The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-08-21
Congressional Convention.

called to order by Hon. Theo. Fentelieu
Of Iberia, chairman of the district execu-
tive COMMITTEES.
Nominations for temporary chairman
being declared in order L. e. Bentley
placed in nomination Hon. Taylor Beat
tie Of Lafourche T. T. Allan nominated
Hon. ]. S. Davidson of Iberville.
The secretary of the district commit
tee, L. A. Martinez of St. Martin, pro-
ceeded to call the roll of delegates pre-
pared from credentials furnished to him
by the presidents aud secretaries of the
regular parish executive committees Of
the district.
Objection was made to this roll on the
ground that it did not contain the names
ofcontesting delegations from Ascension,
St. Martin and st. Mary parishes.
After considerable debate it was de-
cided that the district executive CON-
mittee should he convened instanter with
instructions to prepare roll Of delegates
entitled to participate in the temporary
organization of the conventions.
The committee accordingly met and
took up the case of the Ascension con-
test, which was thoroughly investigated
and argued. A motion to seat both del
egations on half votes was rejected by
IL nays to 10 ayes. A second motion to
seat the regular delegation-H. o. Maller,
Louis Lefort, l.. +. Bentley and Chas.
Shallowhorne-was then adopted by II
ayes to nays. The excluded contestants
were G. H. Hill, Jerry Sullivan, V. C.
Gabrielle and Geo. Jacobs. The CON-
niittee then adjourned until Thursday
morning.
On Thursday an inquiry into the Gre
dentials Of those members of the COM
! mittee holding proxies was instituted,
resulting in the rejection Of three prox-
les: That Of Monroe of Calcasieu, held
by Joshua Thomas of St. Mary, was de-
clared q forgery. No blame was attached
| to Mr.. Thomas, who stated that the doc
ument reached him through j. r. Jolley
of st. Mary. Those of Bookseller of Yer
million and johnson of Terrebonne, held
by Drury of Assumption and Lewis of
Terrebonne, were declared insufficient.
Morris Marks presented telegram dele
eating to him authority to act as proxy
for johnson, but the committee refused
to recognize the document.
The st. Martin and St. Mary contests
were then thoroughly investigated. The
former was quickly disposed of by de-
claring the regular delegates--L.A. Mar
tinet and Gustave Journet-entitled to
seats. The contestants failed to make
out any case, and virtually abandoned
their claim. The St. Mary case occupied
the committee the balance of the day
and until II o'clock at night, when a
motion to seat the Abe Davis delegation
was adopted by. Il yeas to 10 nays. A
previous motion to seat both delegations
on half-votes was rejected by IL yeas to
IL nays, tho parliamentary rule being
that when a tie vote occurs the affirma-
tive of the question at issue is lost. The
st. Mary contestants were w. B. Smith, |
W. B. Gray, w. S. Posey, w. C. Gary, G.
r. NJ. Newman, and they presented a
strong claim in a very effective manner.
II the contest had been decided on its
merits, without regard to the possible
effect to be produced on the tenure of |
other delegates and chances of rival can
didates, the proposition to seat both del
ogations would have been adopted.
On Friday the delegates rcassembled
and were addressed by Hon. Morris
Marks, prominent aspirant for Con-
gress, who reviewed tho action of the
district committee at length and at
tempted to show that its course had
been illegal and unfair. The arguments
ofJndge Marks were answered by L. E.
Bentley, whose friends are kind enough
to say that his refutation Of the Judges
points was complete.
The name of Mr. Davidson was with
drawn and Judge Taylor Beattie was
chosen temporary chairman by acclama-
ton. A committee on credentials was
appointed and the convention adjourned
until Saturday.
The committee on credentials disposed
of the Ascension and St. Martin contests.
after due investigation, by unanimously
deciding to report in lavor of seating
the regular delegates. In the St. Mary
case Il minority report in favor Of seating
both delegations on half-votes was
signed, the majority favoring the Abe
Davis delegates.
Upon the reassembling of the conven-
ton Saturday the report of the commit
tee on credentials with reference to all
the parishes excepting St. Mary was
adopted. Motions to adopt the majority
and minority reports in the st. Mary
case were successfully tabled 10y tie
votes. 1t was then moved to refer the
contest back to the Republicans of ST.,
Mary. Another tie vote resulted. which
the chairman decided in the affirmative.
Hon. Geo. Drury of Assumption was
elected permanent chairman of the CON
1ention and Hon. L. A. Martinez of St.
Martin permanent secretary
Hons. &. b. Darrall Of st. Mary. Norris
Marks OF Ascension and Geo. Drury of
= Assumption were placed in nomination
for Congressional candidate. A number
OF ballots were taken, most of which re-
shifted thus: Darral, 10; Marks. IL:
D'nry, 2; Beattie, l /; Bentley, |. Fl
nally the deadlock was broken by the