Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-03-14
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS.

Richmond Times Dispatch says :: "Ihe
factional fighting between Virginia re-
publicans is growing warmer. Col. }.
L. Browning, of Tazewell county, who
is the recognized leader of those who
are making the fight against the Vir-
ginia organization, is here and is dong
all in his power to get recognition IRON
the White House. But the Colonel has
failed in this, and has not even seen the
President. There was a pretty peppery
scene between Colonel Browning and
Mr.. Loeb, the Presidents private Sec
rotary, on Thursday. Colonel Brown,
ing called early in the day and arranged
with Mr.. Loeb TO see the President IN
the afternoon. When he went back at
the hour appointed, he was informed
by Mr.. Loeb that the President
could not see him. Some warm
words followed, but Colonel Brown
ing did not see the President,
Col. Browning is going home in any
thing but a pleasant frame OF minu.
He declared to me he would address an
open letter to the President, in which he
would give plain expression to his feel,
ings regarding the treatment accorded
him at the White House. He will also
tell the President some things about the
condition of affairs in the republican or
ganization in Virginia. He will en-
phasize what he alleges as an absolute
fact that twenty-eight of the thirty
members of the State committee are
federal officeholders, and he will urge
that men who have not jobs be placed at
the helm. Col. Browning is not a
Roosevelt man. He says he found in
New York and Philadelphia, where he
has been for several days OH business,
numbers of republicans who voted for
Mckinley who will not vote for Roose-
welt if the democrats nominate man
like Senator German, who, Col. Brown
ing thinks, will be the nominee. "
A Washington paper says: Mr..
Browning declares that all but two oil
the members of the State executive COM
mittee are men holding office, and that
this state of affairs is obnoxious to the
republicans who do not seek and do not
desire office, and who are members OF
the party for personal reasons. The
President ought to make these people
either relinquish their political positions
or their government jobs, said MIR.
Browning, and believe he will do so
when he knows the facts, as he shall.
What we want in Virginia, and the
President has expressed the same desire
as to all other States, is that the office
holders keep out of active participation
in party affairs and that the people be
allow to control the organization. We
don't want any repetition of the last re-
publican State convention, and there
will never be first class republican party
in the State until the ofiice-rldden
party now in existence is recognized.
That is what we propose to do in the
State from now on-reorganize the party
along unselfsh lines and weed out the
officeholders. Let them attend to their
own business. Ifthe party is recognized
and makes fight on principles at every
election the State will be republican be-
fore any one realizes it. The business
interests of the State demand two evenly
balanced parties, but there will never
be republican party as long as 1t Is
run solely for the spoils. The organiza-
ton in Virginia is for Hanna for Presi-
dent, fthey thought he was a candidate
and they could deliver the goods, but
they know the rank and file are for
Roosevelt. Whether the organization
will attempt to fight Roosevelt don't
know. 1t won't if the officeholders see
that he is likely to be renominated.
But if they ever see that he has fight
ON his hands they will abandon him as
quickly as possible 1t is to get on the
side of the successful nominee they want
and nothing else. The organization is
maintained for patronage purposes only,
and there must be a stop to this, or there
will be the hottest fight next year ever
seen in the republican party in the
State. :"