Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-23
MR.. WEISIGER'SREPLY
MANCHESTER POSTMASTER An
swERs MR.. RUssELLs LETTER.
DEMOCRATIC cOMMITrEE MEETS.
subcommittee Appointed to Secure
Sneakers for the Campaign-Coun-
eli Committee Meeting-siIver Tea
Manchester's kIondikcrs.

the Third District in Congress. on yes
terday addressed to Mr.. Otis II. Russell
a reply TO letter received some days ago
in which Mr.. Russell called upon Mr.
Weisiger to retire either from the Fede'
raj office or the candidacy one. asserting
Furthermore, that the Manchester gen
tleman was not the bona-fide nominee
being the choice of the few. and that he
himself was entitled to the support of all
loyal Republicans.
Mr.. Russell, however, offered actively
to support Mr.. Welsiger If he would re-
sign the Manchester office.
Mr.. Weisiger's letter is given in full
| here and is self-explanatory:
| Manchester, Va, September 2, 1893
| Colonel Otis II. Russell, Richmond. Va:
| Ny Dear Sir,-Yours OF the 10th instant,
| mailed to me and simultaneously pub
lished in the Democratic press, came duly
| TO hand. The proposition contained in
your letter appeared to me so strange,
| that at first i was disposed TO give II
no serious consideration; but / have since
| reflected that when one gentleman writes
| another a letter he is entitled 10 the
| common courtesy of a reply, especially
| as the claim that you are the Republican
nominee for Congress Is so unfounded.
| and the recklessness of your statements
| and the disingenuousness OF your posi-
ton and assumptions are so manifest that
/ cannot refrain from paying some atten-
ton to your communication.
You in substance say that you were
nominated unanimously by the Republi-
can convention, and that subsequently,
and after most of the delegates had left
few remaining in the room named me
as their candidate.
THE STATEMENT UNTRUE.
Now, Colonel, to be entirely frank, and
not wishing to unduly offend your sensi-
tive disposition, you must know this
statement to be untrue, and that the
truth is that you are in active and open
cooperation with the remnant from the
usual Richmond mob that sought to
break up the Richmond city convention
on the night before, and finding that the
stalwart Republicans of the district out
side of the city of Richmond had repudi-
ated as heretofore, this set OF Iawless
disorganiZers, you, as their new fugle-
man and headlight, you and they rushed
into the convention in a riotous manner.
and failing TO break 1t up, pretended that
tired. You and yours were not the con-
yention or the delegates to it, but. on the
contrary. were seeking TO oyerturn it: and
YOU well know that after this disgrace
full conduct the convention, composed OF
ffty-fve delegates, duly accredited by the
Committee on Credentials, and forming
a large majority of the delegates from
the district, proceeded with the orderly
conduct of its business, and nominated
me by reclamation as its candidate for
Congress, and regularly elected the mem
bers of the State Committee, and the con-
eressional district chairman; and IL is not
out of place that l should call your at
tention to the fact that your perform
ances at Hanover Courthouse, and the
regularity of the convention that nomi-
mated me, have, within the last few days,
been thoroughly investigated by the Re-
publican State Committee, and my claim
as the candidate indicated, and yours
repudiated.
do YOU WANT THE OFFICE"
But you say that you want me TO re-
sign the small office of postmaster OF
Manchester. which l now hold, and allow
some one else TO be appointed, 9nd there
by relieve myself of the charge of being
a Federal office-hoder and a mere dunn
N.Y. candidate, and that few persons Will
vote for me while i hold Federal office,
and that you even, will retire End canvas
for me If / resign my office.
Now, can it be possible, Colonel, that,
having failed to secure rhe Richmond
post-ofiice, and it being the first time in
thirty years. until Clevelands LAST term,
that you have been out of good Federal
Job (for you were a good enough Demo
crat TO hold over during Mr.. Clcveland's
first term. you now want the Manches-
ter office? 1t certainly looks that way,
for il cannot be possible that you disap-
prove of holding a Federal office, and l
submit to you, as a matter or fairness, II
you do not think that you ought to sup
port me. and allow me to retain this lit
tie place, as it is the first place that L
have had from the party after nearly
fifteen years work, and l have only been
in about eleven months, whereas, others
have sowed and you have Teaped. and
your harvest has been not small offices,
but large ones, for over a quarter of
century. 80, consistency, thou art
Jewel" but one you were never adapted
to wear.
"WHOSE DUMMY ARE GOU?"
If am entitled to support without the
office as you say surely you can stand
IL. Il
N.Y. candidate holding the Office i do.
Now. this. indeed, is amusing. 1t surely
has not occurred TO you, whose dummy"
you are. The disorganizers. of whom you |
are now the dummy" came INTO being |
as a result of a quarrel over Federal OF |
fees when you were postmaster, and |
mainly because you would keep the most |
offensive Democrats in, and not DO JUS |
tice to the colored people in your appoint |
ments. This was the charge that your |
new friends made, and il was certainly |
true, so far as retaining Democrats Is
and without excuse, for the
civil service had not then been extended,
and still you stood by Wallace Rowe and
others to the last. Two years ego you
were the leading object of The wrath of
the mob, as they feared you would again
be postmaster. Have you forgotten how,
when you were loyal to your party, they
enacted just such scenes as you nave Just
repeated? Have you forgotten that Rich
mond city and Hanover Courthouse were
the places where you aided then in de-
Tending order and discipline within the
party against the same men and methods |
you have just taken to your bosom and
adopted as your own?
You certainly ought to be more modest
Colonel since you have abandon
I'd your friends and those who nave stood
by you so long, and gone in as 4 disor-
and l appeal to your sense of
Justice to support the party that has so
ong supported you, one time in your life.
without demanding as the price good,
TAT office.
My dear Colonel, when you wrote your
etter to me, you certainly must have ex-
Dected a reply, and have endcavored 10
you. but ! give you TO I'M
lerstand that do not intend to be drawn
nfn any extended CONTROVERSY.