Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-25
Interest In the New York Democratic
Convention.
POPULISM EBBING OUT.
Its Failure In virginia and North Caro-
lina-Esck ~ Popular Appreciation
OF Genera, Field.

| mOcTdcy Is thoroughly atpcHHche v" ~"
York for continued success in a national
sense. Illinois. Wisconsin. and California
went Democratic In 1892. thus enabling
| the party to win the presidential election
without the vote of New York, but there
is no certainty those Western States VIII
do the same thing inT 1896 The leaders
would feel much easeS were things 10
turn out the same way this year. but
they are not banking much on Illinois
| and Wisconsin. and they do not expect
great things in California. They want TO
| hold New York. New Jersey, and Indi-
ana, which, with Connecticut and the
| South, will give them control Of national
| affairs.
New York being at times uncertain.
it would be better for the party If llli-
nois and Wisconsin could b. made per-
manently Democratic. but If the latter
flop back into the Republican column
in November IL will be an Indication they
are not to be counted on in 1895. And
just what the Populists Will do this year
is another matter of the greatest impor-
tance to the leaders Of both OF the old
parties. The prevailing impression at
Washington is that the Populist move
neither the Democratic nor the Re9ubli-
can headquarters is it conceded that the
POpulists will elect more than five or six
members Of Congress in November Their
main hold will be in Kansas, Colorado,
and Nevada, but even In those states
IL is thought they will not do 20 well as
two years ago. AS TO Virginia and North
Carolina, the Democrats and Republicans
DO not concede that the Populists can
Nn.s
fusion scheme has not worked as well in
North Carolina as the Populist cam
paign managers here had hoped. and In
Virginia the Republicans. on whom they
relied to help them fight, have simply
acted too hogsishy for anything, and
that fact is freely commented on IN this
city. Colonel Goode having been COM
PEELED 10 pull off the track in the Fourth
Virginia District shows how he was treat
ed and his Populistic friends here DO not
Ike it a bit. They think it was very
shabby, to say the least AS he and they
claim. he made the race two years ago
against Mr. Epes. and. having filed a
contest for the seat before the House.
which has not yet been decided BY the
Elections Committee. they thought 1t
would be only fair and decent TO let the
Colonel try again In that district.
But instead Of permitting Colonel
Republicans have gone to work and
trotted out Mr. Thorp as a straight-party
man-Thorp who was the COlonels at
torney before the committee IN the con-
test still pending. No wonder that Col
onel Goodc gave up in disgust, and de-
clined to accept the Populist nomination
this year. with three candidates In the
n,'d. he knew he would cut a very sorry
figure.
GENERAL FIELp.
There was feeling here at Popuist
headquarters earlier In the season that
possibly General James G.. Field. Of Al
bemarle, would be dominated for Con-
gress by their people in the Seventh Dis
trict Of Virginia. Then. II was stated
that during the campaign of 1892 the
General refused to meet Senator Berry,
of Arkansas, in joint debate because he
did not think IT was in keeping with his
dignity while the nominee OF the Peo-
pies party for Vice President, and some
Of the POpulists here are or the opinion
that this is the reason why he cannot
now come down from his perch. and take
a congressional nomination. stu. il is re-
memhored that after he was President Of
the United States John Quincy Adams was
a member Of the House, ana II the late
Massachusetts, statesman could have az
IOflrl SucN Il lHilbf IL - Ipt dShiilS bVil'-
raj Field TO give up too much 10 make
a hustle in the Seventh District when
there is a principle at stake; and, be-
sides his party has been so outrageously
treated by the greedy Republicans.
II is learned that General Field Is
really too cute TO expose himself in that
district. The Pops" could not do as
well this year as they did in 1892. and
no man knows it better than the late
candidate OF the Peoples party for Vice
President. When he was nominated, ana
inquiry was made about the Capitol as
TO where he lived, Governor O'FerraH
who was then d member Of the House
predicted that General Field would not
poll - votes in Albemarle county. in
which county he has had MS residence for
the past fifteen years or more. The ofil-
cial returns proved that he received only
% votes in Albemarle. Culpcper, his
native county. and in which he resided
the greater portion Of his life, gave the
General only l. votes Local pride evil
IDENTIFY did not cut much of ngure.
The total vote cast for Weaver and
Field At the election in 1882 in the
Seventh Congressional District was al
and by counties in the district it was
as follows: Albemarle. p; Madison, llo
Greene 2S; Rappahannock. 23; Clarke. 49,
Rockingham. 81; Shenandoah. III; Page,
IL: Frederick. 81; Warren, Z.
1t will b. seen that General Field did
better in some of the other counties than
in Albemarle. where he resides. and i'll
Culpeper. in which he was born, and
where he lived for so many years.
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
Much talk is heard about the probable
vote that "Steeny" Mason. the Populist
candidate in the Eighth Virginia Dis
trict. will poll; and some of the opponents
of Congressman Meredith hope that the
Third party will draw enough votes from
the Democrats to defeat the Democratic
candidate and elect Colonel Pat. McCaul
Mason Will have to hustle II he pulls
away enough votes 10 endanger the
election OF Meredith. At the last con-
gressional election, which occurred two
years ago, when a presidential ticket was
also in the field, thus bringing out very
full vote, the total number OF ballots
cast in the Eighth District was 2lyO, OF
which MIR. Meredith received lIl2i. and
1906 were cast FOR Mr.. Turner, the cam
didate of the Populists and Republicans.
and nephew of Colonel Bob. Beverley.
In that contest the Republicans helped
the Populist candidate all they could.
and tile Pops" having presidential
ticket in the field. ii was probably much
stronger than Mason can possibly hope
to be in the QlStrlct tnlS year, WHeil IL
IS apparent that ne has no chance what
ever Of election. and votes thrown away
on him mean indirect help extended to
the Republicans. who believe in the high
protective tariff; are against silver (whien
was demonetized by the Republican
party) and are certainly not the friends
OF the farmers. 'Steeny" Mason's re-
ceptions at the meetings so far held In
dlcate that he is not making any head
way and while his vote on account or
"soreheadedness may be sweiled little.
he may possibly not do any better than
Weaver and Field did two years ago.
There is no reason why he should. AS
the Republican and Popuiist vote for
Congress in 1882 was Jumped. there Is
no way OF telling how many voted for
Turner purely because they wanted to
help the Populist cause, but the vote or
Weaver and Field is a pretty fair index
Of the division, and that was by counties.
as follows:
Alexandria. o. Fairfax. 9; Loudoun. 63;
King George 80; Stafford. l6; Prince Will
liam. 3s Fauquier IS; Culpeper. Il;
Louisa, 100: Orange. 81: Alexandria city.
2. Total, 445.
There are not over 2s,0o0 votes In the
district. and Mr.. Meredith will be elected.
no matter how his opponents may figure
out the thing. "Steeny' Mason will not
poll 1000 At the outside this year, allow