Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-24
UANyA,s HAND IN VIRGINIA.

After a brief interval Of rest the Times
has gone to discussing election frauds
again. Having recently eulogized Mark
Hanna. and commended his patriotic SER
vices 10 the consideration of the country,
IL quite naturally resents the idea widely
prevalent that Hanna's success was at
tanned by debauching the suffrage. And
the Times would have US furnish proof Of
our belief that such was the case in
Virginia In the course Of the congress
sional contests which are to take place
in Virginia we believe our people will be
able to uncover some of the operations Of
Hanna's agents Until then we beg the
Times to possess its soul in patience. Or
If it feels bound to eulogize Hanna again,
let ii 20 ahead. one eulogy more or less
of that sort wont affect the pending
question.
In nearly evers county in this State,
and in most Of our large cities. az the late
election. the hand of Hanna was SEEN or,
rather. felt. That money was freely spent
I'm Transforming Bryan voters into Nc
Kinley voters we cannot doubt Naturally
enough proof is not easy of production.
The man who sells his vote or his IN
fluence and the man who buys the same
are not persons who are going TO rush
into courts to make disclosures. Still,
we have reason to think that I'm the course
OF the Investigations now threatened, some
direct evidence will be produced showing
that Hanna's corrupting hand was felt
in many sections of this State.
The Times says that so far as 1t
knows the money used in the late cam
paign by the anti-Bryan combination was
used in a legitimate manner and as the
Democrats have always used it. We beg
10 differ with the Times. Hanna is re-
puted to have had at his command $1,000
DOO. and a considerable part Of this sum
was sent to Virginia. The exact sum we
do not know. We have always said that it
was not less than 100000 but a well
known Republican who has Inside infor-
nation" on this subject, tells us that we
vastly underestimate the amount. We
Judge from what ne says that between
n50.OoO and 100000 was spent in the
State during the late campaign. But If
We take the lowest figure named 1t was
four or FIVE times larger than any cam
paien fund our State Democratic Com
mittee ever had. what was done with
this vast sum? The Republicans here had
little need to print campaign documents
since tons of such documents were sent
Them from the North Then how was
Hannas money spent in Virginia7 Did
II 30 in advertising. hall-rent, clerkhire
etc? Not much
we venture to say that II an itemzed
account OF the expenditures Of the Re
pubiicans in this state were exhibited the
secret service fund would be found
charged with the bulk Of the expenditures
Then. indeed. we should see how it was
that the Republicans scored so many
"ealns" i'm certain counties.
Tle Times often complains Of the Demo
Gratis for delaying registration and voting
Csergcs OF this description are not new
H. virginia. The Times, II we remember
a,i.at. has stated that this fountain OF
t-oob.e was opened In that campaign
vhen Fitz Lee became our gubernatorial
candidate. and when John S. Barbour be-
came our State chairman. And II the
Tlmes will refer 20 the official volume
containing the testimony taken in the
case Of Waddlll VS.. Wise. II will find that
slrailar charges were made as to that cleo.
fion. il will also find that in that election
rs IN the recent election. the Democratic
cnaliongers who delayed" voting were
men Of high character.
10 be sure those who were engaged as
chailcrgers at the former election are
men OF state reputation. but they are nc
whit more honest or patriotic than tho
men who challenged for Bryan and Lamb
We only mention these facts TO show
that the alleged wrong complained OF has
been complained of by the Repubii.
cans for many years, vet the Times has
never suggested remedy. except that IN
great crises OF our political affairs VIC.
ience may be properly used 90 keep IN,
negroes away from the polls. That is Tho
sort Of delaying" that the Times has
recommended. II has this merit, at least
10 recommend it--that a voter who Il
thus delayed may be delayed until the las
trump has sounded.
We all know the situation In Virginia.
IN Eastern and southside Virginia par.
ticularly. We all agree that the whites
must rule. But q you'd seem Impossible,