The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-08-20
The Campaign Opened
ROCKINGHAM TO THE FRONT
Frank S. Blair Addresses the People
in Ringing Speech.

Frank S. Blair Addresses the People
in a Ringing Speech.
REPUBLICAN CoNvENTIoN-DR. j. D.
WEBB AND JOHN ACKER NOMINATED
FOR THE LEGIsLATURE-A LARGE At
TENDANCE AND SPLENDID PROSPECTS.
Last Monday was County Court day in
Rockingham. A large number of the
yeomanry of the county were present. 1t
was the day appointed for the Republican
| County Convention to nominate candl-
dates for the Legislature, and for Attor-
ney General Blair to open the campaign in
the Valley in behalf of the Republican
State ticket. AT u O'Clock the Conven-
ton was called to order and j. G. Riv-
ercomb, Esq, designated to act as
chairman. The Convention was largely
attended, each precinct being represented
by full delegation. After some prelim-
mary proceedings, Rockingham Paul Of
fereda resolution pledging the candidates
to be nominated for the Legislature to
! vote for Gen. Malone for U. s. Senator.
] should they be elected. COL Barbee spoke
against the appropriateness of the resolu-
tion. as the Convention was called for a
specific purpose. The resolution was
adopted. however, with but one dissent
ing voice.
1t was then announced that nominal
1
tiops were in order for the Legislature.
DR.. Webb came to the front, and said that
| it had been reported that he would not
| accept nomination if rendered him. This
| was a mistake-he said that,ehe owed too
much to the people of Rockingham to re-
fuse call from them in a great crisis of
the party If it was thought he could
add, in any way, to the strength of the
State ticket, he would obey the call of his
party.
II. Peyton Gray, in few well chosen
remarks, placed Dr. Webb in nomination.
Hon. j. f. Lewis nominated ii. B.
| Harnsberger. Esq. stating that if the fraud
by which Harnsberger and Herring had
been robbed of the seats to which the peo-
pie had elected them was to be rebuked,
then the parties who had been defFaaded
should be chosen to make the issue.
Rockingham Paul nominated John
Acker, a sturdy young farmer Of the coun-
ty. and very popular. s
| Capt Warren S. Lurty placed in nomi-
alton Stuart F. Lindsey, a promising
young lawyer Of the county, and one of the
| oil school Republicans.
| Prof. Alden S. Keiffer, nominated D. S.
| Lewis, Esq, urging his claims with earn
tslness. Mr.. Lewis, however. prompt
" withdrew his name in favor of MI.
Lindsey.
e. D. Root nominated S. G. Williams,
ESD, late Superintendent of the Peniten-
tiavy, but that gentleman Immediately
asked that his name be not considered
by the Convention, and spoke for the
nomination of Webb and Acker, as the
strongest ticket that could be presented.
Hon. Jno. +. Lewis also placed in nomi-
nation Philander Herring, Esq.
The ballot commenced, each delegate
voting for two candidates. Webb and
AcISer were nominated on the first ballot.
DIR. J. B. Webb is prominent physi-
clan. residing at Cross Keys, has served one
tenn in the Senate and was reelected in
1888, but counted out by the Bourbon
fRuHlp Legislature, in order to get two
Thirds Bourbon majority.
r. NJ. Acker is prominent young farmer.
| has been Commissioner Of the Revenue is
a fine business man and very popular
throughout the county.
At the close of the Convention it was
announced that Attorney General Blair
would address the large audience present.
| He was presented to the people by FL. Pey-
son Gray, Esq, and after hearty and en-
thusiastic welcome, he proceeded to dis
cuss some of the interests and questions
swhich.aare- german to the canvass. He
first took up the statement of some of the
Bourbon papers, in relation to the school
fund, charging the superintendent with
acknowledgement of that fund, by reason
of which the teachers had not been paid
and were compelled to have their warrants
discounted at heavy loss. He referred to
the law that required the commissioners
of revenue to make returns to the Audi.
tor by the 18th of August of each year of
the books, showing the taxable resources
of the State, and the revenues upon which
the State must depend. These officers
had properly discharged their duty, and
; their books were in the Auditors office at
) the appointed time. He then stated the
duty of the Auditor to be to notify the
( county and city treasurers of the amount
} to be retained, under the Grandstaf act
7 in their offices, for school purposes, which
j was not to be turned into the Treasury
This notification had to be gwen by the
r by the present auditor. AS this notlfica
4 ton had not been given and the Treasures
were all compelled by law to make com
o plete and final settlement for the year, by
q the 18th of December, all the revenues
a collected by them, including school funds
were paid into the Treasury by that day
= Two days after this, on the 18th of De
cember, notifications were sent out of thu
requirements of the Grandstaff act, but i
was too late, for the revenues were thel
= in the Treasury, and could not be gottel
y out for the purpose for which they were
under law collected. Consequently $500,
600 dedicated by the Constitution to tn,
schools, to pay teachers, &c., was bel,
there, which properly belonged to tn
teachers, while they were forced to hav
their warrants shaved, in order torealze up
/. on THE scanty salaries they had earned. Thi
$500, loco, belonging to the teachers, was
large item in stating the amount in tn
Treasury which was pointed to by the Bou1
9 bons as evidence of Bourbon financial sue
cess.
This exposure of Bourbon duplicity as we
: as hostility to the public schools, opene
: the eyes of many of the audience, VIII
i, did not understand why it was that Will
: the Commissioners returns showed an in
crease in the school fund the teachers re
7" manned unpaid delinquency had bee
e charged in the Democratic papers of Hal
y risonburg to the Republican County ST.
n perintendent, but the exposure of tn
a methods of the Bourbon Auditor locate