Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-11
O'FERRALL HITS BACK
Answers Senator G1aaiel's Charge Of
Political Inconsistency.
TELLS THE SENATOR HE is ANOTHER
Cites Eight Instances Where He
Thinks the Charge Applies.
SAYS SILVER us DOOMED

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, September 11.-Gov.
O'Ferrall has prepared an answer to the
late open letter of Senator Daniel, in which
he charged the governor with political in
consistency. The governor now comes
back, and in parallel columns and other
deadly devices hurls back the charge at tho
senator. After about four columns of ex-
PLANTATION and discussion of the Chicago
platform as to how it was interpreted by
the people, Gov. O'Ferrall gets to the ques-
ton as to what part Senator Daniel had in
it's construction and adoption. on this SUBJ
ject he says:
The senator says that he was not a men,
Der of the committee on resolutions at the
Chicago convention, as 1 stated in my in
tcrview. He says that he was appointed on
1t, but when he was selected as temporary
chairman of the convention another gen.
tleman became the Virginia member. OF
course I accept his statement. But I ask
the senator IL this is not the fact: That
when he retired from the committee it was
understood that whenever it was desired he
would take the place of the gentleman
appointed in his stead: and that at the
quest of this gentleman at certain and
important stage of the committees DELHI
eratons, he. Senator Daniel, took the place
OF the Virginia member tMr. GLASS; on the
committee. and participated in the draft
ing, framing or preparation of the plat
form. in whole or in part?
Appeal to the Record.
The Chicago correspondent of the Rich
mond Times. in attendance on the conven-
ton. on July 10. wired his paper as follows:
THE committee on resolutions had an
other meeting this morning for the pur-
pose of putting the finishing touches upon
lah no
ton to empower the government to fur
ther issue of greenbacks was trihe more
than Carter Glass could stand, and he pro-
tested against it. Then came the indorse
ment of Altgedism in censurng the Presi-
dent for sending troops to quell the Chi
cago riots This was too much for Mr..
Glass, and he retired from the committee
and requested Senator Daniel to act i'm his
stead. This was done, but the two planks
were reported in this platform
1 ask Senator Daniel If this statement
was correct? If SO, 1 appeal 10 discrim-
mating public to say whether the senator
was not disingenuous and lacking in frank
ness when he declared he was not men,
Der of the committee on resolutions. Was
he not substitute member? Did he not
take Mr.. Glass place when Mr.. Glass was
confronted with the greenback proposition
| and the resolution censuring the President,
which he could not support?
Let us understand who is correct-the
correspondent of the Times, who had no
motive nor intention to misrepresent, or
Senator Daniel.
After defending himself at length against
the senator's accusations, Governor OFer-
rail- finally assumes the offensive, and pro-
ceeds to point out some alleged inconsis-
tencies of Maj. Daniel.
Inconsistency Charged Back.
On this score he says:
But why should Senator Daniel take me
to task for one Inconsistency when he mas
SO many charged up against him?
/. He abandoned his "cash dollar posi-
ticn on the state debt and adopted the
state debt proposition of the readjdsters.
9. He discarded his greenbaci and fiat
money theory which he insisted was the
only salvation of the country, and adopted
the silver miners. forty or fifty-cent dollar
as the panacea fer all the Ills of labor and
agriculture.
3. He cast aside the idea of repeating the
internal revenue act and allowing the
protective tariff TO stand, in behalf of
which he made numerous speeches and
accepted the true democratic doctrine.
4. He now forsakes the tariff plank of
| 1892 and clings to the tariff plank of he
Chicago convention, denounced Un-
sound by such eminent tariff reformers as
Senators Vest and Mills.
j. He Endorsed the state platform of 1873
for a good silver dollar by and through in
| ternational agreement or legislative safe
guards. and instantly took the stump in
favor of throwing open our minis to all the
silver of the globe at IL to 1, without
agreement or safeguards.
u. He took the position in readjuster
| times for the payment Of every state bond
| in full if the poor children of the state had
| thereby to grow UP in ignorance, and now
insists in paying the national bonds in de-
preciated currency.
Z. He denounced the unit rule in the
state convention CT 1892 when leading
Hills minority and demanded it in abe
state convention OF 1896 when leading a
silver majority.
Hn tn,
ccalesced with it in 1885, and at tine Roa-
ncke convention in 1897 quietly sat by and
heard a populist put in nomination and re-
ceive 29S votes for the place of lieutenant
governor on the ticket.
Inconsistencies! Why, I might continue
the list until had weared the public With
| 1t. l am sure in this respect 1 need not fear
a comparison of records with our distin-
guished senior senator. May 1 not say he
| is "a bundle of marvellous incongruities and
fEconsistencies?' 1t is even reported That
| he is changing his mind on the subject of
| selecting United States senators by pri-
mary, and the friends of the proposition
are looking forward hopefully for his sup
port.
The Senator's Appeal.
In the conclusion of the senator's let
| ter we find an urgent appeal in his own
behalf, and 1 think we discover in 1t tie
| arimus of his publication.
Our state ticket cannot be defeated"
he declares. 1 agree with him. L am as
anxious to see it elected as he is. But he
| Is stirred as to his own safety, it seems.
| In spite of his iron sway at Roanoke, he
appears to be alarmed. He thinks there
may be combinations against him. What
combinations? He is strong as Bryan
ism and populism combined. and they were
| stronger than republicanism last fall. Is
| he afraid of the gold democrats coalesoing
with the republicans? If so. let the sem
atcr Danish his fears. Oil and water W 1uld
| mix soon gold democrats would mix
with republicans or populists.
Course of Gold Democrats.
| What will gold democrats do in the COM
| ing election? 1 have no authority to speak
! for them. simply give 1t my opinion
! that If there is republican or populist OPP
position, in the interest Of Virginia, and
to keep the reins Of government out of the
hands of the republicans or populists, gold
democrats will vote the Roanoke ticket; IL
no opposition the great mass Of them will
remain away from the polls. Why should
| they vote II there is no opposition? Why
go forward unnecessarily and stultify and
| numilate themselves by voting for plat
form they do not indorse? Why willingly
| SlppOrt the action of a convention uht.h