The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-01
MAH0NE'S BITTER FIGHT.
THE NEW YORK TIMES" CORaES-
PONOENT on THE SITUATION.

ture.que Political Brigand-Abie ne
view of the Republican Leaders Ca
rrer.
A correspondent of the New York
Times. writing from Petersburg under
date Of Thursday. gives very exh aus
tive and graphic statement Of the
situation, and a complete sketch oil the
notorious career OF the little petersburg
political advertiser.
After stating that the campaign may
said to be fairly opened. and that u Is
q contest in which the President Is IN
league with one OF the most
picturesque political brigands IN
e eSq eo"" ' opinion S''' that at Malone
will meet mis- match in Senator
/ Blrbour. lie says while 1t Is true
/ that Mr.. Bubour Is NJ logger chalr-
man Of The State Committee and,
ex ofiicio. in charge of the conduct OF
the ctmpaign. the party will stu nave
the beuiiit OF his wisdom ana expert
euce. II Gen. Malone is an organizer
of unsurpassed ability. Mr.. Hiroour Is
a taclician who can beat Malone at ms
own game. To him. therefore. the
Democrats of Virginia are turning, and
m his discretion and skill. as well rs his
LOYALTY To his party. they have a conii-
aence which amounts 20 absolute con-
vietiop. while Basil Gordon Is the
State chairman. Mr. Blrb)ur Will be
the power behind the throne. aud there
il no doubt that he will b. the actual
II not the nominal, manager ~ the az
gressiye hght which the Virginia DE-
mocracy will wage and win.
There is "A great deal of suggestiveness
in a battle bstween Malone and Bar
bour. Both were railroad men. anu
their interests have ciashed before TINS
time. Barbour managed the affairs oil
the Virginia Midland most successfully
Malone nearly wrecked the Atlantic
Mi.sissippi and Ohio road NOW the Nor
folk and Westernl. and the financial
"scheme" which he worked Oh his Lon
don tiiD will not soon be forgotten. II
Is mart If Virginia history, aud there
ARE some old stockholders an the late
Atlantic. Mississippi and Ohio Railroad
u h., have not vet recovered from the
profound melancholy into when Ma
hone : management plunged them
General Malone once had Dig hSh'
with Thomas ) oft, Of Pennsylvani'
Railroad fame. The scene OF the con
tast was Richmond. aud the theatre ~
which the conflict was most actively
waved was the State Capitol. IN which
the legislature of Virginia held ia ses
.ions Colonel Mcclure. Of the Ihlla
delphia Times. could give a very graphl'
description Of what happened then ano
there. Such debauchery ana open az
tennis at bribery hal never before
been witnessed IN this State. Money
was supposed then. a. now, 10 De 'h'
solvent of integrity, aud It was as pien
tIful as mud IN James river water. ScOt
: was beaten. but he was pefilouslN
near victory. The files of Richmond
paDers printed cOntempOrane0usly VII
show that SCOTS tactics were oil TN
most seductive character SO far as I'M
pressing the average legislator Is con
carned. Abandoned women wer'
brought from New York and fhila
deiphia. In the parlors Of certall
hotel there was table on which TIVE
0ig,utic bowls were placed. One wa
illtu Win puucus th0 'N"N'
, greenbacks. This Information come
from gentleman who was then ah'
for several years aiterward "a Jlrecto
If Mahone's railroad. lie witnessed al
that has been described in the ioreSo
+ ing.
Malone had to fight the devil wit
fire. for Scott was determined to pur
chase the State : interest IN the railrOa'
"a substantial block Of stock la
Scott been able 10 accomplish his de
siyn there would have been summar
end 10 Mahone's career as raIlroa'
president. But. the fates were agains
Che Peansy lvanian-perhaps the Othe
side was heeled more effectively tina
. ne-and his project failed. But til
seeds Of decentralization had been sown
and the crop has been harvested NOR
than once since the time when th
-, effort was made to establish the reJ'm
If bribery. debauchery and corruption
in Virginia.
General Mahone's withdrawal iron
, The Democratic party Is a matter o
p history. The manner OF his detection
was i'm keeping with the character OF IN
, man. lt was the familiar confidence
came ia politics. lie could never hay
, been elected to heSsnate Of the Unite
, . ates as a Republican. for, If he IA
maie that issue ia the election OF th
legislature. be would have been beaie
outof his boots. Malone had friend
- "a q Democrat whom he lost irretiie'
\ ably As soon he had thrown of his ma
auefading attire. Ia southwest vi
1inia. The home of the m0uuiaineers.
\ gallant and sturdy stock, he hal no u
Tie strength eight yeas ago. But .
b.. held this following IN virtue oil MS a
. legiance TO the Democratic party, an
- by reason of his successful obscutdtio
y. Of the Issues involved IN the election
Cameron a. Governor.
., Four wears later. when he had mad
y his record in the United States Senat
when he was an open and aVOwed X
, pubican. the Southwest turned upy
a. him with all the angry indignation
Il "a man who has been betrayed by Il
= false pretensiODs and prOtestatiOns
=. ,he confidence rogue. lie was d
: feated then. aud Fitz Lee went to q
Governors mansion IN place OF john
WIye. Inc latter vas 1T DhNt 'ii' va ~
btainis-t and most brilliant stun
sneakers in the South. lie was as III
o. OF wit and pOint-yenom also, 1t m'
- be added-as his illustriOus father. e
~ Governor Henry \. Wise. There we
-. precious few Of the Democratic STUN
~ ers who were anxious 10 cross blai
No. with him in debate. In addition u d
+ superior qualifications as a debate
-. John ). Wise was also man with war
~ blood in his veins.
- Malone is as cold as a fish in arcl
- waters. Wise had to abandon the VI
n hone organization because he could II
IN remain within II aud preserve his md
m pendence. lie had 10 be servant al
i. a sycophant. or else he had to be rcD
,o He chose TO be the latter. Sd did e
Governor Cameron. There was no he
., for 1t. They bad either 10 kiss hai
that was always shifting them or el
organize a rebellion aud enjoy the IND
le' pendence of revolt. 50 they "kicke.
rather than kiss. They kicked wlsel
but not with tremendous strensi
20. They are practically outcasts.
me- To what extent the negroes will 81
mort Malone is moOted question j
now. They are not enthusiastic OI