Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-08-16
FRIDAY MORNING. AUG. l6. 1895.
RAD POLITICAL FORESIGHT.

Petersburg at which all other political par
ties in Virginia Republican, Populist and
Prohibitionist-ea managed TO come
together" on a common issue to beat the
Democratic party, one would hardly expect
To find Democrats and Democratic meet
ings arranging plans for the Democrats to
s.qet apart" And yet such is the case. AT
two or three county meetings delegates
have been instructed to support NOBODY
for the State Senate who would not vote
for a free silver U. S. Senator when the
time comes. and the Democratic congress
man. elect from the sixth district has even
gone 40 far as to send out circulars look
ing to State convention OF free silver
men!
The hare statement of the fact without
comment suffices to carry condemnation
with it. The election OF a Democratic
legislature next fall, and the election
of a Democratic U. S. Senator by the leg
islature chosen in the fall OF 1897 depends
wholly upon the union of the Democrats CT
Virginia of all shades of opinion on imam
cial questions. 1t will be Impossible TO
carry the legislature in either 1925 OIL 1897
if there is any decided split among the
Democrats. Why then should Free
Silver men OF Sound Money men be
holding State conventions to draw lines OF
demarcation in the party? What possible
reason for it except the greed of an ambi-
ton which will most surely DER leap itself
and fall into the minority ditch on the
other side.
Is it because there are not enough OF ex-
clusively State questions to occupy the
attention of the people? There are the re-
duction of State expenses by the legisla-
ture; the question of paid OIL enforced
labor on the public roads; the question OF
calling State constitutional convention:
the question Of making U. S. Senators
elective by the people-all to engage the
consideration of the people when they vote
next November. Why then go outside OF
these State questions which mean much to
the tax payers Of the State financially and
politically, and take up a question OF cur
rency that can only be settled by congress
men to he elected in 1896?
When we look at the voting strength that
can be brought against the Democracy OF
Virginia by cohesion of Republicans
Populists and Prohibitionists, under such
an organizer as Gen. Malone, and then see
Democrats of both unpretentious and pre-
tentious position in the party seeking te
introduce a firebrand which shall kindle
blaze that will burn up our chances OF
success, it strongly resembles political
lunacy.
A Democratic Politician with a Teru
already in his mouth, but with a Good APP
petite, was trotting along road. Coming
to Bridge he cast his eyes upon the Water
Beneath which so glistened as to give ii
the appearance of Silver. Seeing his Term
reflected in it, he mistook it for Another
Term and plunged into the Silver ripple
The Politician in his Leap not only lost
many of his old Friends, but also lost
Another Term which was snapped up 10y {
Republican Politician who had been con-
cealed in the Bushes.
THE FORCE THAT MAKES A COR
RUPT PENSION LIST.
The fearful pension roll which burdens
our people and which it takes half of om
governments revenue to meet, is
not wholly due for its fraudulent
parts to rascals who corruptiy get then
names on it, but to the low public opinion
of large and questionable class of people
who stand by the scamps. U. S. Pension
Commissioner Lochren has just met witt
a case of that. A pension attorney, Van
Leuwen by name, at st. Paul, has beer
doing large business in the Northwestern
States with perfectly appointed machine
for turning out fraudulent pension claims
which included small army of medical
examiners scattered through that country
A government examiner named Waite, {
Republican, was set upon his track by thu
Commissioner, and discovered his machine
Van Leuwen at first put on a bold fact
and went to trial, but after being con
victed on one of the thirty nine indictments
threw himself on the mercy of the court
pleading guilty as tG the rest. The cOur
selected five of the indictments and or
them sentenced him to two years impris
onment. The unhealthy public opinion OF
the subject may be inferred from the fac
that DR.. Kessel of Cresco, Howard county
Iowa, one OF the examining physicians i'm
plicated in giving bogus certificates, was 81
little affected by the fact, that while thu
Indictment was hanging over his head ht
ran for the place of mayor of his town an(
was elected without opposition. The Crane
jury of the county indicted Waite. who
had ferreted him out, for "intimidating
Witness and the judge of the county re
quired Waite to give 81 GOO bail. Witt
such low public opinion as this about pen
sion frauds. it is not hard to believe thai
the National Pension List is supporting
bar Ofo