The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-22
GEORGE w. WILSON,
ALLEN l. HAIRLESS.
WYTHEvILLE, Sept. IT, '95.

WYTHEvILLE, Sept. It, '95.
Geo. w. Wilson, ESQ.
DEAR SIR:-I have carefully con-
sidered the situation in your sena .orial
district and have como to the conclusion
that you and the Republican delegates
who agreed with you, acted most wisely
in declining to nominate a strnightous
Republican candidate for State senator
from tho district composed o; the coun-
and tho cities OF Roanoke aud Radford.
The action Of the Salem convention,
which nominated Mr.. Clayton, was
strictly in accordance with the plan Of
campaign recon mended by the fair
elections conference, which met in
Petersburg Oh the lst of August.
The paramount issue in Virginia State
politics in the present canvass is the
repeal OF the present partisan and cor
rups election laws, and the enactment,
in their stead, of honest laws, which will
guarantee TO every voter the right Of
suffrage, conferred on him by the con-
sti,ution of this Slate and of the United
States.
Until this Is done Republicans, Popu-
lists and Prohibltionists are disfran-
chised, and the principles they advocate
are overwhelmed and crushed out by
fraud and corruption. To do away with
these evils and to restore honest cleo
tions in Virginia, the Petersburg con-
ference was called, and all men of all
parties were asked to participate.
The conference was non ertisan, and
was composed of Populisss, Prohibition
lists. Democrats and Republicans, and
the delegates, with one voice, united In
recommending to all fair.minded voters
In Virginia to unite in supporting can
didntes for the general assembly OF Vir.
GINA who were, in good faith, in favor
OF honest elections, without asking what
their past or present party affiliations
or principles were.
No candidate or voter is asked to re-
nouuce his party allegiance or surrender
his polisicsl opinions in supporting such
candidates. Our motto should be I'm
union there il strength" Fair elecsio
fret and party issues afterwards.
Without honest elec .ions it Is vain
10 hope for the success of party prin-
clples, however we may cherish them,
and however the rights, the interests
and even the liberties of the people
may DO affected by them.
In order to secure honest elections and
to secure that strength which united
effort brings, IL was recommended by
the Petersburg conference. that candi-
Ne.No ohouiO 10 pNb ON6 WIZ COulo pO
rolled on to support, vote for, and advo-
este honest elections without question
IS 20 whether they were Republicans,
Democrats, Populists or Prohibitionists,
thereby securing the cooperation OF all
voters OF every political party opposed
70 fraud and corruption and in favor of
free ballot and fair count. For Re-
publicsns to stand alooi from this move
ment because they want g straight Re.
publican ticket, would be to lose the
substance, while grasping 81 it's shadow.
Their laudable and patriotic desire so
see party principles represented by can
didstes in every election will most GER
sainly be only shadow, If his vote il
not csst as he wants it, or II cast not
counted as cast.
do not assume 10 have the righa or
authority by virtue of my position as
chsirman OF the steering committee. to
interfere in any way with the politics
of your senatorial district, or with the
individual views or preferences of q Gin
gle voter in 1t.
can only recommend aud advise, and
most earnestly advise and urge all tho
friends Of honest elections in the dis
trict to vote for the candidates nomi.
mated by the Salem conference.
'In union there is strength In
division there is discord and defeat.
Very truly yours,
JAMES A. WALKER