Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-30
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
Attitude Of Mr.. Cleveland Towards
Our Aspirants for Office.
FEELS KINDLY 70 ALL FACTIONS.
Crstincd at virginia's Loyalty and His
Big niajorfty-Govsrnorshi
senators and Ceni ing Convention.
fFrom our Regular Correspondent


ton last year in sending delegates to Chi
cago 10 too ridiculous TO create anything
but smiles among prominent party men
who know the views Of the President. He
hasseveral times statedin the most pleasant
manner possible that he was glad Virginia
divided the delegation evenly and said 1t
was o happy way out OF the sQuabble when
things wero so nearly equal between the
factions. The plan which his friends
agreed TO he thought a very happy solu-
ton of the difficulty and he would not
have had 1t any other way had he been
consulted. To say now that Mr.
Cleveland as President will deny Viz
GINA her lust share OF the appoint
mcuts because of O State convention held
nearly year ago, and which sent half Of
the delegates favorable 20 his nomination.
would imputc to him a narrOwness OF
mind and yindictiveness which even his
worst onemips would not charge. As this
rot" hos been dished up by those who
claim priority in advocating Cleveland IN
Virgins for last years nomination 1t
brings TO mind the oft-quoted saying,
"Saveus from our fool friends"
In due course of time the President will
no doubt give substantial recognition 10
Virginia. He has repeatedly stated within
the past SIX weeks to callers from the
State that he felt most kindly toward Nir-
ginia and was highly Gratified at the ire
meudous majority the State gave the
national Democratic ticket last year.
GREATLY PLEASED.
In yieg Of the fact that there was very
strong IILl sentiment in the State. and
that oven many of the admirers of Mr..
Cleveland himself seriously doubted his
availability in 1892 after his defeat IN 1883.
tho President has declared 10 these con-
versat;ons referred to that 1t pleased him
greatly whom all factions in Virginia took
of their coats and worked as Loyalty and
euorgeticaliy rs If there had been but one
sentiment before the Chicago cOnven-
tion met. The President has even
gone so far as 20 admit that many
OF his best friends IN New York and
elsewhere doubted his availability last
wear, and he himself doubted it until he
saw that the issues and intense party en-
thusiasm would bring O sweeping victory.
He was glad to know that IN New YORK. III
Nirginln, and IN North Carolina, where
there was strong antl-Cleveland sentl-
ment, the Democrats forgot all dlher-
cnces. and the Hill men were as loyal as If
their favorite had been nominated and
So were those who favored Stevenson,
Morrison, Gray. German. and Boes. The
ranks closed up along the line, and Demo
Cracy above men was the battle-cry, with
It's great issues of low tariff and no
force bill, and down with the black Re
publican party. The President has gently
reminded some of the Virginia people that
eight wears ago he gave the State earlier
aud perhaps greater recognition because
the Old Dominion was then cursed with
NahOneism. The gubernat0rlal campaign
Wa about 10 commence and all over the
State Malone had ms henchmen in the
Federal Offices 1t was,neCessary 10 boot
them out rs speedily as possible. This
wear no such situation presents itself, and
Virginia has to take her chances along
VITA tho other forty-three States Of the
Union.
sPECIA1LY REQUESTED.
Asto the SIX higher Federal positions in
Vlreinla-attorneys marshals, and cOllec-
tors Of internal revenue-the President
specially requested The delegation in Con-
gross u get together and make their
recommendations. First. the delegation. in
view of certain wild rumors that were
irving about 10 the effect that the Presl-
dent had determined 70 ignore endorse
ments OF congressional delegations, sent a
committee TO see Mr.. Cleveland and to
ascer ain bis wishes. The gentlemen who
visited the White House on this mis-
s.oL-Reoresentative O'Fcrrall and Swan
sun-Were mos: cOuTteouslv received. and
the President expressed the desire that.
the delegation 90 right ahead and make
their endorsements. They did so, all con-
curing in the selections for the six places
except Mr.. Meredith, who preferred 70
work individually, because, as be said, he
could not 60 back on Colonel j. Catlctt
Gibson. Of Culpeper. for attorney, having
endorsed hun and believing be would not
be the choice of the conference. The
candidates for tho various positions
we're so numerous that it was mani
fest al the start there would be some
complaining after results were announced.
hut, TO the credit Of their manhood and
Democracy. the kicking" has been com
paratively light. IL was bound 10 occur
IN certain quarters. however. ana some
walls against the delegation have been
heard. but they have not been as loud rs
reports of the conversations might indl-
cate II the Angel Gabriel were on earth
and he had been endorsed for position by
the Virginia or any other delegation, dis
appointment would be felt by some people.
THE EMBARRASSMENT.
The President has realized the embar-
rassment of the Virginia delegation CD
account of the large number of candidates
for the several positions, and for that rea-
son a. much as his satisfaction over the
selections has been disposed when the
proper time arrives to place the seal OF his
approval upon their action.
AID. b. HILL MAN.
He has already appointed to the United
States attorneyship for tho Eastern Dis
trlct one of the gentlemen endorsed bv
the delegation in the person Of MIR.
Francis X. Lassiter OF Petersburg. And
lust here IL can be stated that several peO-
pie slipped up 10 the White House and
told the President that he ought not to
appoint him because Mr.. Lasster was a
David b. Hill advocate last year That
cut no figure. The advice was gratuitous
Slr. Lasslter was promptly appointed and
the President SAID he would appoint him
because he thought the Fourth Congress
sional District. so long under Republican
rule and located III the Black Belt" de-
served recognition after Its redemption.
He recognized, also, the fact that Mr. Las
sitter seemed 10 be the choice Of the De-
mocrats OF his portion of the State.
Mr.. LGsslter was one OF the endorsed
candidates that q few "kickers" and
trouble-stirrers thought surely would be
turned down as they expressed 1t.
Then they kicked on Mr.. q. w. Levi. of
Clarke county. endorsed for Marshal of
the Western District, and hearing that he
certainly would be appointed when the
case is reached, their las. target was Cap
tam Shepperd. to whom they are vigor-
Ously applying the lex" rule. Lately
they have admitted that the whole slate"
will be recognized. and If they stick to
that they will probably he nearer right
than wnen their predictions wero first
made.
II will be admitted by ali who have
watched current events that il must have
been Il most difficult thing for the Viz
glnia delegation TO reach conclusions with
so many good names before the conference,
but If the President accepts all their
recommendations, as seems more than
probable. 1t will be conclusive proof that
the man whom Virginia gave more than
$1,000 plurality last year for the highest
Office in the land thinks they have done
well and 1t will be all the more ha:tering
to the delegation when II is rememb ered
that q great many good Democrats did not
submit their claims 10 the Senators and
Representatives, but appealed directly to
air. Cleveland.
WILL BE UPHELD.
The delegation claim that they have
done what they considered the best
thing for the State aud the party,
and the chances are they will be mp
held not only by the President, but by
the people of Virginia. The "kickersh
Will in time cool of. and the belief is that
tine people will stand by their Senators
and Representatives. They have done SO
IN the past, and the people outnumber the
kickers" thousand to one. In fact. il
~ well known that the Democratic voters
as rule do not care who get the Offices