The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1884-07-03
THE STATE CONVENTION.

work could not be exceiIed either In
the ticket created or the platform
adopted. Both challenge the admi-
ration and confidence not only of the
democratic party, but Of all good men
everywhere without regard to party
lines. The convention was com
prised Of 2l5 delegates. 1t Assem-.
bled in the Grand Opera House June
25th, at | 2 m, and was called to Or
der by Mr. S. L. Griffith, chairman
Of the State Central Committee. A
temporary organization was effected
by the election of Hon. L. c. Me
Rae of Nevada county as chairman,
and Mr.. S. II. Davidson Of Sharp
secretary. which afterwards was
made permanent. A little skirmish
between the Fletcher and anti Fetch
er forces was fought in the Temporal
ry organization, in which the anti's
came out fist best, clecting by a
good majority, their candidate, Hon.
II. C. McRae, over the Fletcher can
didate Hon. b. r. Davidson, of Wash
ington. After the adoption OF rules
and the order Of business which con-
sumed but little time, the nomina-
tion OF state officers was taken up.
Gen. j. G. Tappan of Phillips, in a
concise and strong speech, placed in
nomination Gen. S. r. Hughes, for
governor; ii. King White nominal
ed Capt. Jno. G. Fletcher, and Hon.
Joe House of White, named the Hon.
Jacob Frohch, Hon. j. T. w. Tillar
was also placed in nomination by a
friend, whose name we forget. The
first ballot resulted: Fletcher 101;
Hughes rs; Frolich 80; Tillar 10.
The battle opened here, and ragged
with variations first one way then
another with Fletcher in the lead by
from 26 to a majority until the 22nd
ballot, when Hughes, for the first
time lead Fletcher by one vote.
From this time on to the 30th Hughes
lead by from l to a. On the Both
they tied Each one having l01
votes, and the result could not have
been forecast by the wisest pElloso
pher. On the 3lst ballot Fletcher
again stepped In front with 102
votes, which was increased to l04 on
the 32nd, and everybody thought his
nomination certain on the next bal
lot, but the result was different. The
SD ballot was taken amidst the
greatest enthusiasm, excitement and
confusion. AT times the convention
was completely in the hands of the
widest excitement. 1t was evident
that Fletcher would be nominated,
and his friends set no bounds to
their hurrawing, except the limits to
their lungs. During the ballot there
were several gains to Fletcher, and
by the. time the call had reached
Washington county, Fletcher had
scored liz votes or four more than
enough to nominate. Here enthusi-
asm among the Fletcher men took
the shape OF madness, and the wild
est shouting, and huzaing, and hand
shaking and congratulations were
INDUCED over his success. But
Washington county, which had been
voting scattering among all the can
dilates before, cast her solid vote
for Hughes, taking from Fletcher,
which was rapidly followed by White
Withdrawing Col. Frolich and cast
ing her vote solid for Hughes. The
scene was changed almost in the
twinkling OF an eye, and the shout
ing and huzaing Immediately swap
ed sides. Immediately on the an
nouncement Of the vote of Washing
ton and White, several other coun
ties which had changed from Hughes
TO Fletcher changed back 60 Hughes,
which took Fletchers majority away,
and here complete stampede Of the
Fletcher forces set in, and in less
time than 1t takes to write it, the
whole thing had changed, and the
Fletcher victory completely won was
completely lost, the first time such
an event ever occurred we suppose
in the state. Gen. King White who
had placed Mr.. Fletcher in nomina-
tion, as soon as he could get the
floor, withdrew his name and moved
to make the nomination OF Gen.
Hughes unanimous, which was done
amidst storms of cheering. So that
the result of the $50 ballot was not
known. At the end of the 32nd bal
\. HI. ~. Ill s....... A.