Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-27
VIRGINIA POLITICS.

N1RGlNlA GOLIIlISo.
The first meeting of the democratic
State committee during the present
campaign was held in Richmond yes
terday evening. The attendance was
llrger than was expected. Besides the
committee the following members OF
the House of Representatives from the
State were present: W. A. Jones,
Turner, McKenney, Tyler and Elicit.
Senator Marlih was also present. the
The most interesting subject consider
ed was the Walton election law and
now its operations were considered by
the democrats of the various sections
NJ the State. Each district reported in
numerical order and separately. The
lmpres ion is that the Walton law is
quite satisfactory in the negro districts.
The white sections, it is believed, are
for a change. All of the representa-
lives from the colored districts were
apparently quite well contented with
the law. 1t is said outside the COM
,nittee room that in some of the large
black counties the Walton law meets
with favor among the colored voters.
They are partial to it, it is asserted,
because it permits their race to cast a
perfectly secret ballot, free from the
espionage of the republican party
i-adors
All of the members Of the committee
of the first, second, third aud fourth
congressional districts expressed per-
feet confidence in the ability of the
democrats to carry all or very nearly
all of the legislative districts in their
sections. Members of the committee
from the black belt, who spoke on this
subject before going into it, merely
commended the law as good and con-
servstive one. These gentlemen think
that it deters the negroes from going to
the polls, and in that way is highly
beneficial one in its effects. 1T is pretty
lafe to assume from what the members
from the negro districts say about the
matter that the leaders from these Sec
tons will oppose any radical changes
being made in the law of the legislature
this session. If radical changes are eff
ected they must come from the repre-
sentatives in the legislature from the
white sections of the State. The general
consensus of opinion was that the Law
ls working satisfactorily.
With representatives present from
every section of the State there is, OF
course, difference OF opinion as TO
views of the currency question. Nearly
all the leaders OF influence approach ed
agree that it will not cut any figure in
the selection of nominees for the
Legislature or the election of such men
after they are chosen for the party
candidates. Senator Martin is looking
serene and coDtented and still main
tains his silence on the currency SUBJ
ject.
Reports were made by the district
committees on the outlook in their sew
eral sections of the State. ALI these
were highly encouraging and give
promise of the election of the usual
democratic majority in the two branches
of the assembly.
Messrs. G. A. Mushbach and Leonard
Marbury, of this city, were in after d.
ance.
Mr.. Marbury assured the committee
that the Eighth would keep up its
record of solid democratic delegation
and fair elections.
Capt. Mushbach said that all the
democratic candidates in the Eighth
district would be elected. He had
beard but little discussion of the Wal
ton law, and thought that some i'm
material amendments could we'll be
made.
Just before the closing of the meet
ing Senator Martin addressed the COM
mittee. He opposed dragging any ma
tional question into their purely legisla-
tive campaign. He advised the COM
mittee to be cautious in bringing out
side speakers here, who might discuss
these issues. Every congressional dis
trict except the fifth was represented
The committee will at once begin &C.
tive campaign work. There is general
demand from all sections of the State
for Senator Daniel to speak.