Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-10
Virginia Democrats Don't Know
Which Way to Jump.
DON'T WANT BRYAN NOR M'KINLEY
How the Congressional District
Contests Are Going.
NJ Err EDITH'S OUTLOOK

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
RICHMOND, Va, August 1O.-The action
of the sound money conference committee
at Indianapolis, at which Mr.. Joseph Bryan
represented Virginia, has stirred the op-
ponents Of the Chicago platform in this
city to even greater activity.
While they do not all agree to the propo-
sition to name third ticket, they are anx-
ious that some definite plan shall be form
| ulated and some specific course mapped out
which viii hold together the great body of
democrats known as boilers.
The majority of them are in earnest,
however, and do not like the idea of giving
half of their vote to Bryan and Sewall, and
as the principles of the republican party
are equally as repugnant to them. they are
in a quandary as to which horn of the di-
lemma to seize.
None of the sound money men have any
hope, Of course, of electing a nominee on
the gold standard platform and just how
far it would aid their cause in the future
Is the question. Some of them argue that
1t would create a breach in the democrat
party that would never be healed, while
others contend that it would be the means
of preserving and holding intact the fun
Elemental principles of the party, to which
the leaders of the new-fangled ideas must
return sooner or later.
Gold Men Active.
In this city the sound money democrats
exhibit greater activity and enthusiasm
than the silverites. Petitions, which have
been widely circulated throughout the city,
for the purpose of organizing a sound mon
ey league and declaring against the Chica-
go platform in no uncertain terms, have
been numerously signed, and will result in
creating ore of the most powerful political
organizations ever seen in this state.
The signers of these petitions are nearly
all democrats-men who have been in the
past the bone and sinew of the party-to
whom the political leaders have always
looked for financial aid in each recurring
campaign.
One significant fact in connection with
these petitions is that the signers are not
only capitalists, professional men, well-to-
do merchants and manufacturers but a re-
markedly large number of them are labor
ers and mechanics.
Last Saturday night a sound money club
of 1OJ members was organized in this city.
composed exclusively of mechanics and
other laborers in the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad shops here.
Great enthusiasm prevailed at the meet
ing, the members declaring that the roll
would be doubled in a week This is to he
followed by similar organizations com
posed of workmen in the Richmond loco
motive and machine works. the Southern
railway shops and in other manufacturing
plants of the city.
The Bryan and SewalI clubs on the other
hand, that We're organized in Richmond
with such flourish soon after the Chicago
convention are languishing: AS an instance
or this. while the principal Bryan and
SeWall club was in session a few days ago
a small fit. broke out in another part of the
city, when the fifty or seventy-five mem
DerS VINO were present made bolt for the
attraction, and never returned to adjourn
in good order.
Indifferent to Bryan.
Again. on last Saturday night, the Clay
Ward Actives, ore of the largest demo-
cratic clubs in the city, consisting original
ly OF about 300 members, was called to-
gether to rattfy the action of the Chicago
convention.
Only about sixty members attended, and
When a rising vote was taken a reso-
luton to indorse the platform at least nine
OF those present remained In their seats.
There is no doubt of the fact that with
the exception of few fanatics the demo-
Gratis in this city do not find the Bryan
and Sewall dose at all palatable. They are
trying to take their medicine, however, and
look pleasant, but their corrugated ply
siognomy is apparent to all.
The next democratic congressional con-
vention to be held in this state will be
that of the eighth district, in Alexandria,
next Wednesday, which promises to be one
of the most exciting and hotly contested
yet held in Virginia.
Big Place-Getter.
Mr.. E. E. Meredith the incumbent, has
served his constituency ably and faithfully,
and will no doubt go to the convention
with a strong following. Mr.. Meredith has
been especially successful in securing fed
eral appointments for his constituents,
having at this time over ten times as
many as his district is entitled to under
the pro rata distribution for the state
MIR. Mereuith's principal opponent will be
Mr.. Rixey of Culpeper, who, pressing the
issue of typographical representation and
a
fiuence, has developed great strength for
the nomination, and it is predicted by the
party leaders here that he will win the
fight.
There are other candidates of minor
strength who may have an important
bearing on the result in the event of a
deadlock.
Pat McCaun Again.
Whoever is nominated at this conven-
ton will very likely have for his oppo-
nent Pat McCaull. who was defeated two
years ago by Mr.. Meredith. Mr.. McCaull
is an able stumper of strong personal mag
netism, and has a good record. He will no.
doubt make the best possible fight for the
republican party, and his success in No
vember is decidedly within the range of
probability.
The democratic situation in the seventh
district, represented in the last Congress by
Mr.. 5. 8. Turner. will result in a free gift
of the nomination to State Senator James
Hay of Madison. Mr.. Turner's patriotic
action in declaring soon after Congress adj
journed to again stand for the nomination.
taking the high ground that he could not 90
with his party in its free silver venture is
still fresh in the minds Of readers of The
Star. Mr. Hay, who has served his district
and county long and faithfully in both
branches of the general assembly was a
conspicuous advocate of United States SEN
ator Thomas S. Martin in his now mem
orable contest with General Fitzhugh Lee.
The fact that Mr.. Hay has practically no
opposition for the nomination, in spite of
the fact that Mr.. Turner withdrew SO long
ago. Is the best possible evidence of the
potent influence still existing of the Junior
Senator from Virginia.
This recalls the fact that State Senator H
D. Flood. who defeated Harry Tucker for
the nomination in the tenth district, fs an
other protege Of this silent but powerful
factor in Virginia politics.
Martins Quick Change.
= Mr.. Martins somersault at the Staunton
convention. when he came upon the plat
form as the sound money leader in Vir-
ginia and left it after a ten minutes speech
a full-fedged free silverite. has certainly
impaired his influence to some degree, how
much 1t will not take long to measure His
speech on that occasion. especially that
ort nj ton Nvnrr Ah~ d.