Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-11-18
GENERAL WALKER TALKS.
He Severely Critlclses the Virginia Re-
publican Machine.

Washington, D. c., Nov. 10.-General
James A. Walker, member of the Repub-
lican executive committee, though not a
harmonious member, gave out an inter-
view tonight in which he criticises severely
the Virginia machine.
He does not mince matters.
He criticises the State committee for re-
fusing to hold a State convention, also
states that the members of the executive
committee told him he could have the
nomination for governor by reclamation il
he would accept it at the hands of the
State committee.
He declined the honor rendered in that
style and insisted upon the calling of q
convention. He was informed that con-
vention would be unwise as there was nc
telling what it might do.
General Walker reviews the familiar
events which led to the nomination Of 9
State ticket and recalls the fact that the
machine Republicans issued an address in
which they stated that Republicans who
either voted for or refused to vote for the
Lynchburg nominees did not forfeit theil
claims or position in the Republican party.
cit was reasonable to suppose says Gen
eral Walker, shat after this declaration,
the regular organization would stand neu-
trail OF at least not exert its influence to
pile up large majority for the Democratic
ticket. Was such the case? It was not.
"During the short canvass which ensued,
the force of the organization was exerted
to prevent Republicans from voting fol-
the Republican candidates for the State
offices. Circulars addressed to the colored
voters denunciatory 10 the Republican
candidates and tending to arouse race ami
mositie. were industriously circulated by
members of the executive committee.
Had they brought to the polls as many
voters of the State as did the supporters
of the Lynch5urg ticket, whom they de-
rided, Virginia would" says Congressman
Walker, ''for the next four years, have
been in the hands of the Republicans. But
the effect of tits party division reached
beyond the State ticket; it sacrificed Leg
islative candidates as well.
The effort to prevent Republicans from
supporting the whole Republican ticket
kept thousands away from the polls alto
gether and thus effectively aided the Dem
ocr&cy in securing an overwhelming ma
iority in the next General Assembly.
Furthermore, the schism disgusted
and discouraged many earnest, loyal men
who love the Republican party and its
principles, but have no sympathy with
either faction as such. These men are not
Office holders or Office seekers. They do
not assume to be leaders and when they
saw those whom they had honored as their
party representatives fighting each other
with bitterness which was almost vindic-
tive, they turned in disgust from such a
/
spectacle and abstained from attendance
at the polls,
''To sum up, fatal mistake was made
at Lynchbmg on tue 18th of August: when
the servants of the party are afraid tomett
their master, when representatives refuse
to submit their conduct to the approval or
disapproval of the constituent body, itmay
be accepted as fact too plain to admit OF
doubt that something is wrong, and radi-
cally wrong. A safe rule is 10 trust the
people,
General Walker concluded by reiterating
what he advised in a former interview,
namely: the calling of a Republican con-
vention, the call to be united in by both
factions.