Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-15
THE SEVEN HUNDRED.

The list of anti-Bryan names which we
published yesterday might be considered
very formidable in numbers did we not
know how diligently this city mad been
canyassed for them, and were we not
aware Of the fact that not a few OF the
signers are citizens Of Henrico county
Thus we have to consider the 100 names
in the light Of the fact that four years ago
I'm Richmond Cleveland received 1919
votes while in Henrico county he re-
oeived 1856 votes.
We are inclined TO believe 9lso thar
there are on these lists the names Of some
men who are not in the habit Of voting
the Democratic ticket IN presidential
elections. We are also quite sure that
many persons who signed the lists dld
so. not because OF any desire to see Nc
Kinley elected, but because their business
environments almost compelled them to
sign. Whenever the names are taken end
classified under the business employments
of the signers, this view of the case WILL
we think, be apparent TO all.
However. we have no desire to under
estimate the disanection in Richmond,
or to disparage the worth or Intelligence
Of the 700 signers. Many of them are
among the best men here. Some OF them
are men of much wealth. The great
majority have heretofore been active
Democrats. and not a few participated in
the last primary election, and helped 10
elect delegates TO the Staunton Demo-
cratic convention.
Indeed we see on the lists of the zoo
the names of some Of those who were par
ticularly active in inducing our business
men to go into the primary to support
the gold delegates as against the silver
delegates. We deeply regret the course
of these signers. In Richmond certainly,
ana In Hcnrico, we believe. all who par
ticipated in the election Of delegates 10
stanton thereby bound themselves TO
take pot luck" with their party. But
they are not doing so. And for their
failure they have never been able TO give
a suficient excuse. Now. instead Of sup
porting Bryan, they are engaged In
movement which is helpful to that candi-
date for the presidency who was one
of sheridan's trusted agents in the cam
paign which so desolated the Shenandoah
Valley that a "crow flying over IT would
have had 10 carry his rations with him"
We repeat we do not wish to under
rate the anti-Bryan sentiment here. But
we do want our friends outside OF Rich
mond to know exactly how strong 1t Is.
We do not wish them to enter into wbcle-
sale condemnation OF the people of Rich
mond Tor what a fraction OF our people
have done. Moreover, we assure our
friends that we have good hopes that
some Of the gentlemen who have signed
the two rolls will withdraw their names
before the day OF election. Their environ
rnents may not be the same a month
hence that they are now The pressure"
may be 'lifted" by that time.
Yet we must confess that the Demo-
cratic party of Richmond has made two
astonishing plumbers In this campaign,
but II IS possible that these nay De Cor
rected The first was in the action
taken by our Electoral Board In ordering
a new registration. Our country friends
may not know II. but 10 register the
Democratic population here costs the
party large sum OF money. Challengers
have 10 be placed at each OF the y5ting
precincts. Carriages have 10 be hired TO
bring up sick men. 4 bureau OF in
formation has TO be maintained in the
business centre. and many other expenses
have 10 be met.
We are not telling any secret out OF
school when we say that our campaign
fund will be very small this year, and
that we shall be III able 10 bear the
burden Of expense which a new registra-
tion OF voters would impose. Moreover.
we make bold 20 say that there arc some
hundreds OF men here who are 20 en-
barrassinsy situated that they would not
care II their names were dropped from the
llsf OF voters this year. The second mis-
cake of our party authorities sas In dis