Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-06-14
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE IA, 1889
THE DATE FOR OPENING THE
CAMPAIGN

We should be glad to see the leaders of
our party in Virginia take new departure
this year in Difference to feeling of the peo-
pie, which is not only strong undercurrent
but very perceptible agitation on the sur
face. There is no doubt that the people OF
the State are badly harried with frequent
elections recurring at eXhauStingly short
intervals Just now, that can't be helped:
it is matter of the statutes and can't be
remedied until legislature shall change it.
But the Democratic party can come to the
relief of the people in one respect, and should
do SO: it can give them a short campaign.
This is favorable time to do it. There
are no new questions to be discussed before
the people, taking time and much rostrum
work. The questions for this canvass are
twenty years old and need no educational
campaign. There isn't a Democratic far
mer in Augusta and precious few Repub-
lican ones, who can't tell you over his fence
gate in two minutes that he don't intend
to vote to add Ten Million Dollars to the
State Debt to please the bOndhOlders OIL any
DOlly clSC. 1llClC 1Oll ~ SOtCl WIN, IL liz
were to spend hours on it, could give any
proof that the Democratic State govern
ment of Virginia for the past four years
hash t been a good one, and as good as that
of any other State in the Union. There
absolutely isn't State question OF issue
which has two sides to it of sufficient differ
ence to be canvassed on the stump. Then
why drag the people from their homes
through hot season to hear political chest
nuts opened, out of which nothing but an
cient mould will drop?
If the Democratic State Executive Com
mittee will fix the date of the State con-
vention at September 4th, it will give just two
months for an active campaign. This is as
much as the people want-tOO much if
anything. 1t interferes with no candidates
prospects. The following wise suggestion
from Chairman John S. Barbour settles
that
AS the recent floods have seriously intsrfered
necessarily deferred the call OF meeting of the
Democratic Executive Committee to select the
date for the State convention at Richmond, Va
it is suggested that the counties on their respec
tive court-dayS proceed with the appointment
of delegates to represent them, subject to the
future nomination of the day for the convention
by the Executive Committee, heretofore
dered by the State Central Committee.
fSgnedl JOHN S. BARBOUR,
Chairman of the State Committee.
A long campaign in Virginia has abso
lutely no advantages for the Democratic
party. And what the disadvantages OF
dragging our people out for long days, weeks
and months are, need hardly be enlarged;
on. Sixty days to lapse between the nomi-
nation and the election day is sufficient,
amply sufficient. Surely the Executive
Committee must be able to see a reason fol
trying this new departure in the interest OF
a long suffering people, that it is not neces-
sary for us to print in detail. Give it a
trial this time, when everything con
dition of the enemy, the character of the
questions at issue-everything is favorable
and you may depend on it, it will be sc
popular that there will never be another
long State campaign in Virginia