Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-20
POLITICS IN STATE.
HON. j. w. BAILEY, OF TEXAS,
SPEAKS AT CHATHAM.
AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN
To lie Made by the Democrats-sena-
tor Martin I'm Northumberland
Addresses Large Crowd at
Marion.

DANvILLE. VA, September is.-(spe-
cial)-Hon. Joseph w. Bailey of Texas,
spoke at Chatham to-day in the interest
| OF Congressman Claude a. Swanson's cam
| didacy for reelection in this, the Fifth,
| district very large assemblage. con-
sisting principally of farmers from the
surrounding section, listened to him with
marked attention for an hour and half.
frequently interrupting the speaker by
applauding vigorously. Altogether, the adj
dress was well calculated to arouse the
spirit of Democrats. and its effects will
| undoubtedly be seen in increased party
activity.
Mr. Bailey was introduced at 80 o'clock
by Judge James L. Tredway THE Texan
vigorously denounced the issue of the war
bonds, contending that the brevity Of the
war, which any man of fair Intelligence
could see in advance Of the conflict, did
not justify it. For the same reason the
Republican majority in Congress was
criticised for bringing an enormous war
tax for an unlimited period of time.
Mr.. Bailey made it plain that the Demo-
Gratis mean 10 make the present campaign
an aggressive one. Among other things
Of similar import he said:
For months Republican politicians and
Republican editors have talked and writ
ten necessarily about the mistakes Of the
Democratic minority In Congress, but now
that they are required to specify our mis-
takes. in order to divert public attention
from their own, they find it impossible to
make good their repeated and reckless as
N 10 inc n
universal Indignation which has been
aroused against them by the suffering in
flicted upon the volunteer army, through
the incompetence or the dishonesty Of
those whom they have placed in power
they have been searching the congress
sional records and racking their brains
to find some damaging accusation which
they can sustain against us. But they
have not found it. and they will not find
it. The record Of the Democratic party
throughout the last session of Congress is
absolutely above criticism. I do not say
it with the purpose Of claiming any credit
for myself, but as matter Of simple JUS
tiee TO my Democratic associates, l de-
clare that in all the history Of this gov
eminent no minority party ever passed
through q war session of Congress with
so much credit as did the Democrats of
the present Congress.
WAR-REVENUE BILL.
1.-THE only important vote which. we be-
lieved AT the time we cast IL. could ever
become the subject of reasonable contro-
versy. was our vote against the war-reye-
me bill; and events have completely vim
dicated our course in respect to that mea-
sure. We opposed the passage Of that
bill because we believed that it author
lied an unnecessary sale of interest-bear-
nj h.
sury proves conclusively that we were
right. When Congress convenes in De-
cember next it will find that the surplus
in the Treasury above the $780, 600 900 gold !
reserve will exceed the amount received
from the sale of bonds, thus demonstrate
ing that there was no necessity for the
government to sell its bonds.
"Our Republican friends cannot excuse
themselves by saying that they could not |
foresee the early termination OF the war; |
because every man who was reasonably |
well informed about the condition of |
Spain understood that IL was impossible |
for her to continue long and expensive |
struggle.
with an adversary unable TO raise |
money by taxation, and powerless to bor- |
row ii, the end of the war was in sight |
before it was begun.
TAX OSSA ON PELION.
"The Republican leaders in Congress
knew this as well as we did, or if they |
did not know 1t, they are not wise enough |
to be entrusted with the administration |
of this government, but with the knowl- |
edge that the war must soon end, and |
knowing that with all their wastefuness /
and extravaganza 1t would probably not |
cost over $200,Ooo 000, they proceeded to |
enact a law which imposes $4,000 900 in !
annual taxes upon the people, and au-
thorizes the contraction of a sj00,0C00 600 |
debt. Upon that monstrous proposition |
almost every Democrat in Congress voted |
NO and our only regret to-day is that |
there was a single one of us who felt |
called upon by his sense of duty to sup
port it,"
Mr.. Bailey paid a high tribute to the
ability and fidelity of Congressman Swan
son. The distinguished Texan will speak
here tomorrow afternoon.