The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-10

Washington, Sept. 0.--The Washington
Post prints the following:
''For The Republicans to 90 into the
Virginia campaign this year would he
like playing the game of politics with
loaded dice on the other side. The cards
are all stacked against us.n
This remark, made by Col. James ID.
Brady, ore of the members of the Repub.
lican executive committee Of Virginia.
and recognized leader of that party in
the state, to Post reporter yesterday,
Indicates that there is no disposition to
depart from the decision not To hold n
Republican convention in that State.
With Col. Brady was Gen. Park A gnew,
the chairman OF the State committee.
They were comforting over the situation
in Virginia, with especial reference to
the legislative districts which can posi-.
hly be carried by anti-Democratic
strength.
There is not an intelligent man in pol-
tiles" continued Col. Brady, Hwho does
not know that :ht elections in Virginia
are carried by frauds OF the most o"tru.
geOus character. | do not assert this as
II Republican familiar with the politics
Of tn" state, but refer to the interview
with Gov. O'Farrall which the Post re-
Gently printed, and which, hy the way.
was one Of the most Interesting contribu.
tions To political literature which have
seen of late. Gov. O'Ferrall practically
admits that the Democratic party is Il
niger party because he shows that the
Democrats get their largest mnjorties in
the counties where the negroes have IL
prcponderancc of votes.n
'I}ut the Republicans made Il fight last
wear, and the election laws were the same
then rs they are now:' suggested the re-
porter.
'Thnt is n very natural inquiry" an
swercd Col. Brady, "and I am in IL posi-
ton, think, TO answer intelliceEtly.
Let me give you II bit of political hi story
Immediately after the sominaton of Mr.
mckinley at st. Louis sat down and
wrote to him, going over the whole
ground and strongly urging that no cam
paign be made in the State because of
the unfairness Of the election laws. That
letter was taken up and considered by
the Republican national executive com.
mittee, and it was agreed that there
should be no fight in Virginia. that the
State shonld he allowed to 20 by default
but that idea was af:erward aban-
doned 2"
Eyes; new conditions arose MIR. In
gals, the president of the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad, appeared 10 take IL
part IN the campaign, and many piomi.
nent Democrats, such rs T.. G.. Veuable,
Alexander Hamilton, Gen. Logan and
others, gave assurances that there would
be fair elections in Virginia. We went,
therefore, into the fight, backed by the
powerful influence eXerted by the rail.
roads, express and insurance corpora
tons, bankers, merchants, and al others
who were openly against the Bryan ticket.
We saw that the Democrats themselves
were WORKING to defeat Bryan. Under
these conditions recommended change
to the Republican national committee and
suggested campaign. 1t turned out that
all these influences were not sufficiently
strong to secure an honest election in any
section of the black district, and by
frauds, which have been proved in the
three contested election cases, the State
was given to Bryan by about $4,000 ma
Jorly. Ii we could not carry the State
under all those favorable conditions is it
reasonable to expect that we can carry it
this year, with the Democratic machine
in full force ami operation! | say it is
not"
1t would be absolutely foolish to at
tempt 1t, ~ added Mr. Agnew.
There is another thing" continued
Col. Brady Every practical politician
nhoNS tnhI IL is utterly useless To make
II campaign without money. | have had
as mt CHI to do, thin S,as any man in the
state for the past twenty. five years with
he rniSing of funds to pay the legitimate
poi t'cai expenses of Republican cam
paigns. Northern Republicans have come
to my assistance whenever have APP
praied to them. do not feel justified in
going to them again and asking them to
contribute to another campaign i'm Nir
g'nia, because feel satisfied, with the
knowledge have of existing conditions,
we might as well take their money and
throw it into the Potomac river"
The very fact" suggested Mr.. Ag
new. "that the Democratic press is urg
ing convention is another good reason
why we should not hold one. The advice
of your enemies is the advice to avoid"
Certainly" assented Col Brady, "but