The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-06-21
FR GA TIE CITY !.
Carr Cry, va, Jpnc lg, 1891. J.

-. 4,
are quito number of prominent at
torneys IN attendance, Semi PRIDE
more, Hon. David Z. Bailey, w IS
Mathews, Capt. j. II Wood, r. 4.
Ayers, Patrick Hagan, w S. Hamil-
TOT and others.
The case Of Bishop vs. S. a. & O..
Il r. for $500 damages resulted in a
vpisiict ior-tlie defendant, something
rather unusual, As jniics are gcner-
ally net very favorable to corpora
tions in this fart, of the world.
was very much amused to see
Hon. David L. Eailey and Mai. Wood
mingling with the voters. Both Of
them are excellent campaigners ard
have scores of friends, but 1lc Major
has the advantage over Mr.. Bailey
in having lived in this county for .
number Of years. Everybody knows
him and likes him, all except his pol
tiles. Scott is getting to be 2
stronghold Of Democracy. Both Col.
Bailey and Major Wood have been
spoken Of for the Congressional nom
ination. and there is no doubt
that either would accept it gladly. 1
expect, however, that Col. O. Slemp
will be heard from when the conycn-
ton assemblies.
Gcn'l Pridemore, in conversation
with me to-day, intimated very clear
ly that he would accept the Demo
cratic nomination if the party want
ed him to make the fight. ] was
under the impression that he had
written letter to the Virginia Sun,
the populist blsthorskite, but the
General very quickly, in response to
my question as to when it would ap-
pear, said with emphasis that he was
Democrat. If he receives the
nomination, he will not apologize for
the neglect of the Democrats to pass
the Wilson Bill, and will advocate
free silver ON the stump. There is
no debut of the Generals ability.
When lie was in Congress, a good
many years ago, he took front rank
for a one term man, and attracted
the notice Of James q. Blaine, and
men Of that stamp. AS to the ex-
pediency of nominating him, | do not
believe there is stronger man in the
district His hold upon the people
is simply great, and during his long
practice of his profession, he has, in
numerous cases, befriended many
who were unable to help themselves.
He would make a brilliant canvas,
and would be elected by handsome
majority. There are great many
machine politicians who dislike him
because he freely expresses his opin-
ion. and upon several occasions. has
kicked against the traces when their
policy and methods were not to his
liking. With all their dislike, how
over, they have always given him
credit for force of characte and stead
fastness of principle; and have yet to
show one single instance where he
did not cordially support the Demo
cratic nominees
If Slemp should receive the Re-
publican nomination, and Pridemore
theDemocratic one we can depend up
on a livelysrace. ThcGeneral.is very
magnetic speaker, brilliant, full Of
wit and unsurpassed at repartee. He
is now in his prime, and would make
an ideal representative. Quite an
amusing incident occurred at Big
Stone Gap, not so very long ago
which will serve to illustrate the
Generals readiness at repartee. He
and Col. Richmond, although they
have in the past been strong rivals
professionally, have always been good
personal friends, and were always
fond of getting off jokes on one an-
other. They were discussing the
silver question i'll quite an animated
way, for the benefit of.quitc catorio
of friends. I think it was in the
lobby of the Intermont. They were
both talking at once, when friend
inquired Of COL Richmond whether
he or Pridemorc was in favor of gold.
The Colonel in his impulsive way re-
piled, 81 am for. gold, and Pridemore
there (motioning his hand in his di-
rection is for nothing Instantly
Pridemorc replied with merry
twinkle in his eye, DWELL, Colonel,
I'll be d-if I haven't got more of
my commodity than you have Of
yours. This sally created quite a
laugh, in which Col Richmond
heartily joined.
Idon't think, however, that we have
anything to apologize for, except for
the mistake of sending men to Con-
gress who were unworthy to preside
over justices court. don't wish
to reflect upon our member from the
ninth district in the least. He has
made good representative and has
tried to do his duty. The fault lies
in our members taken as a body. I
know am good Democrat, but the
whole truth of the business is that
the men we sent to Congress have
shamefully and traitorously neglected
their duty, and come row to be vim
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