The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-20
JUDGE MORTON CHARGED WITH
PACKING TEIE CONFERENCE IN
THE INTEREST OF BURGESS.
SMITH MEN WITHDRAW AND SET
UP FOR THEMSELVES.
BURGESS AND SMITH EACH EN-
DORsED AND DECLARED THE
REGULAR NOMINEE OF
THE PARTY.
Oh, Carry the News to EdmunGs

Tees aGuTeSseu II ielteT tO'Juupe AliTeu NOT
ton, chairman Of the State Committee, sug.
geStipg that the rival candidates for Congress.
Messrs. Rush Burgess and John Amber
Smith, both be withdrawn, and third man,
upon whom both factions could unite,
should be put forward. Judge Morton. TO
further the object of Judge EdmundS, and
thereby to heal the dissensions in the party,
called conference be held in the Marshall
Hall building yesterday afternoon. To this
conference were invited the Burgess District
Committee, the Smith District Committee
leach numbering tbirteen). and the following
prominent Republicans
FL. l.. Pclouze, John r. Popham, Rev.
William Troy, Rev. Mr.. Derrick, ". +.
Wortbington, John Rankin, Henry Miller,
III. F. Peasants, I. II. Shields. Rev. John
Jasper, Rev. Richard Wells, j. j. Bright
well, Gilbert Boyd, Z. Davenport. 2. Bragg.
E. Hawkes., Josiah Crump, Andrew Wash
burn, Jacob Cohn, Rev. james Holmes. Rev.
Walter Brooks, C. W. Burr, y. I. Beard,
all of Richmond w. F.. Gliding. Charles
Robbins, Chesterfield S. L. Annable, Hen
rico; York Morris. C.. K. James. Hanover
James Dckerson. Caroline; j. w. Poindex-
ter, Louisa.
FOUL PLAY CHARGED.
The time appointed for the conference was
8 O'Clock, but it was somewhat later than
that hour when the representative men Of
the two factions began 10 gather. The room
was capable of accommodating about one
hundred persoss, and was well crowded. 1t
was quite apparent that each side bad cau-
cused before coming in, and the Statesman.
like movements of Colonel John 4. Pop
ham, of the Burgess wing, and William
Fegenheimer, Lewis Lindsay, and Cornelius
Harris. of the Smith wing, developed the
fact that each suspected and mistrusled the
other. In the beginning there was disorder
and confusion. Instead Of 6rOlherly love
and good feeling prevailing, rs was expected
BY some, there was rancor and hate, Dad
temper and obstinacy.
ROW RAISED.
The Smith men raised row by calling at
tention to the fact that while the Burgess COM
mittee and the Smith committee were equal
in numbers Judge Morton in sending out his
invitations to prominent Republicans had
collected some twenty eight Burgess menand
only two Smith mep, and had thereby thrown
an unjust preponderancein the scale in favor
Of Burgess. They held that it was the spirit
of Judge Edmunds's letter that the dispute
should be submitted to the arbitration OF the
two committees not to outsiders. They
expressed their willingness to abide by the
action of conference so constituted.
Judge Morton denied that in extending
invitations to prominent Republicans he bad
made anv discrimination on account of pre-
terences for or against Burgess. 1t was bis
design to obtain the presence of the best and
n1 in
when their verdict was announced 1t would
have weight and secure peace and unity IN
the organization in the district.
The Smith men were not content with
Judge Morton's explanation. They Insisted
that the voting should only be done by men,
bers of the two district committees-thlrteen
on each side.
oNE.sIDED ORGANIZATION.
After great deal Of talking Judge Morton
was elected chairman and Captain d. W. bo-
honon and I. Fl. Shields secretaries OF the
meeting.
The Smith men would not vote. They
cried out "Fr4ui!" All held themselves
aoof.
A moderate degree of order having been
obtained, and the officers having been IN.
stalled, Colonel Popham offered the follow
lug: ...;
tuted in accordance with the suggestion OF
Hon. J. NJ. Edmunds, secretary OF the Ma
tional Republican Committee; that Hon. Al
fred Morton is its proper presiding ofhcer,
and as such Is entitled to such respectful
consideration as the high nature of its OBJ
iects demands"
COLONEL o. T. BEARD.
Remarks were made by Colonel Beard
and others, and when the vote was about 10
be taken on the resolution OF Colonel For-
ham. Colonel Beard offered the following
g Prouided. If at any time during the
nrooress of the conference il shall be lounc
evne dent 10 withdraw Mr.. Smith and Mr.
Bureess. and dominate q third man as the
RennbIican candidate for Congress, such Sc.
lection shall be left to the two congressional
committees, of which Ar. Maddox and MT.
Humphrey are chairmen."
The amendment was rejected-ayes, Il;
noes. 1O-all of the Smith men and many
of the Burgess men not voting.
Colonel Popham's resolution was then
adopted-ayes, o; noes, !.
REpERToRIAL pREDlCANENT.
at this point the Smith men made move
ment as if to leave the room, but after mucn
shuff1ing of heavy feet and great 'clasning
of angry voices concluded not TO 90 SO just
then.
Colonel Beard noticed that reporter OF
this paper was present, occupying cou'
Portable cane-bottomed chair and calmly
surveying the troubled scene, and he re-
marked. :" There is reporter! >! We don't
want any reporters here"
The only effect that this remark seemed to
have Was to draw the attention OF Judge
Morton to the fact that the aforesaid reporter
rou,d neither see nor hear very well where
he was then located, and he called him Tor
ward and gave him seat Of honor Deside
the secretaries.
Colonel Beard did not seem to compre'
hepd the situation, but he nefefthesess
quietly accepted it.
Mr.. BURGESS LETTER.
The chairman read letter from Mr. Bur.
CESS. addressed to him, critic zins the action
of Judge Edmunds, asserting nls cialns y
he acknowledged as the regular nominee
and placing himself entirely Withln ths
hands of the leaders Of the party.
There was a great deal oi DEBATE apou
tbis letter. The Smith men construed u te
mean @ nothing at all; the Burgess men un
derstoofi it to be an unequiyocal reference Q
Rnreess,s claims to the decision OF the con
ference.
MR.. SMITH HEARD ARD FROM.
Colonel Popham advanced to the front an
offered the following .,a - ua,,
q ResoEued, That comm q -slul
Rush Burgess having been res4d 70 snis soh su'