Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-06
NEW CAMPAIGN METHODS.
Unfair Arguments Being used
Against Mr.. EIIysOn's Candidacy.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
IT seems to me that whatever Major
Hoge Tyler may personally sack In order
n insure his defeat Tor the Democratic
nomination is rapidly being supphed py
the efforts of his injudcious friends.
One OF the worst Of these EFFORTS
find in the Augusta county Argus OF June
lst. a paper advocating Major IyieI
nomination. 1t says: we ASK III liie
name of the true Democracy Of Virginia,
let each candidate for certain Office an
swer the following questions:
'Did YOU support Bryan and the chi
cago platform? Did you do so from con-
yjction or merely party obligation
Was there ever more inqulsltorial
and bulIdozing attempt made by friend
of one candidate to arraign all other can
dldates? for IL this question Is asked OF
.ons,,it u.ust bs 81 zee Ct all
Including senators and members Of the
House. there will be largely over 100
Democratic candidates for nomination
this year. ,.,-
THE writer of this. I'm company with
thousands Of other Virginia Democrats
had inclined to the gold standard: Nneh
the Chicago convention declared lot lree
silver he dropped his individual predi-
marty. and gave its platform and candi-
dates n hearty support. The campaign
which followed. led by that magnificent
man. william Jennings Bryan, showed
the gold interest I'm its true colors, and
convinced the writer and those who had
been like him that the only hnanclai
salvation OF this land is In free and IN
dependent coinage. conviction mat
grows stronger every day, as they watcn
the progress OF events. And yet MAJOR
TYLER and his friends are to question us
with a. view of showing that we are not
eligible, How eligible is he? whoever
heard of Major Tyler as public adVo-
cate Of free silver before 1888, when he
was a candidate for the nomination. as
he is now. And yet in 1898 the night Tor
free silver had been going on eighteen
vears-since 1875. Major Tyler and his IN
discreet friends may rest certain OF nus
That If they make no friends among those
VINO we're influenced by merely party
obligations" in accepting Bryan and the
Chicago platform last summer, the Major
won't get enough votes in the convention
70 make his candidacy worth talking
about
And here is another remarkable break
of one of Major Tyier's friends: The
Roanoke World of May 18th says that
.0rhe last State Convention pledged the
nomination to Tyler In 1897, and that
gentleman has a right 10 expect that
promlse TO be kept" The State Con-
vention net In Richmond, August II. 1873.
have carefully read every resolution
adopted by that body. and all the rest OF
IFS proceedings, and there Is nothing pear
ing the remotest resemblance OF sucn. Il
promise 10 Major Tyler, or to anypody
ese. How could there be? How could
one convention tie the hands of another
convention four years OH ana why
sbould have Major Tyler been promised
envthing: he did not withdraw. He made
ali the fight he could, and was defeated
on the first bailot, not getting one vote
I'm four. The idea that q convention
elected for a certain purpose can meet.
do the work It was sent to do, and then
proceed to tie the hands OF the free
Democrats OF Virginia as to who they
shall run for Governor four years from
that time is too absurd 10 reply 10. ana
the men who rest their candidates claim
ON any such absurdity have already con-
ceded his defeat.
IT IS about equal TO the claim that Major
TYLER is the farmers candidate. Inc
only other occasion that his trlenns set
him up as the farmers candidate was
I'm 1893 when he was seeking the nom-
nation for Governor, and was colncldent
with his own discovery that he was
free-silver advocate. Well, the farmers
themselves put their foot foot down on
that claim. or the 1.665 delegates In the
state Convention OF 1896, only about 2o
were from the cities; ali the rest were
| from the country. OF the l,6bo. Major
| Tyler got only $50. That is TO say that Ia a
| convention where the farmers numDereu
| over eight to one, Major Tyler was beaten
| by over four TO one He Is preciseiy the
| farmers candidate this year that ne
was I'm 1892. and will get about the same
nronortlon OF the farmers vote In the
| convention OF 1897.
A VALLEY BRYAN DEMOCRAT.