Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19
"MACHINEPOLITICS."
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE NOMINATION
or O'FERRkLL.
Why the Vote PolIcd on November eth wa,
smalI-what We Owe 90
Party Workers.

FRANKLIN. VA. November 10. 1890.
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch
l regret to see that your neighbors OF
The Times and State have spent 10 much
OF their precious time and talents since
the election In n wholly uncalled for dis
cussion of machine politics" And not
withstanding the unprecedented and over
whelining majority by which Colonel
OFerrall was dominated at the late
Democratic State Convention, which, by
the way was probably the largest ever
held In Virginia. the Times charges him
with being the creature OF a machine
ana lnsnuates that ne was not the choice
or the people OF the State. The latter
paper also favors primary elections in
order that the people may choose their
own candidates and not have their wishes
forestalled by busy cliques of ofiiceholders
al county court-houses and anxious office
seekers on their way TO Washington
These sentiments certainly cannot be
correctly applied to county politics, what
ever may be seId OF city politics.
SPONTANEOUS UPRISING.
l know whereof | speak when | affirm
that there was a spontaneous uprising OF
the people Of this Southampton and adj
joining counties for O'Ferrall. and the
results throughout the State. both at the
convention and at the polls. fail TO sus-
tain the paper in its position. There
were no busy cliques, no courthouse
rings. and no machine politics" In 1t. The
people simply demanded OFerrall, and
they succeeded in getting him and in ele-
waiting him TO their highest Office by the
largest majority ever received by any
Of his distinguished predecessors. 1t is
true that the vote polled was compare
lively small on account of the panicky
period through which we are passing,
but when we take into consideration his
percentage Of majority now and compare
it with majorlties given in the past 1t
rises to huge proportions and far exceeds
any ever given In the political history
of parties in any Of the States.
PARTY ORGANIZATION.
The Times no doubt had it's choice,
but forsooth its choice did not happen
TO be the peoples choice-therefore
machine politics" has outraged the
Times and committed an objectionable
sin
Now. as TO machine politics." the
average reader will doubtless fail TO com
prchend the Times's meaning. The writer
knows Of no machine, but the party's
organization, and believes that no or
ganiZation, State or Church, or of any
other character can succeed without its
machine.
At the head OF the Democratic ma
chine In years past has stood the
lamented Barbour Of precious memory.
At the head Of this machine to-day
stands that self-sacricing patriot UNI
firing worker, and Christian gentleman,
Hon. J. Taylor EllysOn.
The strange part OF all this is that
the proprietor of the Times himself, If
We mistake not. Is part and parcel of
this same machine, having been hOnored
by Chairman Ellyson with place on the
State Executive Committee.
THE VAIL or DESPAIR.
Whence comes this puny wailng OF
despair? is 1t that one Of our great
southern papers and Democratic organs
is becoming tainted with the foul slime
of Mugwumpery? We hope not. hut
shall await future developments.
These foolish. sentimental, puritanical
discourses about machine politics by
few people who are entirely out OF
touch and sympathy with the great
masses OF the people are positively
nauseating and very damaging to the
party.
our illustrious President could never
have been nominated at the last national
Democratic Convention without the aid
of a superbly-organized machine under
the leadership Of that greatest OF poll
ticians and organizers. William c. Whit
ney, and his forces too, were composed
almost exclusively of eX-Ofliceholders
and ofIice-seekers VIII the Times, which
was an intolerant supporter of Mr.. Cleve-
land, deny this. or that Mr.. Cleveland
was not the choice of the people?
Away with such talk, and let us take
heed OF the late elections i'm the North
and set to work and repair the machine
in time for the next congressional and
presidential elections.
AS TO PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
As to the demands of the Times and
State for primary elections. they are wei
come to have them in Richmond, but
they won't work in the country. except
possibly in local county elections where
there are a number Of candidates running
for the several offices to be filled. II
these papers could have our experience
as county chairman in such a contest as
the one just closed, in getting the voters
out and in trying 10 get the machine TO
work. they would doubtless cease their
talk on this line at onc,.
our experience IS tIldt WHEN great tA-
element has been worked up by candi-
dates in getting voters out to a primary
election the whole thing collapses after
wards for the reason that many think
the contest ends with 1t. and being salts
fed with the choice Of their candidate,
cannot be induced in so short time TO
turn out again and go to the polls. Many
also who fail to secure their choice. hav-
ing exhausted all of their campaign pow
der I'm this effort, become luke-warm and
sullen. and can't be induced to vote when
eectiOn-day arrives.
PARTY WORKERS.
The great newspapers Of the country,
in their massive and imposing quarters,
may decry the workers of the party as
much as they please, but those of the
Democratic faith should remember that
the Republican party is still in it, and
that their efforts should be In the direc-
ton OF harmony, and that words of cheer
and encouragement instead of villhcation
and abuse are necessary to retain their
future active aid and cooperation. with
out which we lose the next congressional
elections and presidential succession, and
with them the liberties and rights Of the
people.
Very truly, j. F. BRYANT
4 Demurrer.