Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-22
THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.
HONE RULE-THE CANDIDATES
NOMINATED.

HONE RULE-THE CANDIDATES
NOMINATED.
The Republican State Convention met in
the theatre in Richmond last Wednesday
at 10 o'clock. There were between six and
seven hundred delegates in attendance,
about one-third of the members being col
ored. Gen. Malone called the convention
to order, made speech denunciatory Of the
Democrats of Virginia, and appointed Col.
VIM. Lamb, of Norfolk, as Temporary
Chairman. Col. Ralston, of Roanoke,
moved that the Chair appoint committee
of one from each congressional district on
Credentials; 1. G. Fowler a similar motion
for committee on Permanent Organiza-
ton; and 8. Brown Allen similar motion
for committee on Business ard Resolu-
lions. Gen D. V. Groner, of Norfolk, Of
fered substitute that the committees be
chosen by the several congressional district
delegations instead of being appointed by
the Chair. After lengthy discussion, par
ticipated in by Riddleberger, Fowler, Hub
ard, Wilcox, Groner and Allen, the Malone
faction prevailed, and the substitute was
defeated by vote of 440 to 235. This vote
was taken at about half-past three o'clock.
The Chair then appointed the committees,
and the convention took recess till eight
o'clock, P. M.
When the convention assembled at s
o'clock, Col. Lamb in the chair, the report
of the committee on Credentials was called
for. So much Of the report as referred to
Princess Anne was recommitted, and the
balance of the report was adopted. The
committee on Permanent Organization re-
ported for President, VIM. Lamb; Secretary,
P. H. McCaull, and one Vice President from
each congressional district. s. Brown Al
len, from the committee on Business, re-
ported, recommending that speeches be
limited to half an hour. Riddleberger vio-
lently opposed it, and said it should be sent
back to the committee. The Chair said he
was out of order. Riddleberger said he
would appeal from the decision Of the Chair.
After the Chair vainly tried to choke Rid
dleberger of, he told him to 60 ahead,
which he did with vim, pouring hot shot
into the Chair. There was great excite
ment in the convention, and whilst this was
going on, fight between Kelham and Gen.
Groner was going on behind the scenes in
the theatre. Riddleberger continued, and
then there was a cry for mnsic to drown his
voice. One member moved to take recess
to allow Riddleberger to take on more Gre
freshments.' Riddleberger said there were
corn-bread-and- buttermilk people in the
party, but he wanted to tell them that if
the report of the committee was adopted, it
meant that a Democrat would be elected
Governor next November.
Pat McCaulLreplied to Riddleberger in Sc
we're terms, after which the report was
adopted. Riddleberger moved a reconsid-
Grafton. The Chair ruled him out Of order,
and told him to take his seat. He said he
was not out of order and he would not take
his seat, and said, "Now bring in your
Sergeant alarms"
Mr.. Louthan read report from the COM
nittee on Resolutions requiring each can
didate to pledge himself through his friend
that in case of defeat he would stand by the
nominee and speak and work for him until
the close of the campaign"
Mr.. Riddleberger denounced this report,
and said: ''This will teach the people what
fha m chino poatbodc of conventions ORC
He denounced the report, asked who wrote
it, and, touching upon McCaull's speech,
said that he thought McCaulrs stomach
was out of fix.
Mr.. McCaull walked to the foot-Gghts,
and angrily shaking his fist at Riddleberger,
declared that the Senator was making a
monkey of himself and showing his igno-
rance.
Mr.. Riddleberger said it was not uncon-
stitutional to be monkey; that Mr.. Nc
Caull had been called down from the stage
to make his buttermilk speech.
McCaull again sprang to the foot-lights,
and said ''that if any man said he was call
ed down, he said what was false.'
"Stop that! Stop that!'' said Riddleber-
ger, quietly, amidst the greatest confusion,
which, after a while, was quoted, and A..
W. Harris, colored delegate from Din
widdie, succeeded in getting Riddleberger
to give way in his favor as the representa-
tive of the Negro. Harris came forward and
commenced to speak, when Mr.. Paul arose
to the point of order that Harris was not a
delegate, and that he had told him so.
Harris said he was an alternate, and in
the absence of two delegates he took their
places. Harris was particularly severe in
his arraignment of Riddleberger's party
fealty, saying he was anxious for the white
men of the party not to disgrace themselves.
He said he did not like to see man drag
ging high office down to the level Of a
ward politician.
In spite of cries Of ''Question, question:
as Harris sat down, other takers got the
floor and relieved themselves of a great
amount of windy patriotism and cheap
rhetoric, after which the resolution was
adopted.
The platform, which is very long, was
read by W. G. Elan. 1t was adopted
Mr.. Sims offered a plan of organization
for the Republican party in Virginia. Re-
ferred to committee on Resolutions.
A delegate moved as a substitute that
the present plan of organization be adopted,
and the substitute went to the same COM
mittee, which soon reported in favor of the
substitute. Mr.. Sims spoke in favor of his
plan, and was replied to by Peter J. Carter
and A. W. Harris, (colored).
Mr.. Rddleberger undertook to speak,
but the Chair refused to recognize him, and
bedlam again broke loose, hundreds of del
egates shouting, "Question, question:
General Groner and others crowded
around the Chair, and Riddleberger could
be heard saying that he was surprised to see
that there were white soldiers in Virginia
who were afraid to 60 to the front and sent
negro soldiers to the front.