Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-17
sn.,L,pr I'm This Campaign.

We are glad to see that appointments
for public speaking are beginning to be
announced by the State Democratic Com
mittee.
Under the plan OF campaign adopted nj
che late general meeting OF our state
Committee 1t was agreed that the Demo
cratic authorities of each county and city
should decide whether II would have little
or much speaking during this canvass.
The State Committee for It's part stands
ready to supply speakers as far as posi-
bic: but our speaking men do not seem
90 be quite as ready as usual TO give their
services to the party. We suspect that
the reason for this is that the currency
question embarrasses them. But IT need
not do go. The Democratic masses
OF Virginia are ready TO take
sensible view OF this matter and
do not expect discussion OF
this question at this time There are plen-
~ OF other things TO talk about. The oc-
cason demands discussion of State is
sues. Election laws. road laws. the re-
cord of the Democratic administration
of Virginia affairs, etc, are in order now.
Particularly should we like to have the
Walton law and the honest elections
bill fairly contrasted. A great number
Of Republican and Popuistic orators are
going through the State slandering the
Walton law and the Democratic party
most vilely. Defective though 1t may be
as to details. the Walton law is not the
unclean thing that they represent 1t to
be. Nor, on the other hand. Is the fair
Elections bill the fair thing that 1t Is rep
resented by it's advocates to be.
General Malone. who was the author
OF that measure. and who never claimed
20 be anything but a partisan in politics,
framed It so that should 1t be adopted
and enacted into law the Democrats OF
Virginia would be "downed' for all time.
II is a thoroughly partisan bill. II 1t
were passed into law It would pass all
the election machinery OF THE State not
into "non-partisan" hands; oh no, but into
the hands of the anti-Democratic elements
,f this State.
In other words, II would be a confession
on the part of the Democrats that they
are untitled to be IN control of the cleo
ton machinery, and ought 10 turn that
machinery over to their enemies; more
honest and capable people presumably!
II won't do for us TO stand idle while
campaign Of Misrepresentation Is being
waged against us. We must be up ana
aoing. OF course where counties have
speakers of their own who will undertake
10 discuss these questions. well ana good
LET them 20 at Il, but where this Is not
The case let the county committees ask
The State Committee for speakers Our
local Democratic authorities ought 70
make sure that this subject II thoroughly
discussed and fully understood. Any capa'
bic Democratic speaker who makes a
thorough study OF the honest elections
bill. as devised by General Malone, VIII
be able TO put down" any opposition
speaker whom ne meets.
1t isn't an honest elections bill. 1t Is
sham non-partisan bill, the holowness
md deceitfulness OF which Will be fully
understood by our people as soon as the
"Details of the bill are explained to them
So. let every Democratic speaker who
finds an "honest elections" orator ram
paging over the State and denouncing the
Walton law, turn the tables upon MN
by exposing the trickery OF the bill
which. under the hypocritcal guise oil
being an honest elections" bill. would
gut the election machinery Of this state
Into the hands OF merciless enemies OF
the Democratic party.