The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-24


James Hotel. This place. however did
not seem to be quite private enough for
their deliberations, so they adjourned
to the home of MIR. Mcdonald. on Capt.
tol HILL. Several interviews were sub
sepuently held with Captain Thomas
III. Mckee, chairman of the Republican
Congressional Committee. Col. James D.
| Brady and others and resulted I'm the
withdrawal OF Messrs. Mccall, Walker
and Mcdonald. MIR. Borland afterward
resigned his contest. but he hcld.
think. no correspondence with the 9th
| ers. He was not at the meeting, and l
believe he knew nothing of their plans,
although he was invited TO meet them.
Mcdonald Rc.Entcrs thc Field.
These four contests were considered
abandoned In fact. they were. and their
names do not appear on the clerks roll
of contests made up from those whose
papers were presented according to law.
liut now Mr.. ThCmas. of Michigan
offers a resolution in the House claim
ing that Mr.. Mcdonald has discovered
Irregularities in the election Of Mr..
Jones. AMI asking permission to file his
contest The resolution has been sent
| to one of the three elections committees
and will probably be reported favora-
bly,, as Mr.. Thomas was a member of
the Elections Committee last year and
Will likely be on one of them again.
Mr.. Mcdonald moved from Virginia
several years ago and Engaged In the
wood and coal business in Washing ton,
whore he Is still located. IT is said that
at the time OF his own defeat he offered
to vote In the county in which he had
formerly lived and upon being re-
ouired TO swear that he was n resident
of the county, he declined to do so, and
failed to vote even for himself. Few
people VIII believe that Mr.. Mcdonald
would have made this move of his own
volition, and some think II was at the
instiGation of the Republican leaders
in the House.
What the Move Means.
The purport OF this very unusual pro-
ceeding does not appear on the surface.
but Is likely to arise from one OF two
reasons. First. The Republican Con
Eressmen have never forgiven MIR
Jones for the conspicuous and manly
stand he took in the last Congress
against certain classes of pension
| claims, although his course was ap-
plaudcd by the G. a. r. generally
On this account they may think that
with contest they could easily, un.
der existing circumstances. give him
what Is known In Congressional par
lance ms the double cross. and thus
leave their pathway open to crowd the
pension list with camp-followers and
deserters while Mr.. Jones remained Mt
home. In such an attempt. however
|
Mcdonald was not Il resident of the
STATE in which he offered for Congress
ana this would he n hard one for tho
| Elections Committee even In this Con-
EreSS.
Second. AS Mr. Jones served or ,bn
Elections Committee in the last Con-
GrcSs IL would be natural that he should
be on one of the three new ones in this
but the Republicans know that he is
fearless, bold and absolutely honest in
MS consideration of these matters and
would give them trouble In case of any
attempt at summary action i'm these
contests. 1t may, therefore, he that
they need some excuse for leaving him
out. and consider that having n con
test himself he would not eligible TO
serve; In any event Mr. Jones knows
mat lie has the confidence and esteem
or his own people. and any chicanery
on the part of the Republicans might
make him Governor of Virginia. Who
can tell? ''
Firginin state Matters.
a very prominent member of tho
state Legislature was In the CITY 10
gay ana watched the proceedings in
Inc House of Representatives.
In speaking about Virginia affairs ba
Saia tnat no proposed legislation had
bcen oncred so far regarding the race
tracks, although he said he would offer
a bill himself upon the subicGt nftcr
Nv ',''iHhs >. RE rlulCnleu the idea of
discriminating against one of the tracks
anu leaving the other to operate after
the legislature adjourned
we VIII not make fish of one and
iowl OF the other" he said Every
asked regarding the provisions of his
own bill he declined to give them, but
intimatcd that both tracks would he
restricted 10 a very limited meeting
noth spring and fall. and the law made
very strict regarding any violation of
those provisions.
The conversation then drifted to the
Walton law, but the law-makcr grew
less communicative than before. but as
an on-hand guess it would not be far
wrong to anticipate very little If any
change In the existing statutes. AL
though there may be enough bills in
troduced to give eachmember one
apiece. out Of their multiplicity will
grow debate and disScnsions and the
committees and on the floor and tho
final adjournment will likely come with
out any serious remodcling of the old
law
He was also asked why the Ierisla
tive committees had SO summarily dis
missed the request of the Governor TO
be allowed to send troops whenever he
thought their presence necessary whe-
ther or not he was requested by tho
Sheriff or Mayor. To this question
however, he only smiled, and made no
reply. 1t was learned from another
member however, that the experiences
of troops for CoXey's army. troops for
the coal regions, and troops for the
IMnenburg prisoners had impressed the