Evening star., 1895-06-01
IN THE OLD DOMINION
Representative-Elect 0:ey Thinks Silver
Will Be the Only Issue
The State Delegation Will De SoIidly
In Favor of Free Coinage
Candidate.

Represen tive-elect Peter J. Otey, who
will represent the sixth Virginia district
| in the next Congress, is in the city. Mr..
Oteys home is at Lynchburg, and his dis
| trict includes that city and Roanoke. He
| was elected by plurality of 2,3o0 over his
republican contestant with three candidates
in the field, the third being supported by a
| combination of populists and prohibition
lists. In the sixth district last year there
We're $500 of the 10000 populists' votes
cast in the state Of Virginia.
Mr.. Otey is an ardent free silver man,
and believes that silver will be the only
issue cf consequence in the next election
in the old dominion. He is not a mere
theorst on the money question, as for
many years he was the cashier of the
Roanoke National Bank, which position
he resigned in 1887, in order to accept the
presidency of the Lynchburg and Durham
railroad. He was the financier of this road,
which involved an expenditure of s., 00U, 900,
and was its president until it went in the
hands of u receiver. Since that time Mr..
Otey has been actively engaged as a real
estate operator, and he has proven exceed
ingly successful in his undertakings. He
never held a public Office and until he be-
came candidate for election to the Fifty
fourth Congress never ran for an office.
Silver Sentiment I'm the State.
Speaking to Star reporter today of the
said:
I'm my judgment the delegation that will
go to the next national democratic conven-
ton to nominate President will be solidly
in favor of a candidate who will come cut
for free coinage. Cleveland could not again
be the choice of the Virginia democracy
on account of the policy he has adopted in
relation to silver.
Il do not think there is any sentiment
in the south in favor of what is being
designated sound currency except the
banking element. and that portion of the
business which is very closely allied to
New York and Boston in it's business trans
actions. l know that when l was in the
banking business 1t was frequently neces-
sary for us to borrow $15O0OO when the
In the power Of the New York bankers to
have refused the loan, though l have never
heard Of them doing so. 1t is easy for the
New York and Boston bankers to saw to
their correspondents in the south that IL
| free silver legislation becomes a fact they
can borrow no more money from them.
They may give one reason or another.
They may say that they will not be Sc
cure in making loans under such condi-
tions. But the effect will be the same. 1t
Will cause the men in the south dependent
north wants. That in my opinion, is all
there Is OF the southern sound money
movement, and without such influences
there never would have been Memphis
q
ern rather than 0ssouthern affair
Among the people of Virginia there are
great numbers of good business men who
give little thought to the relative advan-
tages of gold and silver as money metals
They ere now waking up to an active in
terest in this matter. and men are study
ing the question who gave 10 thought to it
previously. The result of this campaign of
education. l think, will be to gain conv arts
for the silver cause in quarters that are
row Indifferent to any legislation en- sill
Yer.
No Fear of Republican Success.
Il do not think the tariff will be men,
toned in Virginia in 1896. 1 have no fear
that the republicans will meet with any
better success In my state at the next cleo
ton than they did in the election when
Gen. Malone was beaten for the governor
ship. The republicans have been talking
about an honest ballot for years. but If our
present election law does not secure honest
elections. do not see how we can ever
have them. That law was framed TO Sc
cure an honest expression from the people
at the ballot box"