Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-03-11
Private J. Taylor EIIyson.

Private J. Taylor EIlYson.
STAUNToN, Va, Mar. 5, 1897.
TO the Editor Of the Spectator and
Vasadicator::
Will you kindly give place to tho fol-
lowing, as expressing fully and with
out reserve the views and purposes Of
the Democrats large majority of the
party in the State, we believe--who
propose to present the name of j. Tay-
lor Ellyson to the Democratic State
nominating convention for the place
of Governor? Very respectfully.
H. c. TlNSLEY. 4
While it may seem superfluous to
give the public history of a man who
has been for seven years the leader of
the party in the State, and under
whose master hand six successive and
brilliant victories have been Won, with
never defeat, nevertheless we will
present the salient facts in his life.
Mr.. Ellyson is in the full vigor of
mental and physical life, having this
year reached his fiftieth birthday. He
is native of Richmond and was edu-
Gated at the city schools, Richmond
College, and the University OF Virgin
ia. He served eight-years In the Com
moi Council of Richmond and was for
four years its president. He was for
three terms Mayor of that city, and
has been for thirteen years president
of its School Board. He has been for
six years member of the Board of
Trustees of Richmond College. and for
twenty three years been prominently
identified with educational work For
four years he represented the Rich
mond District in the State Senate,
For eight years he has been member
of the State Democratic Committees,
and for six years the State chairman,
having in that time won six brilliant;
victories-never losing fight In all
this time he has been prominent and
successful business man and has d.
rected many large business enterprises.
THE PRIVATE SOLDIER.
This is the record of busy life in
educational work, politics, and bust
ness, and it is shining Illustration of
the capabilities of the private soldier
of the Army of Northern Virginia.
For it was begun by the boy who had
| fought in the ranks as q private in the
Second Company of Richmond Howit.
zers, and came back to the same desc
lated Virginia to which we all returned
We shall urge Mr.. Ellyson's nomina-
tion by the convention because-with
out disparagemen to other most esti :
mable Democrats who have been sug-
gested-we think his nomination a
necessity to both the State and the
party We are on the eve of beginning
the payment of larger rate of inter
est on our public debt, and we regard
the presence of man of affairs, man
with actual and long experience in
business, as necessity in the office of
Governor, a man who can aid and adj
wise the Legislature.
BUSINESS MAN.
We have arrived at point where,
by general consent, it is agreed that
there must be q more economical gov.
eminent in our State, and we need a
conservative, wise man of affairs as
Chief Executive to suggest the proper
lines to be followed. We need in this
work practical man who has person
al knowledge of the actual condition
of the people in every quarter of the
State, and we think we can safely say
that there is no public man in Virginia,
who, from frequent visiting among
them, has more accurate personal
knowledge of the wants of her people
or greater sympathy with their hard
ships.
HIS HIGHEST TRIBUTE.
From the stand point of a Democrat
We know OF no NAN to whom the party
would more naturally turn
IL is probable that no higher tribute
was ever paid to the party loyalty, alb
splute trustworthiness, and mastery
ability as Il party lrader of any man
than that paid by the free silver lead
ers i'll Virginia, when at the Staunton
convention. and subsequently they
urged Mr.. Ellyson to accept the chair
| manship of the party for the pending
| fight. though his views of what waste
be the policy at Chicago had not there
tofore agreed with theirs. The State
Committee having been clothed with
the power to elect it's own chairman,
unanimously demanded the services
of Mr.. Ellyson and overruled his pro-
testations that it might find some other
person better suited for the position.
Nobly did he vindicate that trust and
glorious was the victory on that part
OF the field. Virginia. where he was in
the lead The wisdom of the commit
tee was triumphantly vindicated, and
he who then led the people of Virginia
to victory for the principles and poll
cies of tae party seems now the logical
candidate for the more distinguished,
but scarcely more responsible position
of gubernatorial nominee.
With Mr.. ElIyson, certainly 1.-The
past is secure. . and it only remaius to
be said as to his present position that
he accepted the national platform as
the creed of his political faith. and
therefore, as the guide in national
matters OF the Democracy of this State.
He will uphold and advocate the doc
srines of his party with that ability
and fidelity that have characterized
his course in the past-no matter what
may be the attitude of our opponents.
In short, Mr.. Ellyson stands today
where be stood as the chairman of his
ampaign-squarely and firmly upon
its platform.
NO DOUBT OF ELECTION.
Wien the Democratic State Conven-
ton dominates Mr.. Eliyson, as we have
no doubt It will do. it will nominate a
Democrat who will be elected as Ger
taiuiy as he is uOminated-he has
never been defeated, either when him
self a candidate Or when running the
Call paigns of the party. His election
will put in the Governors chair the |
first private Virginia soldier that has
hTied it; it will give our State God |
fearing chief magistrate, who has
actual experience and broad views Of |
government. and an intimate knowl |
edge of our people in their homes; one |
of he most successful party leaders
~, Nf-eyiy,io no,uo.prcv he had II, |
thirty years; man with a public and |
private life of the highest integrity; u |
man who loves his fellow man.
With this man we may meet the
coming election without fear Or doubt,
either for his success or his admins
tration, which viii follow it.