Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-22
NEDNESDAY........ SEPT. %, 1897.
WHO ARE THEY.

The Petersburg Index-Appeal says that
Is due 10 the Gold Democrats who will
support the Roanoke nominees and 10
ne Dispatch itself that the facts should
Sc disclosed relative to our statement
hat the "no-conyention' policy Of the
Republicans is Comfortable to the ex-
,ressed wishes of influential Gold Demo-
rats of Virginia"
Our contemporary is sceptical as TO the
lccuracy of this information. and asks
who are the influential Gold Demo
rats who have expressed such wishes
md when and where did they express
HEM? And the IndeX-Appeal goes on
say
Our own opinion is that a large ma
ority of the Gold Democrats, including
lone of the most influential of them,
will support the nominees of the Roanoke
convention. regardless of the Chicago
,atf0rm attachment. They have been
strongly encouraged and induced to do
10 by the conservative and wise editorial
invitation of the Dispatch, and there is
,othing in the vague and indefinite
lharge made by our contemporary
which will enable the general public TO
distinguish between the Gold Democrats
xho do not believe that coinage of
money Is a State function, and can be
made an issue In State campaign. and
who intend 20 support Major Tyler and
hat other class OF Gold Democrats
Who, so far as we have light on the mat
Ter. may be called imaginary-who are
posing as Democrats, but are striving
20 stab Democratic rule in the State
through a Republican alliance.
The Index-Appeal is right, we believe,
n saying that large majority Of the
sold Democrats will support the Roa-
ioke ticket, regardless of its approval
sf. the Chicago platform. That is GER
lainly the case with the majority of the
iod Democrats of Richmond. But we
;elterate that there are others in the
state who are working in harmony with
he Brady Republicans TO defeat Colonel
lamb and prevent. IL possible, the nomi-
nation of a Republican State ticket In
proof of this. we may refer to the fact
that a circular was recently issued by
.ertain Gold Democrats urging their
brethren, in effect, to cooperate in the
policy OF the Agnew- Brady Republicans.
Who prepared and put forth this circu-
Jar, we do not know. There is some
mystery about It. II has been stated
we think, that II was not the work of
the regular organization Of Gold Demo
rats. but as yet we have not heard
that the Gold Democrats organization
sas taken any step to denounce the cir
,ular as n misrepresentation.
But while there is uncertainty as to
who wrote and put forth the circular in
question. there is none at all In the
language used by ex-Judge Waddill In
his interview published in the Washing
ton Post OF the 10th instant. That Judge
Waddill Is In the secrets Of his wing Of
the Republican party no one will deny
and furthermore. his statement has been
before the public and has been unchal-
lenged since September i6th Now see
what he says:
THE failure 10 place State ticket out
better enables the Republicans 10 COM
bine all elements In the State favorable
TO honest elections-namely. Repu5l-
cans, Gold Democrats, Populists. Prohi-
bitiOiiSlp anu noICSl-tlttbtOt DtislOildFo
on legislative tickets. 1T is ALL-IM-
PORTANT TO KEEP THESE VARI-
Gus POLITICAL ELEMENTS To-
GETHER. and nothing so greatly tends
10 prevent II. as the running OF Repub-
lican State ticket. and that the desire to
change this condition OF the Democratic
organs. and leaders who are seeking 10
have ticket put up against their own.
This simple fact ought TO be sufficient
TO satisfy any Republican as to the wis
dom Of the course adopted by the COM
mttee. Moreover. the Gold Democrats
would. by the running OF State ticket.
reaiign themselves with their old party.
which u very undesirable. IN view of
me Important national election next year.
.THE REPUBLICANS AND GOLD
DEMOCRATS AGREED THAT THIS
COURSE WAS THE BEST TO PURSUE.
ana certainly their judgment should be