Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-10
LAMBS CONFIDENTIAL LETTER.

N
We have not allowed ourselves to be-
come excited over the contest in the Re-
publican ranks in this state, which mas
been raging for some weeks between the
adherents Of Colonel Lamb. of the first
part, and the friends and supporters OF
Allan and waddin, OF the second part,
but we must say that it is now getting
TO be decidedly interesting to us.
A confidential" letter has been pub
Iished. which II is alleged that
Lamb wrote to county chair
man, in which he asked the chair
man 'how much it would take to con-
troll" the chairmans county for delegates
Z who would sustain Lamb at Stanton,
and who would aid in sending unpledged
delegates to st. Louis.
This Observation-Disclosures letter of
Lambs is likely to be heard Of a good
deal during the next few weeks. IL 1t
be a genuine document IL exhibits Lamb
as a much less astute politician than the
Virginia public has heretofore given him
the credit of being. Such letter as this
one would think could only have come
from a very unwary politician.
Republican chairmen In this and other
Southern States are used to spending
money to control" delegations; but. as
a rule. they do not put their propositions
In writing. Their custom is TO put the
money into the hands of a supposed
'trusty" lieutenant. and charge this lieu-
tenant with the duty of controlling
his or that county. TO be sure, the
Hrusty lieutenant usually incurs heavy
V'expenses," and it is rare that much mo-
ney reaches the voter; but. uncertain
as that system IS. 1t is safer than this
which Lamb has introduced.
To see In print letter from Chairman
Lamb asking a henchman of his, How
much would 1t take to control" such and
such a county looks ugly. We can
not well believe that the average Repub-
lican voter Will be shocked at the sug-
gestion that he is TO receive a small di-
vidend from headquarters; but what will
surely shock him is to see how recklessly
Lamb writes about using money to "con-
troll" elections. t..
Here we have the head of the great
honest elections party in Virginia
wishing to know show much would It
take to control such and such county,
&c. 1t is another blocks Of five game,
With this difference, that this game is
10 be played. upon the Republicans;
whereas Dudley's game was to be play
Cd upon Democrats. But we make bold
10 maintain that II Chairman Lamb went
into the ''how-much" business against
mis- party friends he would not be apt to
spare us Democrats If occasion TO 'con-
.rol' us offered. The publication of
lambs letter not only destroys his repu-
iation for political "smartness," but dis
closes him as a hard-pressed leader.
1t looks as though he felt uncertain of
reelection as chairman of the party and
member from Virginia Of the National
Republican Committee.
In the light 81 this letter the meeting
Of the State Republican Convention at
stanton viii excite general interest, for
IL seems that Chairman Lamb has not
only put his money on the losing horse
IN the presidential race; but what is in
fnlteiy worse for him. has put into the
hands OF his enemies "a letter which it
VIII take the Chairman about seven days
I'm the week to explain.
The Dispatch has no special interest
in the internal affairs Of the Republican
party. but we are bound to keep an eye
upon passing events. and we think we
know a good thing when we see il, and
we think this 'how much" letter is a
pretty good thing to emanate from the
head OF the honest elections" party In
Virginia!
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