Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-01
VIRGINIA ALL ONE WAY.
Lawless Tells of the sftu-
rtion Here.
Baltimore Heraid-30thD

baltimore Herald-30th.)
Secretary OF State j. r. Lawless, OF
Virginia. was at the Carrollton Hotel
yesterday. His presence in the city Is
due to some private legal business which
he is transacting here.
Secretary Lawless Is n young man OF
about 30 years of age. and is now serving
his second term as Secretary. having
been elected, as the custom Is In Virginia,
instead of being appointed. when he was
q years OF age. Previous TO that he was
State senator. Although he Is ster-
ling Democrat, and will Loyalty support
the nominees OF the Chicago convention,
ne is not an out-and-out free silver man,
and went as a delegate to the stanton
convention as opposed to the free and
unlimited coinage Of the white metal.
His district--the Second Congressional
is about the only gold one i'm the State.
At the Richmond primaries he had put
himself on record by voting. as the tick
cts contained pledges, to support the nom
inee of the Chicago convention.
Speaking OF the political situation In
Virginia Mr.. Lawless said 10 the reporter:
''The silver sentiment in the Old Do
mlnion is Overwhelmingly strong. Nearly
everyb body Is for IL. though there are some
ciers, bankers. railroad men, and the like,
but are not sufficiently numerous to be
called an element.
1.-The normal Democratic majority in
Virginia of late has been from 1900 TO
1900 i believe that the State will go for
Bryan and Sewall with from $1,000 TO 1900
majority l got an idea how strong the
free-slver sentiment in the State was
at the Staunton convention. which elect
ed delegates TO Chicago. when old men,
young men, and those of all ages indorsed
the white metal with show OF emotion L
have scarcely ever witnessed. Tears ran
down their faces and sobs choked their
utterances.
"As everywhere, else the forces at work
against the democratic candidates in
Virginia are powerful. The railroads are
organizing the men in the state. L know
positively. though of course l cannot
SO positively state, the exact purpose OF
this organization. 1t can be guessed,
however. when It is known that the cor
porations are striving to bring them INTO
so-called 'sound-money clubs.
president NJ Il. ingalls,, of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad, who has hitherto
voted the Democratic ticket, has come out
in a letter giving reasons why he can
not support the ticket as nominated
Il trust no matter what influences are
brought TO bear upon the voters In the
present campaign. that Bryan VIII DE
elected, and ! believe such will be the
case / do not agree with him in all OF
his opinions but / believe he will make
good President. l am a bimetallist. but
do not believe that free silver should be
attempted without an international I'M
Outstanding
Il have been led 10 believe that Mary
land will cast her vote for Bryan by per-
sons who are in a position to know some
thing about 1t.
Il was in "A barber-shop awhile ago. and
i'm order TO feel the pulse as it were IN
ouired how the men in the shop were go
ing to vote There were nine, and or the
number / found seven were Tor Bryah
and two for Mckinley In the late
family quarrel five of the men were Tor
Lowndes and four for Hurst"
Secretary Lawless said he had carried
ON considerable correspondence with Sec
rotary Dallam in reference to the bound
airy disputes between the two States, out
that the matter seemed no closer TO set
Element than it had been formerly.