Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-30
JUDGE WOODS STATEMENT.

from thc hhIlsas SitS ii"SS &A"fs' ~1'l
LEXINGTON, Mo-, AUGUST 23.-Jndge
William 4. Wood to- day addressed the
following card to the Kansas CITY
Times.
1t was my honor, or disgrace, as
others may regard it, to have been
delegate to the congressional conven-
tion which assembled at Kansas City
ON the 10Th. In the course OF gs0d
long life have taken part in many COLI
yentions. This is my last. l will not a
yain hazard the danger OF ehc"unterns
scenes such as tramspircd i'll and about
the convention. l took hut very
quiet part in the proceedings OF the
but saw and witnessed
that was done. i
The chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the congressional district, as
is invariably done on such occasions,
named and called a temporary CHAIR
man, j. G.. McGrew, of the Lafayette
county district. A Jackson county del
egate nominated Judge Cowan as a sub
stitute for McGrew, on this question
arose as to what delegations had right
to vote.
II was stated to the chairman i'll open
that from the Second dis
trlct of Jackson county there were pres
ent, claiming seats, two full sets OF del.
egates, one set claiming appointment
by the county convention,
tie other claiming under appointment
by the delegates from that district III
the county convention. 1t was also
stated that the same state of facts eS's-
ted rs to the Fourth district OF Jackson
courtyard all were there claimingsea's.
Some delegates claimed that
the two sets of delegates, hay
ing the appointment OF the
county convention. had prlma iacie,
the right to vote, others denied any
such right and claimed that the conven-
ton only Oh report of committee on
credentials could settle and determine
the right of the respective claimants.
Quite a windy debate ensued, and PEN
ding this debate, the nomination OF
Judge Cowan was withdrawn, and
on a motion of delegate from Jhe first
or third district, McGrew was unanl-
mously chosen temporary chairman.
1t was soon aiterward announced by
the chair that the appolht-
ment of a committee Oh credentials was
in order, There were divers PROPOSE
tiOns as to how this committee should
be composed and constituted. On the
taking of Il vote on these propositions
the chair decided that he had llO means
of knowing and could not determine
who were the rightful delegates from
the Second and Fourth districts of Jack
son county, all parties being present
and claiming seats, and certainly so, Of
no credentials had been presented Oh
shown to the convention, anu ruled
that neither cOntesting set OF delegates
could vote at this stage of the proceed :
ilps of the convention. The result
Mas that a proposition that the chair
man should appoint one delegate from
each district, except from the contest
ed dist lets, VINO should compose and
constitute the committee Oh credentials
was adopted by the convention, 'ln'
the chair accordingly SD appointed tht
committee.
| While the committee was being nam
ed ,all the delegates, known as the Nv al
lace delegates" except Colonel South
ern, of independence, and have heart
of two others, Hall and HewsOn, with
drew in body from the convention.
The question Oh which the contest il
the Second and Fourth districts q
Jackson county :urmctl, was grav
luuestiOn, such a one as ought 10 hav
been submitted to the committee OF
credentials, where full hearing c0ult
have been had, and by that colninltte
reported to the convention for the fiila
luctiOu and decision OF the convention
;, Had the temporary chairman OF tn
co. yenton decided to admit one set O
tho claimants in the Second and FOnrt
districts and to unsoat and exclude tn
other, it would have been mm unwal
rantable exercise Of power, amounting
to usurpation, The chairInan's ,ulinI
was right, admit neither until decide
by tho convention which and who q
them had the right to a place III IN
convention.
, The convention never at any time O
in any way passed mpun the rights
l the contestants, and never had the Op
l portumity to do so. The Wallace dele
gates, including those III tho c0nteste
dist "icts, by withdrawal from the con
y vcmtion, carrying with them such crt
II dcntials as they had, and which the
;. had never presented or shown to Il
o convention, terminated the contest, an
$ left the remaining contestants TO be ~
y mitted on credentials no longer disp'
ted by appointment of the district dt
II cvates, in substance the same rs we
o tho appointments and credentials of q
: 1delcgales from the districts OF q
= counties of johnson and Lafayette.
Mr.. Wallace and his friends took
IN scare before they were hurt. 1t mi
1t he that If they had remained in the CO
: vemtiom the nominee might have be
y Wallace. That they did not rema
e they have no one to blame but the
To selves. am no politician, seek
ne office, but think l have seen e,lou
in my time to justify conclusion u
B. if this "bolt' il tolerated or approx
Il. by democrats of this district the pal
ce here had as well disband as an org,
ct lied party and open the door for all
he piraits for office in this district, u
ne shackled by any sort OF party restr'i
es or duty or obligation to party. Let
'at no shadow of ground for complaint
on the temporary organization. The te
'l porary chairman was named and cal
III by f. l.. Martin, chairman OF the C.
n gressiOnal executive committee, hav
ly- been selected by that committee, VIII
* right to make the selection, subject
i've the ratification of the convention, '
le- not only undisputed but admitted
REQ all, and it was on motion of Colo
IS Wotlor,, chief manager of the Wall
ma delegation, that this selection of
committee was ratified by unanim
IKE vote, and it was while the convent
TX was under temporary organizati
es., that the Wallace delegation withdI
eif from the convention, never having
try sente,l to the chairman of the conv
KS, ton, their credentials. The wi
lcc. number of the convention was si.
ay- eight. After the withdrawal OF
""t Wallace delegates, there were still
"h' manning from the districts of JOIN
ma l3, Lafayette Ii, making 20, Sec
district OF jackson. now uncontes
can 7, Fourth district of Jackson IL,
zero gcther Is, added to the -, in all At
'wh of whom ~ thc,e was no longer
leer test TO he considered, the Wallace {
M testants having Withdrawn and not
'np pcaring to make claim or contest, '
de- admitted on their credentials and
'nnS- convection was then permanently or
[loh lzc,l, and the convention fully or:
eul- lied proceeded in II regular way
tne manner to the close by adiourmn
i"r Mr.. Wallace did not permit his II
iiue to he submitted to the convention
inc its pcrnmncut organization.
'.Ii Franklin and Mr.. Graves
.he were put in nomination. After