The Van Buren press., 1876-10-17
The Third District.
The Candidates at the Capitol What
our Correspondent has to say.


The candidates for Congress spoke
here, yesterday. The speaking commen
ced in the hall of the house of represen.
tatives, to fair audience. The discuss,
ion was opened by Hon. B. j. Brown,
candidate for elector from this district
1t was replete with facts and figures,
showing the necessity for the elevation
to the presidency of the great reformer,
/ Samuel J. Tilden. Mr.. Brown was at
tentively listened to, and frequently ap-
plauded.
Next came .ne greenback candidate
for Congress. He made his usual green
back talk, interspcrsed with racy anec-
, dotes.
Col. Jordan Il. Cravens, the bolter's
candidate for Congress, followed. l
would not do Col G. an intentional in
justice and when l say that he made
the poorest and lamest defense of his
present course | ever listened to, but
assert what more than one said after lis
tening to him. Instead of making, he
lost friends.
Judge Stuart, who is seriously ill
not being able to get out of bed-was
unable to fill his appointment, and the
meeting adjourned until night.
On re assembling, Mr.. J. N. Smithee
took the stand in behalf of Judge Stu
art, and in an hours talk succeeded in
convincing every tair-minded democrat
that Judge Stuart was not only the
"most nominated" as between him and
Cravens, but was the only nominee of
the party, and it was, consequently, the
duty of every democrat to support him.
Mr.. S. gave detailed history of the con-
vention, and how every effort on the
part of the friends of Gen. Newton and
Judge Stuart, to harmonize, prior to any
nomination, was met with scorn and con-
tempt He then reviewed the PROPOSE
tions of Judge Stuart, after the nomina-
ton, seeking the same end, and then
charged upon Col. Cravens and his lead
ing friends, an intention, before they
went into the convention. to bolt its ac-
ton, unless Cravens was nominated. In
proof of this, he cited the refusal OF
Col. Cravens to listen to any PROPOSE
tions for reconciliation which did not
tend to his candidacy, and read, also, the
following:
FoRT SMITH, ARK, Oct 8, 1876.
To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: assert
that Gran. Wilcox, a delegate from
Crawford county, mentioned to me- be
tween Van Buren, and Alma, while on
the cars, that they intended to bolt the
convention, unless they could have theil
own way. Or, in other words, that il
the Polk county Newton delegates were
admitted, that they intended to bolt the
convention. | was a delegate from Sc
bastian and Gran. Wilcox knew it.
JNO. G. WHEELER.
| lllGSS AHAS. L hOBlNSON.
Mr.. Smithee then denounced as untrue
the statement by Col. Cravens and hi
friends, that Judge Stuart and his sup
porters refused to go back into the con
vention unless Stuart was nominated
He cited the denial of Col. Gauding, one
of the delegates from Clark, and askec
Gen. Mcmillan and Dr. CAN'T, both o
whom were present, to state whether o,
not it was true. Both of them, rising ir
their places, said it was not true.
Remember these things, and take then
in connection with what V. V. Smith
stated, which appeared in my last letter
remembering the republicanism Of thu
publisher of the Herald and that Pric,
and others are its principal owners--anc
keeping in mind, too, the waywardnes
of the editor of the Herald, what does i
all mean, if it does not mean disruption
of the democratic party. Here is a care
which appeared in the Star and Gazett,
a few days ago:
LITTLE Rock Oct II.
The Cravens men made bargain anC
only paid $3.50 of the original amount o
81 900 to this date. The Herald is hold
ing well up under this. When their las
contract of D & II is completed where
will they be?
c. e. MCLEAN.
Mr.. McC. was lately the ook-keepel
at the Herald office.
Take all these things together, and |
ask the democrats of western Arkansas
if they can support the bolter-J. L. era
vens.
q.