The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-04-10

Brooks and requested him to sign a call
for the Convention to assemble in Hol-
combe Hall. and stating 10 said call that
only those delegates should be admitted to
the Hall ac1t0 held tickets signed by him,
Cochran, as chairman.
AS Cochran would not show his list Of
delegates and as that arrangement. viz ::
to admit only those to whom he chose to
issue tickets, would have given him abSo-
Lutte control of the Convention, Brooks
very properly refused to sign it.
The significant fact that Chairman Coch-
ran declined to allow the secretary of his
own Committee. or any other Republican
who was known to be in favor of Coalition,
to see who he proposed to admit, Justified
the opinion, which was generally enter
tanned, that some sharp practice was con-
templated, and that fair Convention
could not be held under such an arrange
mert.
In order then to prevent trouble or fraud
and for the purpose Of determining the
place in which the Convention should
meet, and to have proper roll prepared,
letter was addressed to Chairman Coch-
ran, signed by nine members of the State
Central Committee, asking him to call the
Committee together, as twenty MEM
bers were then in the city either in person
or by proxy.
Chairman Cochran, however, positively
refused to call the Committee together.
It met, however, upon notice from the
secretary. and after inviting Chairman
Cochran to preside over them, and after
hearing of his action in regard to the roll,
and his expressed determination to keep
all those out of Holcombe Hall who did
not hold tickets issued and signed by him,
call was issued by the Committee and
signed by fifteen out Of the tacenty-seueas
Convention to assemble at IL M, on We'd
nesday, the 10th, at the Opera House.
The roll of delegates which had been
prepared by Secretary Brooks, was pre-
scented to the Committee and approved.
The call issued on the 28th of June,
under which the delegates had been elected,
fixed the number of members at 227.
The roll which Secretary Brooks pre-
pared from the returns sent him, showed
216 members; of these 1877 were uncon-
tested and 20 contested seats. From the
other counties entitled to eleve4lsdelegates
the secretary and the committee had no re-
turns.
OF the 1877 uncontested delegates, 1871
were known to be for Coalition, while 56
were known to be opposed to it.
In compliance acith this call By the State
Central Committee the delegates, or, at least,
a Gerry large majority, met at the Opera
House, where they were called to order by
the secretary, when the Convention pro-
ceeded to organize and then completed it's
business, part of which was the election
of the Republican State Central Commit
| tee, of which Capt. J. III. Rives is chair
man, and the Rep. Elk. Committee, of
which Col. j. d. Brady is chairman.
Now, MesSrs. Editors, l have stated
facts. and facts which can be proved beyond
the Opera House, or Republican Co.
alition Convention, has not the sanction
of regularity?
1st. Its members were elected under and
in accordance with the call of the Repub-
lican Committee.
I'd. 1t met in the city which had been
selected by the Committee.
Sd. 1t assembled at public place in that
city fixed upon by fifteen out.of the twenty
seven members composing the Committee.
4th. 1t was called together by the secre-
tary of the Committee.
5th. It embraced in its membership one
hundred and thirtty-one at'acontested dele
gates out of a total membership of 227.-
ia being majority.
9th. The Committee ON Credentials re-
ported twenty-Six more delegates as emit
| tied to seats whose seats had been con-
| tested
18th. The Opera House Convention was
consequently composed of one hundred
and fifty-seven of the two hundred and
twenty-seven who were entitled to seats
under the call.
1t thus appears to me that the Opera
House Convention was in every respect
legal and regular.
r 10 70
hear in what respect it failed in any of the
steps necessary to regularity or legality
The HolcOmbe Hall Convention, from
which Hon. John F. Dezendorf claims his
authority as chairman, had, it seems to
me, no semblance of regularity or legality,
unless it be that it was called to order by
the chairman of the Republican State Cen
trail Committee.
But when it is remembered that he did
so IN disobedience to the action of a majority
of his Committee, it will be seen that the
Holcombe Hall Convention is not entitled
to even that slight semblance of regularity.
In making this claim for regularity on
behalf of the Coalition Republican Com
mittee, of which am member, don't
pretend to endorse all that it has done
since it's election. sass'
think it's sO-called address in reply to a
letter written by Capt. J. H., Rives to the
Baltimore american was ill-timed and in
bad taste and this say while in no man.
ner approving Capt. Rives letter, which
thought could only have the effect of en-
couraging the Bourbon party, though 1
have no doubt that it was not so intended.
think it's actions in other directions
have not been as concilliatory as they
should have been for while no one who is
acquainted with the facts can recognize
the Dezendorf committee as at all entitled
to speak for the party, still l do recognize
the fact that many so-called straighouts
are good honest Republicans, and as such,
entitled to consideration from their broth
er Republicans.
1 favored a more concilliatory course
than has been adopted by the committee,
and still hope that the approaching con-
vention may remedy any harm done by
adopting the most concilliatory course.
Very respt. yours,
d. s. LEWIS.