Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08

OF radical Republicans and negroes.
Wait until we hear from the South
vest"
! That was the cry that sustained Vir-
| gina In the fall OF 1867. when, under
congressional enactment, the blacks
were enfranchised and 1900 more ne
Groes than whites voted for delegates
TO constitutional convention. 1t took
week TO hear from the Southwest in
those days, but when the returns came
IN u was found that the good old Ninth
and the other Blue Ridge counties had
elected almost solid delegations of
white Virginia Democrats. In those
days the State looked to the Southwest
for its salvation, and tho Southwest,
was never found wanting Always.
Democratic at it's core, the Ninth Dis.
trict Is certain again to join the sis
.e TERI or democratic Virginia districts
and discerning prophets are not Want
ing who predict that the reunion Will
take place on November Z, next.
TRINkLE FOLLOWS LONG
LINE OF DISTINGUISHED MEN
as standard bearer of the party in
the Ninth. In the good Wilson Marshall
year OF 1916, Lee Trinkle succeeds to
an honor held by n long line of distin-
guished men. The older men of the
district remember the days when Fay
cite McMullen. fiery orator, pcren-
nially opposed Democratic nominees
Tor Congress. suffering defeat innum-
cradle times and never reaching the
goal of his ambition-the halls of Con-
sress. In 1870. the Democratic candi-
date. General William Terry one-time
commander Of the Stonewall Brigade.
was eiected easily over his Republican
opponent.
Soon afterward there followed tho
disastrous split on the debt question
The two leading parties in the state
oecame known as Funders and Read
Justers. and the policy Of reimbursement
became ascendant in the Ninth The
great body of Democrats in the Ninth
adhered to the Funders, but many OF
the most prominent Democrats became
converted to the readjustment doctrine,
and followed Malone into the Republic
can ranks. never to return. In the
Ninth they speak with fond regret to
this day of the fine Democratic families
mat went wrong" on the debt issue,
and became lost to Democracy. Many
or the Republicans of the best class in
the Ninth. If not most of them, are Of
Democratic ancestry. and their high
school and college-bred sons are one
py one returning to tho Jeffersonian
doctrines OF their forcfathcrs.
DAYS OF RED FIRE AND
TORCHLIGIIT PROFESSIONS
Coming back to the Rcadjusters-
lnoSe were the days OF red fire and
torchlight professions; of Joint debates
like the historic forensic battle at
Wythevilie between tho late Senator
John w. Daniel and PEARSON" Massey;
OF fights at the polls, OF militant
spirits-some Of them 100 proof. In
Wythe, when Thompson S. Crockett,
ST., who lived until a few years ago,
was elected Us a Democrat to the House
OF Delegates at the time when his party
came back into power, his enthusiastic
fellow-townsmen carried him on their
shoulders through the streets of Wythe-
Vile until the legislator elect. then an
elderly man, begged for mercy and
terra iirma.
The Ninth. It seemed. came back
safely into the Democratic fold In 1888
and 1890. when John a. Buchanan, then,
as now. the idol of the party in tho
district, was elected to Congress by
good majorities. With a gallant Con.
federate record and with renown
as brilliant public speaker and n
man Of cleanest record, he overcame
all opposition. There are not wanting
those who belieye that had he remained