned shortly after
midnight, after fixing Petersburg as the
place for the State convention and the 18th
of May as the time.
| The way in which Gen. Malone took the
party bit in his mouth and defeated all
party law is the talk among politicians here
to-day. Mahone's republican opponents,
headed by the Hon. John S. Wise, tonight
express their determination to fight him to
the last. Mr.. James A. Frazier, of Rock
bridge county, member of the State COM
mittee, who was present at last nights
meeting, says that the OPPOSITION propose to
make their fight against Malone strictly
within the bounds laid down by the ma
tional committee. Heretofore the men,
bers of the party who have revolted against
the chairman's tyranny have not been in a
position to call upon the national commit
tee to back them. Mahone's defiance of
the plan of organization adopted by the
last presidential convention and promul-
gated at the recent meeting of the national
committee is, however, counted upon by
bis opponents to materially aid them in
this struggle. They will at once issue an
address to the republicans of the State,
calling upon them to resent Mahone's at
tempt to assume the absolute dictatorship
of the party. They will insist that the
delegates elected to the State convention
called to meet at Petersburg on May II
shall, in defiance of Mahone's plans, meet
GuCil ICSpCObifC uiotIiCbS dlboT IutlI 6lCC-
ton and choose their district delegates to
Chicago. The anti Malone leaders assert
that the way in which the ex-senator has
endeavored to secure the delegates from
this State for Sherman has done that candi-
date more harm in Ohio and other States
than anything the Ohio Senator has had to
contend with. Despite all he can do, Ma
hone will be unable to prevent the election
of some Blaine delegates to Chicago. These,
if the plan agreed upon is carried out, will
make it extremely lively for Malone on
| the floor of the convention. The secret
| circular sent out in this State by Malone,
il which Blaine was severely denounced, is
to be read 10 the convention.