The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-03-20
Conversational Elections.

COngf6SSlOldl ElGCGlOnS.
The unjust and partizan re assignment
of the Congressional districts in Ohio.
as proposed by the Legislature of that
State, may operate as boomerang. By
it it is proposed to give the Democrats Is
out of the 81 districts, when it is known
that in a contest where party lines are
strictly observed, the Republicans have
Il popular majority anywhere between
10000 and 100000 A similar spirit and
purpose were manifested by the Demo-
Gratis of Virginia in arranging the pres
ent Congressional districts. The object
was to disfranchise the Republicans of
the State, as far as possible, so far as
representation in Congress is concerned.
They arranged the districts to mass the
colored VOTE as much as possible, in two
districts-the 4th and 2d-where there
is Republican majority of from Il, 600
to $4,000, when the party is united and
acceptable candidates are offered. BY
treachery and fraud one of them the
4th, where there is a Republican major
ity of 5000, is represented by Demo
crat. In 1886, however, the Republicans
carried seven of the ten districts, and
could do so at any election, if the people
were left free to manage their own af-
fairs. If, however, boss rule in the Re-
publican organization is to be perpetua-
ted for another term, we expect to see
every district in the State go Democrat
ic next November
Gerrymandering, however. does not
pay any party. In the calm of politics
the people become disguised, and are
very apt to give vent to their resent
ment by disregarding party lines. The
Republicans can elect six out of the ten
members of Congress, and carry the
State by between 10000 and $1,000 ma
jority on the popular vote, in every cleo
ton, if there is q proper plan OF cam
paign and proper State and district
management. Under the present Re-
publican plan and management, how
ever, if continued in the next campaign.
every district will return Democratic
member of Congress.
The people are going to have much
| more to say in the elections of Virginia
and throughout the country, hereafter,
than they have been in the habit of say
ing heretofore. They are tired of boss
ism and dictation and they mean to
have their rights and manhood respect
ed, both in the plan of organization and
the candidates, or they will know the
reason why. 1t will not be in the power
of the marshalls and the internal reve-
nue. officers to give direction to Republi-
can sentiment. An attempt to do so will
have the reverse effect. 1t is evidently
the purpose now to attempt it; but we
warn the machine in advance, that it
will not be allowed to do So If the eff
fort is made, the result Of last Noveln-
emphasis than was manifested then.
The Blair Bill.
The result of the vote on the Blair
bill in the Senate this week is still in
doubt, but enough is known at this writ
ing to give at least the names of Sena-
tors who are now said to be positively
committed for and against the measure
Those who will vote for the bill are
Messrs Allison, Blair, Brown, Barbour,
Call, Cameron. Chandler, Colquitt, Cul-
LON, Daniel, Dawes, Dolph, Edmunds,
Eustis, Evarts, Farwell, George, Gibson,
Hampton, Higgins, Hoar, Mcmillan,
Henderson, Mitchell, Paddock, Pasco.
Pugh, Quay, Ransom, Sherman, Stan
ford, Stockbridge, Teller, Vance, Wal
thai, Wilson (of Iowa., and Wolcott-37
Opposed to the bill are Messrs Aldrich,
Bate, Beck, Berry, Blackburn, Blodgett,
Butler, Cockrell, Coke, Davis, Dixon,
Faulkner, Frye, German, Gray. Hale,
Harris, Hawley, Hiscock, Ingalls,, Plumb,
Jones (of Arkansas), Kenna Mcpherson
Morgan, Morrill,, Piatt. Plumb, Reagan
Spooner, Turpie, Vest, Voorhees,, Will
son (of Maryland}-34.
Senators Payne and Hearst are two
Democratic Senators who voted for the
bill in the last Congress, but who are
now on the fence, and both are said to
be inclined to vote against the measure
this time. The six Senators from the
recently admitted States are said to stand
equally divided on the question, and
Senators Washburn of Minnesota and
Sawyer of Wisconsin are wavering and
have not yet made up their minds. The
Nevada Senators are also non-committal
and each side is claiming their votes
Pressure is heavy on the new Senators,
and it cannot be definitely learned who
of the six are for or against, as they
have caucused among themselves and
have not given out the names as they
stand. The result will probably depend
on their votes.
A majority of the Senate with two va
cancies existing (Montana) is AZ. Mr..
Blair claims that the bill will receive As
votes, and General Hawley claims that
there will be from 43 to 46 votes against
the measure.