Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-09-04
THE MASS MEETING.

The mass meeting came OH &C
cordinc TO programme, and 1t was
about the only thing that did come
of that way. There was a large !
and assorted collection of pro- |
erammcs, but they died young.
Sundry and numerous wires also
were vigorously pulled, but they |
were mostly broken, or got tangled,
or crossed, and failed 10 give the
satisfaction, so confidently expect
ed. There was some difficulty OK
perienced in settling on candidates
for chairman, but finally Mr.. &. l..
Boncy was nominated for that po-
sition, and also Hon. Geo. W.
Montgomery. The contest was
completely closed by Mr.. Boncy
Withdrawing leaving his friends
completely at sea. Mr.. Montgom-
cry was then made the chairman
without opposition.
After taking the chair, Mr..
Montgomery stated, in answer to
question, that in the. absence of
specific instructions, he would, if
the appointments were left to him,
appoint the delegates to the Rus
ton Convention in accordance with
the strength of the four candidates
who were before the meeting. This
statement met with hearty APPROX
al, and several voices applauded
Mr.. Montgomery as that rare jewel,
an honest man.
In the midst of this love feast
the lightning struck, in the; shape
of a set of resolutions readily Mr..
J. T. Mcclellan, to the effect, that
the chairman appoint the delegates
TO the convention in proportion to
the strength of the candi dates,
naming the candidates as Wells,
King and Lott, emitting Mr.. Muir
doch, and as a clincher, instructing
the delegation to "vote as unit. !"
This was one of the programmes
that died young, very young. There
are men in this parish who pro-
TESS to see, in these resolutions a
fiat contradiction to the apparently
fair statement of Mr.. Montgomery
as to what he would do if the ap-
pointment of the delegation was
left to him. 1t is regarded as a
little off color that such resolutions
should even be thought off, as Mr..
Murdoch had considerable strength
(Which was subsequently shown, }
and the unit rule would practically
close out all the candidates but
one, and the appointment of dele
gates IN proportion TO the strength
of the candidates is looked upon
by many as transparent snare,
and the exact opposite of the fair
ness so hastily assumed to be in
Dictated i'll Mr.. Montgomery's state
ment of his position. Whether
iustl V or not, both Mr.. Mcclellan
and Mr., Montgomery were ere dited
with being supporters of Mr..
Wells, and the resolutions are
looked upon as part of cut and
dried plan, in in the interest of Mr..
Wells. Cut and dried plans are
generally admitted to be perfectly
legitimate as is caucusing,
and wire pulling, but political fair
ness-who ever saw any of the
genuine article?
| Mr.. Mcclellan introduced, later,
lanother resolution, which proposed
balloting for candidates, and drop
ping the candidate receiving tn e
lowest number of votes, until one
candidate received a majority of
the votes cast. There was not
much apparent lightning about
this, but it had the ef-
effect of knocking Mr.. Wells higher
than Gilderoy's kite. 1t was a
sort of boomerang resolution, and
1t is not probable that it was in
tended to act as it did, as it landed
Gen. King on top. Life is short
gentlemen, and we can't always be
struggling. Take breathing spell
and try it again latter. Here's to
you, drink hearty.