Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-17
OPEN THE CAMPAIGN.
THE DEMOCRATS s HOLD THEIR FIRST
PUBLIC MEETING IN FULTON.
messrs. &. v. Meredith, Meade Haskins.
John $. Harweod, and Richard
M. Taylor speak.

"h- Ahyior speak.
The Democratic campaign In the city
was formally opened last night with a
meeting held In Donahue's Hall, Fulton.
The meeting was under the auspices OF
the Fulton Club. Mr.. Joseph f. sorg
presiding.
Mr.. c. " Meredith was the first speaker.
and commenced his remarks by saying
that the Democratic party had in this
campaign 10 fight the old enemy in dis
guise. He then proceeded to call by name
number OF the leading Populists who
were formerly Republicans. He admitted
that the fight was being made on the
Democratic party at an unfortunate time.
1t was an ingenious policy that the enemy
were pursuing. They were attacking the
Democrats and charging them with all
the Ills the country was suffering, when
the Democrats had only been in power
for six months. and had not had chance
10 do anything.
HIS RESPECTS TO MR.. PENCE.
He had heard only one Of the PopulIsts
speak. and that was Lafe Pence. who
gave no reason why any one should
change his politics. but consumed the
time abusing the Democratic party and
/ trying to stir up III will.
The Populists continued Mr.. Meredith,
refused 10 recognize that there was a
State election. The only State question
they brought in was the Anderson-Mc-
Cormick law. MIR. Meredith emphasized
the contention that this fight was "A state
I ight, yet the Populists ignored that fact
and wanted TO turn out a Democratic
/ administration that could not be impeach-
cd In any particular. They could not
bring any charge against the Democratic
party, and that was tho strongest rea-
son 1t should be kept in power.
The speaker then recited what the Demo-
cratic party had done for the State, re-
ferring notably To the settlernnt Of the
state debt and the good results that had
resulted therefrom.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The speaker made strong point
on the record Of the Democratic
party on the public-school question. We
now have as fine n system Of public edu-
| cation as can he found anywhere. He
| might go on and show the beneficial laws
that the Democratic party had passed.
but II was not necessary. He wanted to
say however If the Third party wanted
10 make the fight on national issues, why
did not take up the tariff. He could
tell them why-the Third party was the
greatest mixture in the world. II was an
aggregation of discOntents. 1t could only
afford 10 fight on one national issue and
That was silver-an issue that the Demo-
cratic party had been discussing for
years. MIR. Meredith then proceeded to
show that the extra session of Congress
had already taken up the tariff question.
and that the House had passed "A bill to
repeal the Federal election-laws thus
Keeping the promises Of the Democratic
party. The speaker dwelt at length on
the pension frauds. and declared If the
enemy wished 10 meet the Democratic
party on national issues. that party
would meet them. Mr.. Meredith explain
ed what was meant by free coinage OF
silver; showed the cause of the present
troubles. and closed with an appeal To
all true Democrats to stand by their
colOrs.
Colonel Meade Haskins's Speech.
Colonel Meade Haskins followed Mr..
Meredith. who was warmly appaudcd,
and said there was nowhere in this con-
gressional district that he would rather
open a Democratic canvass than in Full
ton. He complimented the Fulton Demo-
Gratis highly on their steadfastness. ana
said while he was aware that the cOndi-
tiOn Of the country was not bright ana
our own people were suffering. still the
South was In better condition than any
other section. Men were out of employ
were suffering for food by the thousand.
aud were being fed from the soup-houses.
He thanked God that We had no such sur
fering here. The Democrats were IN truth
confronted in this canvass with a great
political What-is-it? Nevertheless the
Third party of Virginia was built up on
the ruins Of the western Populist party
THE MATTER OF PENSItIS.
Mr.. Meredith had called attention TO
the fact that the Populists in this cam
afpr,
pensions He would go further The
Populsts in their national platform de-
clared in favor of liberal pensions 10
Union soldiers and sailors. But the VIZ
ginia Populists do not say word In
their platform about pensiOning Contede-
rate veterans. They want the people OF
Virginia To pension Union soldiers, but
turn their backs on Confederate soldiers
Colonel Haskins took up the history of
the Populist movement and showed that
the party had gradually abandoned every
principle that II started out WIN: me
movement is now going 10 pieces IN the
West. but the Populists come TO virginia
and would take you TO their hearts anu
cure you of all your ills. Colonei haS-
kins ridiculed the pretension that tne
ed To know if any Democrat was going
TO trot after these people. III a DtiIo-
| crat wanted remedy Tor a G grisNanot ..,,
was II sense To go 10 an enemy 10 sVt
It? Was it sense to go S 10 mos WIN
| would give poison for the disease
Colonel Hasllins urged his audience 10
| stand inside their party ana iisht , UuS
| their grievances there. and If thcy hau
| been badly treated In connection WIN thS
! Gas-Works. settle that in the Iouncll
| election In the coming spring III ne ,
name Of common sense what nag s ie
| election Of five delegates TO the iIVuse i
/ 10 do with the City Gas-NorksE Nnat
| could they do about the Gas W orks Wheh
| elected? Colonel Haskins closed WIZ WIN
| forcibe tribute TO the honesty OF ~ ~
! land. i'm which he brought out IN tle
! strongest light the fact that the fresi-
| dent was the friend of the workinSmah
Mr.. John 5. Hsrwood.
! Colonel Haskins was frequently inter-
! ruDted hY applause. and when ne tooh
/ his seat the President introduced MI
| John ). Harwood. one Of the Democra1l6I 'on6
! candidates for the House Mr., Harwo1d
| thanked the Fulton Democrats for the
s,ipport they had given him In the priie
| mary election, and pledged hlmseh, II
elected. TO vote for such neasuIts s,s,j, az III
| the support of the majority OF his consult
| mems Mr.. HarwoOd referred 10 lne spiSn-
! ala record the DemoCatic adminlstauoI
| had made, especially in the settiemeiit ot .,
| the debt question; impressed Ine ,bnir
| fight on free silver, which was not d
| State issue.
Mr.. Richard VI. Taylor.
Mr. Richard NJ. Taylor was the next
speaker and was warmly received. do,di ais {
| csme here, ne said. to ask the Denloerats a
! es'' S E,,i,on 10 cast their next vote for
Charles 'E +. o'Ferrall and the rest Of fritr the
/ ticket and give them large lnago' r.
The people Of Marshall Ward %ere Si o ne
knew. sore about the ntroauEeion ha sa,d "a had
alas an, ,hrown woyy out out of employment only half
aI0S dozen men as was stated on on6 the fa2ty 23T
Of the the Council but forty, men men ana apras arnT
sunst,' s..any,t hlame the Democratic party but
,,1e uon neopIe YOU sent to the Council 10
tne rnerasent yy2t the party" Mr.. Taylor de,
noppnced the Introduction Of watersas SS oS
q ihVai f,a.iv,, and declared that If he had
hnsr ms IN, Mavor of the city he would nav, nave
Ds, ose" the Sack.st mark on II ever seen ri
gt he urged that the pemosrsiIIS shoaIS PSrS pa IN
| should not be blamed. Ihey s,pe'u ,pe Mater