Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-03
THURSDAY. .....OCTOBER 3. 1889.
Mahone's Record.

Mahone's Record.
A capital campaign document is Just ont.
II is entitled Characteristic Facts in the
Business and Political Career Of General
William Malone" 1t ought to be sent to
every white voter in the Commonwealth.
The theory Of the author Of the document
(supposed 20 be Colonel +. q. RUFTIN) is
that in MALONE there is nothing 10 discuss
but himself, and he can be best understood
by tho record he has made since he became
figure in public affairs.
The document begins with MAHoNE's en-
trance into the Readiuster party along
path that had been plainly blazed by Mr..
MASSEY Colonel FUrKERsoS. and others"
II tells Of his intrgucs in the Readjuster
State Convention of 1881. IL reproduces
the written pledge which he as chairman
ofthe Readiustcr State Executive Commit
tee required Of his candidates for the Lee
gislature. That pledge reads az follows:
Il hereby pledge myself to stand by the
Redjuster party and platform, and to go
into caucus with tie Readjuster members
Of the Legislature that meets at Rich
mOnd and vote for all measures, nOml-
nces aud candidates 10 be elected by the
Legislature as the caucus may agree upon.
Given under my hand and seal this ---
day Of September, -.
The campaign document gives an inter-
esting history Of MAHoNE's proceedings in
Richmond when the Legislature Of 1ssl-'S2
was in session. including his dictatOrial at
titude towards all the State officers, and
has attempt 10 control all t..e offices i'll the
Commonwealth. Next it catalogues the
nine measures by which he attempted to
"cnmesh the State in an inextricable
web" We quote:
They were Q) the commissioner Of sales
bill t2) the bill TO rearrange the Judicial
circuits and so legislate Mahone's creatures
into the judicial seats Of honest men; CD
che hlll 20 gerrvmauder the State so as 70
elect Mahone's creatures 10 Congress; ca
the bill 70 alter the tobacco inspection
laws; 90 the bill TO put the police force ot
the cities into Mahoue's hands; l6l the bill
70 bride newspapers hy public advertise
ments; l7) the bin to par the railroads Of
the State under General Mah0nes heels
Here comes IN a compliment 20 IS. -.
Munfori, Esq.l
"ts) The bill to provide for the removal
Of al nota1es public. The report OF W. {.
Ilam, Secretary of the Commonwealth
blouse Document No. ~, shows thAt
there were iu 1881 40 uOtaues public III
the State. who. with salaries averaging, say
500, would make n considerable sum 20 be
levied ON for election purposes.
"t9) Another was the plan 20 d"bauch
the public schools. To accomplish this
House JOINT Resolution No. 273 was nitro
duccd which was Go Vacate tie Office, of
oil district school trustees IN the several
counties and cities ~ thc state; to abolish
the county school cleCtorll-board. CONF
posed of the county Judge. Common
wealth's attorney. and county supcrintend-
ent OF schools, and transfer the power ~
appointing these trustees o. the Board OF
Education. composed of the Governor, the
Attorncy-GencTala and the SuperutC ndcut
of Public tustructiOn-a board ia which
Mr.. J.. s. Blair and Mr.. Il. r. farr were
The majority.
The ultimate object OF this proposed
legislation was 20 turn the great public
school sys,em-the pride of the Common
wealth-into bureau managed by Ma
hone through his Heuteuants, the MEN,
bers Of the State Board Of Education.
See the effect of this mOnstrOus pro-
position About / 800 school trustees CHE
present number) TO be appointed by the
central board at Richmond. And these
trustees were 10 select more than 1000
teachers. purchase all supplies for the
schools award contracts for the erection
of all school buildings, and control the
financial and other operations OF the
schools in their respective districts
Imagine if you can. the condition in
which Richmond would now be if the Le-
gislature had passed the bill TO put the po-
lice force Of all the cities in MAHoNE's
hands. DO you recollect the demonstra-
ton made on Broad street in this city a few
years ago when il was given out that FER
RKIL, an insolent northern negro, intended
10 force hrs way into the dross-circle AT the
Theatre? That demonstration resulted IN
no harm to anybody. FEEBELL reconsid-
cred the matter. What would have been
the result if he had tried to enter part of
the Theatre intended only for white per-
sons, nobody can now say. But we know
that if MALONE had put negro policemen
on our streets they would have suffered
under the fierce Indignation of the young
white men. We can imagine but we can
not describe the possible outcome Of such
an insult 20 the white race. Certainly
Riehmond's growth and prosperity would
have been retarded and her good name
abroad lost ia measure. The risk is too
great. Let no friend Of Richmond aid TO
elect to the governorship the man who put
her in this peril.
We have dwelt upon one Of MAHoNE's
dangerous measures. All OF them We're
bad One OF the worst was his bill to pat
all the judicial land-sales into the hands Of
his tools The heavy commissions would
have been used in part TO establish MALONE
organs The corruption fund was 10 be
still further increased by a law requiring
all the acts of Assembly of a general ma
ture TO be published in the MALONE organ
OF this city (and perhaps in some other of
his organs).
The document upon which we are draw
ing for memoranda will remind the good
people Of Virginia Of the narrow escape
which only few years ago they made
from dreadful fate and will warn them
not TO lose sight Of these "perils past un-
I'll after the 9Th day of next month. Truly,
they ought to be thankful for that escape.
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