Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-31
Preparations for Bryan's Visit to
Richmond.
GEN. FIELD ON THE STUMP FOR BRYAN
The Republicans Making an Earnest
Fight.
r A LROADS FOR GOLD
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

poHllcdi gathering WITHIN the limits OF
Virginia as the gold convention this week.
The representatives from various counties
and districts were practical, sensible, con-
servative men. with good, hard, business
sense. They knew what they wanted the
convention to do before they came and
" hen the regular business proceedings were
taken up there was no difficulty as to the
methods of procedure. 1t was rumored
that there would be a large number Of re-
publicans to take part in the proceedings
of the convention. This was not true; not
single republican participated in the pro-
ceedings. On the other hand the delegates
were made up of well-known democrats,
who refused to accept the doctrines of the
Chicago platform. Such democrats as s.
V. Southall of Albemarle, JAMES Bum
gardner. jr., of Staunton. Alexander Ham,
ilton of Petersburg, Joseph Bryan of Rich
mond, and long list of those who have
worked faithfully heretofore to assist the
nominees OF The democratic party on to
victory, We're the leaders.
l. The movement was worked up by a COM
mttee OF two in ten days. and when the
gathering was called to order there were
about 3OO delegates representing all indus
tries and professions.
The electors and delegates-at-large who
were chosen to represent Virginia at the
national convention in indianapolis are
among the most prominent and infuen tial
members In the state. T. NJ. Scott of Ac
comac end j. X. EdmondSon Of Lexington
are known all over the commonwealth
Judge Edmondson is one of the ablest
1urists IN Virginia; Joseph Bryan of Rich
mond. delegate-at-large, represented Vir-
GINA at the conference held in Indianapo-
lis; James Bumgardner, jr, of Staunton
delegate-at-large. who permanent
chairman OF the convention, is counsel for
the Baitimore and Ohio railroad; 8. ".
Southall of Albenarle is a lifelong demo-
crat; +. c. Nenable Of Petersburg Is
prominent tobacconist of the cockade city
The free silverites are no less active
throughout the state now than heretofore
They are making appointments for free
silver speeches all over the state, and not
withstanding the fact that they are dis
posed to cllim everything and declare that
the republicans, as well the sound mon
ey democrats, haven't a shadow Of a
chance for carrying the state, they are
carrying on the most vigorous and agrees
sive campaign seen in Virginia for gen.
GRAFTON.
The state committee is making many
dates for campaign speeches Already
twenty-seven of these have been announc-
ed. Among the prominent speakers who
are to make campaign speeches in the in
terests of free silver are Congressman Will
| lam A. Jones, II. w. Flournoy, president
of the Bryan and Sewall Club of Rich
mond, and ex-secretary Of the common
wealth; William B. Petit of Fluvanna, Pc
ter J. Otey, Congressman from the sixth
district; Senator H. d. Flood, who was
nominated for Congress from the tenth
district; Congressman Claude A. Swanson
| of the fifth district
Bryan md Crisp in Virginia.
w. n. Watson, chief Of the department
| Of democratic campaign speakers, expects
| to have ex-Speaker Crisp. Congressman
Livingston Of Georgia and H. r. Bland to
make add, esses in Virginia during the cam
| paign. Arrangements are already being
made TO give Mr.. Bryan a rousing ovation
| when he comes to Richmond The Bryan
| and Sewall Club will be prepared to offer
the Nebraska orator an enthusiastic well
come, and the biggest auditorium in the
| state seating over 10000 people, will be en-
| gagged for the speaking. An immense
| crowd will greet the free silver candidate
| here.
| At the meeting of the city democratic
committee of Manchester Thursday night
| Chairman E. H. Wells, who has served for
| two years. declined the denomination and
Capt. A. c. Atkisson was chosen his sue
ceSsor. A vigorous campaign in favor of
| Bryan and Sewall has been commenced in
| Manchester. The movement has to contend
| with the strong sound money sentiment
of which the railroad operatives of that
| city are the chief factors. The Southern
| railway md the Richmond and Petersburg
| railway both have shops in Manchester,
| and hundreds of men employed by these
| two railroads have organized and are fight
| ing hard for the cause of sound money.
! Judge H. w. Flournoy has just returned
| from campaign tour through Surry
| county. He reports the free silver senti-
| nent there overwhelming. He was greeted
by large audience at Surry Court House
| to hear the currency question discussed.
| There has been considerable comment
| throughout the state as to why Col. John
| Bell Bigger clerk Of the Virginia house of
| delegates. and for years secretary of the
| state democratic committee, was succeeded
In the latter position by Joseph Button,
| clerk of the Virginia senate Since Col.
l bigger published hat he
| rumor that he retired from the secretary
| ship of the committee because of i'll health
| was untrue. and that he was never in bet
| ter health, he has taken the stump for
| Bryan and Sewall
Field for Bryan.
The statement of General James T. Field.
to the effect that he stood upon the plat
form Of the democratic party because the
democratic party had gone over to the peo-
| pies party. is being widely quoted through
| out the state by the opponents of the Chi
| cago nominees. General Field stated, on
being congratulated at Orange for his re-
| turn to the democratic fold, that he had
been standing ON that same platform for
| years, and that it was case of the tail
| wagging the dog. The populists he said,
| were satisfied and they would pull together
| with the advocates Of the Chicago platform
Tor the election of Bryan This is being
| used as strong argument against the Chi
| cago nominees by the sound money demo-
Gratis and the republicans here, inasmuch
| as General Field has made so many
| speeches against the democrats and worked
hard for their downfall in the state for
years.
Railroad influence.
The statements being made by the free
| silver leaders to the effect that the various
| railroad and manufacturing corporations
in Richmond were adopting coercion as an
effective method of making their employees
| oppose Bryan and Sewan and support a
| candidate on gold basis are being INQUIRED
| Into. The Chesapeake and Ohio has under
| its control about 1900 voters. OF this
number there. are about 5000 men in Vir-
| ginia 1t Is a fact that Mr.. Decatur Axtell.
| one OF the vice presidents of the Chesa.
| peake and Ohio, strongly opposes the Chi
| cago nominees, and has announced in the
| press that he could not indorse their plat
| form. He was followed by a similar state
ment from President NJ. E. ingalls, of the
| Chesapeake and Ohio and Big Four sys-
| tens. and who has been mentioned as a
probable nominee for president on the
| sound money ticket. President ingalls, has
| under his control about 10000 men-oer-
haps more. He has announced publicly
that, though he had been democrat ali
his life, and loved the party, he would this
| year vote for Mckinley and Hobart. In q
| speech at Hinton, w. Va. before tho Poll