The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-13
THE WORK OF THE CONVENTION

In nominating Major j. Hoge Tyler for
governor the Democratic State convention
carried out the will of the people, and
acted wisely and we'll This, however,
was forgone conclusion, and almost
from the meeting of the first local con-
ventions it seemed evident that the
hearts and minds Of the Democracy of
Virginia were fully set upon giving the
great honor of the governorship of the
State to this man who has been chosen as
the standard bearer of Democracy in the
pending campaign.
Major Tyler is well worthy of the honor
which has been conferred upon him, and
it is not saying too much to predict that
he will make just, efficient and patri-
otto governor; one whom all classes will
love and respect, and one in whom all
will have implicit confidence. In surren-
dering to sentiment, however, and in
gratitude for the unanimous support
given Major Tyler, again placing Mr.. Ell
Tyson at the head of the State committee,
with Senator Echols, an admitted adyo-
cate of the gold standard rs second on the
| ticket, we fear the convention has made
Il serious mistake.
Compromises are always palliative and
frequently dangerous measu res, tempo
rary at best, and generally unsatisfactory
to both sides in any controversy. In this
Instance, there was no necessity whatever
for any such arrangement, as the views of
the entire party in this State are over
whelmingly In favor OF the free coinage
! of silverA and If the will of the people had
been carried out the whole ticket would
have been made up OF men whose record
/ IN this respect was clear and uneauiyocal.
AS to the election of Major Tyler, there
is no doubt for his hold upon the affec.
tions of the people is strong enough to
overcome every obstacle; but that the
success of the whole Site Democratic
ticket will be seriously hampered ny the
action of the convention we do not hest
tate to assert. Had Cooke, Cooke or Ca
ton been the nominee for lieutenant gov
ernor the ticket would have been much
stronger and the work of the campaign
much less onerous; but the nominations
have been made; the politicians have tri
umphed over the masses of the party, and
by devices of their own carried all their
points W 18th the single exception, per-
haps, of the name at the head of the
ticket.
The nomination of Mr.. Echols will be
considered a sop to the Ellyson gold bug
element and there will not be wanting an
element in the State who will strive to
take advantage of this mistake of the
convention. The occasion was grand
one for thoroughly uniting all ranks of
the Virginia Democracy and for bringing
back into the party thousands who had
wandered slightly away, but were ready
to return If some consideration had been
shown them and the proper concessions
offered. If the convention had recog.
nized this fact and had acted accordingly,
70 it would have been awarded the high
honor of such an achievement but the
mistake has been made, and great op-
portunity lost. perhaps forever
<ho W tllC IcSO vi Unc L. III Will not
affect the result materially one way or
the other. The position of attorney gen
eral is hardly in strict sense political
one, the selection for that Office being
made more with regards to the legal
ability of the aspirant than any peculiar
views he may hold on matters of State or
national policy, although locality, AS
compared with the rest of the candidates.
may have much to do in determining the
section.
Mr. Montague will no doubt make n
good attorney general ana, but for the
dead weight of the nominee for lieuten-
ant governor, his election would be as
sured The platform adopted is good
enough; in fact everything done by the
convention was well and proper, until in
an evil moment and in fit OF unneeded
generosity it surrendered all that might
have been accomplished by the masses of
the party into the hands of the politi
clans.
THE SHOCKING OF CLEVELAND.