The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-11
A REPUBLICAN WARNING.

Congressman Shmp, OF the Ninth Dis
trict, has paid a high tribute to the Viz
ginia Constitution. He announces that the
Republicans have decided to mako
party fight for members Of the General
Assembly in the fall elections. and that
they nre going to give Democrats sharp
contest In every county and district. i
will say" he explained, "that since the
adoption OF the Constitution, and the
resulting change in conditions which
makes Republican victory In the State
almost, IL not quite. probability, my
voice has been for q fight everywhere"
Mr.. Slemp means to say that under
the old regime tho Republicans did not
have fighting chance in Virginia bat
under tho new Constitution. with the
negro vote largely eliminated. and With
the assurances Of fair elections. his party
Is in position to contest honors with the
Democrats.
Nothing Is to be accomplished by re-
viewing the past and going into the sit
uation that existed In this stae prior to
the meeting of the Constitutional Conven-
tion. 1t is enough to say that the polti-
cal situation had become intolerable
and the people of Virginia determined to
remove the cause OF embarrassment. The
cause was removed and the work was
done in the only practical way that could
be conceived. The situation has been
cleared up, and in spite of the hysterical
protests of the Republicans, Mr. Slemp,
one of the leading Republicans in the
State. publicly confesses that the change
has been in the interest of the Republic
can party to the extent Of giving that
party fighting chance. OF course, Colo
mel Slemp Is too sangune Virginia IS
Democratic. Vfrginians remember but too
well the terrible evils of Republican rule
In this State, and they will not suffer
return of It. But 1t Is nevertheless true
that the field Is now open to the Repub-
licans. and they will have chance to
measure lances with the Democrats.
AS II to add significance to Mr. Slemp's
announcement he fold our Washington
J representative. with a sly wink that he had
recently been in conference with the
( president. INat means that MT. Roosevelt
also understands that the political situa-
ton in Virginia has changed and that
with the negro vote out OF the way the
Republicans occupy a position which they
could not have occupied otherwise, The
Democratic members of the Constitutional
Convention thoroughly understood this
when they adopted the suffrage ordnance
but laying aside purely partisan consid.
erations they acted IN the interest OF
the public welfare, In the interest OF po
litical morals. Democrats throughout the
State approve their action and are WILLING
to accept the consequences, and they ar,
not afraid OF the consequences Mr.
Slemp's warning Will put them on thei
guard and the fact that Mr.. Roosevelt l.
behind the proposed movement will al
The more spur tho Democrats to action
In spite Of the new order OF things
the Democrats of Virginia are not afrai
Of war with the Republicans espaclall
with Mr., Roosevelt In the lead. They hav
not forgotten tho Booker Washington II
c!dent' and "the Cram incident" nor wi
they. The party is on notice. Mr.. sleml
and 1t will be ready for you and the Pre-.
ident on election day.