The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-23
Northern Neck Politics.

To The Free Lance
The tricks Of the politicians were prob
ably never set forth more fully than a
cursory view of the various political
mass meetings held recently in the
Northern Ne, K will show. Each meet ng
was iucted on the basis.best calculated
TO secure the results preferred and in.
tended by the powers that be.
Westmoreland led off by meeting
at Montross on August 2S IL would
appear that as the Tyler men we're in
majority that they would have ex-
emplified their faith in their war cry
let the people decide" by holding dis
trict meetings. so that all Of the people
could participate, but all Of their jeal-
Gus professions Of concern for the rights
Of the people were possible only for
buucombe Anyway, when j. W. o.
Davis pleaded for the districts that
each be allowed to retire and select its
own delegates in its own way, the
Tyler majority promptly sat down on
him. 1t may have been desire to ex'
pedite business. or it may have been
the fear Of some districts selecting del.
egates favorable 70 W. Mcdonald Lee.
The resolutions were redolent Of the
enthusiasm, the large majority (SS to
29) Of Tyler men exuded, and the OBJ
jects themselves were fully plastered
with adjectives.
In Richmond county the Martin men
made no showing at all Here in par
tial Difference to the cry Of 'let the
people decide, the several districts
were allowed to retire and elect dele
gates separately, but in order that
every Martin goat should be excluded,
positive Tyler instructions were placed
upon the delegates to be elected, and
as an additional precaution they were
ordered TO vote as unit, and II only
one man should be present at the nom
mating convention, he was empowered
to cast the entire vote Of the county.
Verify, the Richmond county delegate
must be a slippery fellow, when they
chain him hand and foot, and gag him
too And, this too, in the home OF the
Hon. W. A. Jones, the champion. OF
the free and independent rights of the
people and who would lay down his
life that each and every man should be
entitled to the fullest measure of free
dom Of thought and action.
In King George the unussl spectacle
Of county committee being unsni-
nous for district meetings one court
day, and reversing itself by the next
court day, gives evidence Of the exis-
tence Of powerful hand that is pull.
ing the string while the puppets
dance. The turbulence Of the meeting,
taken In connection with the speech
Of Judge Ashton, bodies no good to the
influence of Mr. Jones in that county.
When little Lancaster was reached
it was found that mass meeting
would propably largely favor Martin.
aud as q majority Of tie county COM
mittee were for Tyler. II was decided
to hold district meetings as there was
a possibility Of picking u? some crumbs
of comfort for Tyler mn, as long as
they could not get the whole loaf. ln
csse Of "let the people decide" " these
people Of Lancaster decided that they
preferred Martin to Tyler by electing
nearly a solid delegation Of Martin
men.
When it is taken into consideration
that nea-ly every office.holder, as well
as ex off 90 holder. worked for Tyler,
this is a remarkable showing for the
people of Lancaster. For it must be
admitted that, as the officials and the
exes were nearly all opposed to Martin
the majority OF the people must have
been for him. SO in this one lone in
stance of district meetings, the theory
that the people of the Northern Neck
are solid for Tyler received q solar
plexus blow. Through some defect, prob
ably in the telephone line. or misoaf-
risQe of the mails. the N. N. News
failed to hear of the result in Lancas-
ter in time for last weeks issue. TINS
one instance OF ''let the people decide
ought TO have been given prominent
position In the columns of the cham.
pion Of the people, but through some