Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-15
REPUBLICANS RALLYING.
THEIR CONVENTION TO-DAY.


it is to call the Convention then to
meet to order.
This Convention is 10 nominate "an-
didates for Governor, Lieutensnt-Gov-
ernor, and Attorney General; is to SCI;
forth the position and policy OF the
party, and is to reorganize the party
machinery for the work before it.
PRESTO, CHANGE
Four years ago, when General Ma
hone held his convention here aad
nominated Colonel Cameron, he was
not willing to have it spoken of as Re-
publican. To-day there is no mincing
matters. Republican is the word.
Malone was a delegate and prominent
figure at the Chicago Convention which
nominated Blaine, but he went there
an Arthur man. Mr. Blair, who now
contests with Mr.. Wise the guberha-
torial nomination, was also delegate
not only a delegate, but a speaker ai
Chicago, and he promised the nomiaee
the votes Of 10000 ex-Confederates in
Virginia, which he never got.
So the party now goes into the State
canvass out-and-out Republican.
GUBERNAToRIAL NOMINATION.
For this nomination the candidates
are Hon. John S. Wise, ex-congressman
at large from Virginia, and youngest
son Of the late Hon. Henry A. Wise {;
Hon. Frank S. Rlair, who was elected
Attorney-General on the Cameron ticket
four years ago, and Hon. Henry Eowcn.
ex-member Of Congress from the Nln'a
district. Bowen has but lately come
into the field, and is dividing up Bl4ir's
strength and making big noise. His
headquarters here are on Governor
street, where on yesterday Kessnich's
band outside and liquid refreshments
inside invited the delegates t" while
away their leisure time.
BOOM FOR BOWEN.
Here last night, when there were
about fifty or sixty persons assembled,
Senator II. II. RiGdleberger came in.
was called upon for a speech. responC
ed, and announced that Bowen was his
favOrite.
This vastly rcoiced the Bowen men.
BLAIR's FOLLOWING.
Mr.. Blair has his headquarters at the
American Hotel. Liquors and cigars
are handed out to all visitors, or were
yesterday.
The Blair people say that he will be
nominated, but they cannot produce the
figures.
There was time when it was eX-
pected that the Southwest would rise
up almost soliGly and say: " We
want Southwestern man give MS
Blair 1t was believed that Malone
could not withstand such a demand,
and that it would give Blair the
nomination. Perhaps so. Perhaps
it will work now. But BOwen's
appearance in the field alters things.
Trne, Bowen has not the speaking
qualities of Blair, nor has he received
the hard knocks in political battles that
Blair has, but he belongs to an i0hu-
entail family, is quite popular, ana is
fairly well-to-do and has rich relatives.
Some of this money went out yesterday
for music. for exhilarants, for room
rent. for workers. &C., &c.
No doubt of it, Bowen has mixed up
Blair's men. 1t may be that if Bowen
is dropped first his men will 90 to
Blair; but who can tell?
HANDS OFF.
Blair has a letter from Malone say
ing that the General will keep his hands
off in this fight hat it looks certain
that Blair is :Iot the favorite. Several
of the men who surround him have
been nearer to Cameron than to Ma
hone seyeral-not all--Of his big sup
porters are in this condition.
HON. JOHN s. WISE.
Mr.. Wise has so far been looked
upon as the favorite Of General Ma
hone. lie has two or three rooms in
the Davis House, next door to the
Wing building headquarters Of Ma
hone). and has regular headquarters in
the Blues Armory, Seventh street, in
rear Of the Theatre. Yesterday, in
both places, his friends had hos
pitable receptions. The " compli-
ments Of the convention season were
duly set forth. Gathered about these
places were more delegates, or men who
seemed to be delegates, than at the two
other mems headquarters combined.
He seemed to have the numbers and was
cheerful-confdent, in fact.
WE WILL SEE.
The event itself is marching up too
close to make predictions safe.
1t looks like Wise, but it may be
Bowen OF Blair.
Malone, Of mortals, only knows.
They expect to get through their
work to-day. Unless there is an un-
expected wrangle and hitch the nomi-
nations will be made before the Con-
yention adjourns for the night.
Blair's people will go away from here
monstrous indignant if he should be
left off the ticket altogether.
PLATFORM.
Malone has no doubt prepared, or
had prepared, the platform.
Of course, there will be the usual
dish of debt matter. They will do all
they can, of course, to involve the
Democrats in this ununderstandaole
maze.
They have been approached to put in
plank condemning the conyict-con-
tract-labor system, and viii probably
have IN something supposed to cover
this point; but their colored followers
will no more approve the sending Of the
convicts out to work on the county
roads than did they the whipping-post
law.
They have been, or will be, asked to
express themselves IN favor OF pro-
yiding for disabled soldiers.
Here their course will be palmer.
PARTY ORGANIZATION.
BY the present plan General Malone,
as chairman Of the State Committee,
appoints all the chairmen of counties
and cities.