Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-09-11
CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTION.
Hon. John r. Neal Nominated by Ac-
clamation After l55 Ballots.

Hon. John r. Neal Nominated by Ac-
clamation After 1855 Ballots.
The Democratic Congressional Con-
vention for the Third District assem-
bled in the Courthouse at Chattanoo-
ga, Wednesday, Sept. Sth, at noon.
Mr.. N. Q. Allen Chairman of the
Congressional Committee called the
Convention to order and was made
temporary Chairman. After the APP
pointment of the usual committees,
the convention adjourned for dinner.
The Convention reassembled at 3
o'clock in the afternoon and effected
the following permanent organiza-
ton:
Chairman-John G. Myers, of Pike
vile.
Secretaries-G. A. Holland, Geo. S.
Ochs, r. NJ. Reams and J. J. Mead
ows. ..
The Committee on Platform re-
ported the following, which was
unanimously adopted:
The Democrats in the Third Con-
gresiiOnal district in convention as
sembled, do hereby affirm and en-
dorse the platform adodted by the
State Democratic Convention at
Nashville, and do hereby recommend
it as good Democratic doctrine and
worthy the support of every true
man and Democrat. We pledge our
selves to the hearty and active sup
port of Hon. Robert l.. Taylor, the
chosen standard bearer of Democracy
in the present State contest.
The following gentlemen were
placed in nomination before the con-
vention:
Creed F. Bates, of Hamilton.
John r. Neal, of Rhea.
w. T. Murray, of Warren.
S. ]. A. Frazier, of Hamilton.
The first ballot resulted as follows:
Bates, %; Frazier, 1863; Murray, AZ;
Neal, 42l.
Forty ballots were taken during the
afternoon and night sessions without
any material change. On the 3Oth
ballot Mr.. Murray received GA! votes,
being the highest number received
by any candidate as long as the four
remained before the convention.
The convention reassembled Thurs.
morning and ballotted until nearly
noon without material change.
After the 18th ballot Mr.. Greed F.
Bates appeared before the convention
and withdrew his name. His strength
divided between the three remaining
candidates and left them all nearly
even. Two ballots were taken or
which the candidates only varied
from each other one-half of a vote.
Shortly after the night session be
gan, and after 129 ballots had beer
taken, Mr.. Murray entered the hall
and in a patriotic speech withdrew
his name from before the convention
: This narrowed the fight down to /;
= close contest between Neal and Fra
zier. Twenty-six more ballots wer,
: taken without showing any prospec
: of nomination. The l55th and las
ballot stood, Frazier, 81 $40; Nea
t So 40.
3 Just as the third county was called
on the 156th ballot, Mr.. Frazie
1 mounted the stand and in an earnes
l and graceful speech, withdrew hi
name from before the convention. A
soon as he had finished speaking ;
motion was made that Hon. JOIN
R. Neal be declared the nominee b,
reclamation, which motion was car
e ried without dissenting voice.
NOTES.
Every county in the district wa
! represented in the convention, an,
= all but one or two of them by unusu
. ally large delegations. At times dun
ing the sittings of the convention, tn
"A sessions were very boisterous AM
o stormy, particularly that of Wednes
: day night. Hundreds of men tire,
their hats into the air and yelled Xix
demons. During the greater part G
that nights session confusion reigne
supreme, disorder was the ruin
spirit, and for two hours the conver
Z ton hall was a veritable bedlam.
. Notwithstanding the stormy natur
y of the convention at times, and tn
long and hotly contested struggle,
marked spirit of good humor charac
terized all the proceedings. All {
L =