The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-28

be the only instance of fair dealing
which tho friends Of the Governor
have heen able to find on the part Of
thar Committee. Some Of the "hOnor-
able and fairminded gentlemen" must
have revoked their proxies, and have
been present In person on thar particu.
lar occasion
The election returns from the con-
tested Currotoman precinct, show a
vote Of G6 for Wexford and 2l6 for
Pinckard. which ought TO have some
weight in deciding the question as TO
which side ought to have had the dele.
gates. The claim is put forth that
most Of the col lred Republican vote
in Lancaster. went to Plnckard, aud
the white vote largely to Wellford.
The Kllm rn0ck returns show llS
for Wexford 81 for Pinckard, and 80
for Walker Taking the Walker
vote in the county. it will
be noticed that he received near
ly as many as both Of the II use oandi.
dates On this basis, il the Walker
vote at Kllmarnock had been all white,
Wexford would have needed % ne.
gro votes to make up his number.
rinckard aud Wexford combined should
have got about 100 votes as compared
with Walkers 03 ; but Wexford instead
Of getting bat 80, got llS. showing that
ne must have got large maj rity Of
the negro Republican vote At Irving.
ton, half d zen negroes voted, and
Wexford got 6 votes. while Walker got
1876 and Pincksrd l20. showing as claim.
ed that Walker got practically all Of
the Pinckard vote Another probabil-
ity is that the negro Republican vote
went largely to Wexford because
Of the snimosity borne by them
toward Chairman Lee as the author OF
their political misfortunes in losing the
county. Now these are speculations
based on general principles. IL is wei
known, however. that Congressman
Jones took an active part. and also
that money was not wanting TO further
the Wexford interests. The Plnckard
men did not have the money, and,
therefore could not have Wed with
their opponents in getting the mer-
cenary vote Not having any candidate
much Of the colored vote was in the
market. and the biggest bar'l naturally
got it. There need not be any doubt as
to the fact that both sides got every
vote they could by coaxing or for cost
The Chesapeake Watchman says in
effect Let as have peace. " The
Citizen says: "Barkis is willin'. "
And the News claims that it has no
enemies to punish. All this is very
nice in print. but those who know
nything about human nature can safe
ly stake their bottom dollar that there
IS not and will not be any peace
until one side or the other is placed
hors du combat entirely. Reading be.
tween the lines, 1t is easy to see that
Hon. W. A. Jones has got to fight every
inch Of his way to get the delegation
from Lancaster next year. With Lee
as chairman and a solid committee TO
back him, it requires no prophet to
foresee some lively fighting In that
county next year
1t twas supposed that GOuldman would
have no opposition, but at the last mo-
ment W. d Laws, colored school
teacher, Of Northumberland, stepped
into the fight, and ?, lied a strong coll
ored vote. The Republicans. having
made no nomination, it Is somewhat
pnzzling to disc 'ver reason for the
candidacy Of Laws. Not being the
p p,rty nominee, he certainly could not
expect to receive the white Republican
vote, and without that, there was no
earthly chancellor his election on a
normal poll. because his candidacy
would certainly have the effect of bring
ing ont solid white vote for Gould
man.
1t is entirely within the bounds Of
the possibilities that Laws was used as
a stool pigeon by the politicians to
cause a consolidation Of the badly
divided Democratic party Of North
umberland, and to create the i'm
preston that the county was solid
for q Tyler man, and to give them a
stronger grip upon county politics.
This is merely surmise, but stranger
things have occurred.
Regarding the probable status Of the
political condition that will obtain
among the Democrats down the North.
ern Neck next summer the Tattler hsz.
ards forecast Judging from present
indicAtions. Congressman Jones will
have absolute certainty Of the delega-
tions from Richmond and Westmore-
land counties; Lancaster is more
than likely to be In opposi-