The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-30
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS,
Lynch burg.

Lynch burg.
STATE REPUBLICAN CoNvENTIoN-LARGE At
TENDANCE OF DELEGATEs-THE FEDERAL OF
FICE.HoLDERS IN FAVOR OF HUGHES.
LYNCnBURG, July 29.--The city is now
full OF delegates to the State Republican
Convention, a very large number having ar
rived by the evening trains. Congressman
Smith and Secretary Woltz came with Major
Mcmahon this morning, and the leaders of
both factions have since been busily engaged
in urging the claims Of their respective can
didates. Tonight the hotels are crowded :;
the rooms of Colonel Hughes and Major
McMahon are besiegcd, and there is consd-
cradle excitement but remarkably little en-
thusiasm OIL either side. 1t is very hard to
determine the comparative strength of the
two candidates, and it would be folly in view
OF the number of non-committaI delegates
10 make any prediction, but it is the impress
sion of those Republicans who profess to be
neutral in this fight that the opposition will
be broken and Hughes nominated by large
majority.
1t is not denied, however, by anybody
that Mcmahon has developed an astonishing
strength, considering the fact that he has
not been two weeks in the field, and less
than month ago positively declined to al
low his name TO be used. There is great
disappointment among his friends this even
ing because of the continued absence of
General Wicklmm and Congressman Scner,
who ought 10 have been here to-day. They
may arrive, however, in the morning. it is
L notable fact that every Federal Office
holder here, and every carpet-bagger, except
Maddox, is in favor of Colonel Hughes, Il
native Nirgniap, as against Major McNIahon,
a native Of Ireland. Among his friends are
such influential Radicals rs Congressman
rlatt, Judge Morton, Major Carter, Senator
Greene, of Petersburg; w. Il. Early, of Al
bcm:rlc: C.. =. Ramsdell, of Surry Rush
Burgess, who is not here; Senator Massey,
Of King William; J. III. Clements, of Ports
mouth; and Captain J. Ii. Rives, of Lynch
burg.
These arc all earnest and active in his sup
port, and would be satisfied with no other
candidate while, on the other hand, Wick
ham, Smith, Lewis, Scner, and their asso-
ciates will fight with little spirit if Hughes
receives the nomination. Tonight it was
reported that John Amber Smith had Of
fcred to bet five hundred against 4 thousand
dollars on the nomination whcreupon
Colonel Plutt offered to take the bet, but
Mr.. Smith said he had made no such offer,
which gave the Hughes men great delight.
The nomination has hccn discussed to-day
from Il railroad standpoint, it being boldly
asserted by some that Mcmahon is candi-
date in the interest Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad, and by others that General
Malone is intriguing for the success of
Hughes.
Both candidates are claimcd by the free
railroad men, and Major McMahon is the
fist to speak out on this subject. He will
publish tomorrow the following postscript
to the letter in which he agreed to be can
didatc:
LYNCHBURG, July 90, 1878.
" In the above letter neglected to say, as
desired to do, that was earnestly in favor
of the passage by the Legislature of Virgi.
nia Of a free railroad law, or such law as
will allow all who desire to do so to build
railroads in any portion of the Common
wealth when they shall produce satisfactory
evidence of good faith and their ability to
carry out what they propose. write this
postscript because have no concealments
to make, and believe it due to the citizens
of Virginia that they should be fully adj
vised of the opinions Of any one who is a
candidate for their suffrages, or who is likely
to appear before them in that caplcity.
[Sigiedl EDWARD MCMAHoN.'
Mr.. Woltz, the secretary of The Republi.
can State Committee, was addressed to-day
by Ballard T. Edwards, r. G. W. Jones, and
other coored delegates to the Convention,
who desired him to reply to the assertion OF
the Washington Republican and Lynchburs
Press that he was an enemy of Grant, and
that the McMahon movement is an anti
Administration scheme. Woltz replied,
making an appointment to speak at Dud.
lev Hall tonight, and handbilIs an
nouncing mass-meeting at that place
were generally circulated. But before
the appointed hour the leaders of the party
became alarmed, and fearing that Woltz
would make some damaging revelations,
prevailed upon him not to make his expana'
tion, the understanding being that the Re
pablican will modify its statement and thai
Woltz shall be secretary of the Convention
However, a big crowd assembled al
the hall, and Woltz had to say some
thing, His remarks were confined te
the assertion of his loyalty to Presi
dent Grant and the Republican party ant
to the statement that he had agreed not te
tell all he knew. The meeting then became
boistrous, and calls were made for spceche'
from Lewis Lindsey, Yankee Allan, and Or
Beckley but the leaders were determined
that no speeches whatever should be be made NJ 1'
Somebody nominated Lewis Lindsey TO
chairman. but the nomination was not gene
rally acceptable, and there was q great dei
Of confusion aud disorder.
| MaorC. of Richmond moved an adjourn