The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-03
Republican Meetings.
Hisgraceful scenes in the Courf House
Two Sets Of Delegates to GO
TO Petersburg.

j
The first meeting Of the Republicans of
Augusta county, held at the Court House
on Saturday last, was disgrace to the or
ganization-a reproach to the name it
bears. For the first tine in its history
men who had been identified with the par
ty through all its long years Of struggle
have stood by it through good and Ill report
have hattled for its principles against
overwhelming odds, turned away disguised
and indignant.
There we're at least four hundred Re-
pbblicaus 10 The Court House when Mr..
w. Il. Craig called the meeting to order,
aud announced its purpose 10 he to elect
delegates TO the State Convention which
meets at Petersburg on the 18th Of the
month. AS was his duty, under The pres
ent plan of organization, he named the
officers of the temporary organization
Col. W. II. Peyton being designated as
| Chairman, and l.. w. Il. Davis, Secretary.
AS soon as Col. Peyton assumed the
chair. Mr.. S. Brown Allen moved that the
temporary organization be made perma
nent This motion was opposed by Messrs.
| &. 8. Roller and w. r. Lands. The vote
was called for. and Mr.. Allen, without
waiting for division, declared his motion
adopted. Protests were made against such
arbitrary methods, and iii an instant the
meeting was one confused mass OF shout
ing humanity. When partial order had
been restored. Nh Allen stated that he did
not suppose there would be objection TO a
Republican SO true and tried as Col Pey-
ton, and Mr. Craig spoke in the same vein.
Mr. Roller replied that his protest was
made not against Mr.. Peyton, but against
the spirit manifested in seeking to die.
tate the officers of the meeting instead of
electing them. Mr.. J. I'll. Parkins then
nominated Dr. G T. Robson. as Temporal
ry chairman. After a great deal of con-
fusion, Mr.. Parkins, in the interest of
harmony, withdrew the name of DR.. Rob-
son.
i Mr.. Craig then rose and holding up list
| of names-24 delegates and II alternateS,
said that III order. that both wings of the
party might be represented at Petersburg,
he suggested that the delegations be d.
yided between gentlemen representing
different views. The first name on the list
as delegate at large. said he, is Hon. Jacob
Yost, who is known to be opposed to the
present plan of organization. Then we
have Col. S. b. Allen, and, not to be
mealy -mouthed about the matter, | want
to 90 to the Convention, and so my name
comes third. Then he proceeded TO
read the following list, and moved that
they be declared elected:
Delegates at Large. Jacob Yost, S. B.
Allen and VIM f. Craig. Alternate, W.
n. Reed
Riuerheads -Delegates-W. II. Peyton,
M. Steele. K. Smith. Alternates, w. III.
Shields an6 M. Meade.
Pustures-J. D. Rodgers, A. D. S. Beck
and Frank Payne. Alternates. ". b, Dun
lap and &. W. McCutchen.
North RiUer.-John " Bell, Mike Holer
and Robert 4. Curry. Alternates, &. /.
Robson and w. II. Showalter.
South R5uer-J. e. Hamilton, W, Il.
McComb. A. A. Arnold and l.. W. IL.
Davis. Aitefaates. Wilson Pryor and
Primus Bowes.
RererhJ Qanor.-John A. Noon. e. A
| Fulcher. G. A. Roller and G. Maupn. AL
ternates. Lewis Hill and Winston Harris
Middle Rirer.-W. Il. Foster, j. ID. Linn
W. r. Talley and q. S. Roller. Alternates
Isaac Cave and VIM. McCne.
Meantime it had been agreed that citi~
zens OF the city should have the privileges
of the floor, without the right to a vote.
Hon. J. Yost opposed the motion Of
Mr.. Craig. He said that the purpose Of
the meeting was to elect the delegates, an(
in order that. the Republicans themselves
might exercise their right, he wanted the
Delegates nominated from the floor. The
Republicans were capable Of making then
own selections and didn't intend TO have
ready made representatives thrust upon
them. Besides it was well known that
division of sentiment existed in The
party throughout the State, one wing ia
voring the present plan by which the Off
GERS of the organization are appointed by
one man: the other wing desiring to rele
gate all power 10 the people. This was
the principal question to be settled by the
Petersburg Convention. and in order that
the delegates might intelligently and fair
iy represent their constituencies, he
wanted the Republicans of Augusta td
let their sentiments on the subject be
known. All he asked was that far
square. honest expression of the wishes
of the Republicans of Augusta might be
had, and whatever the decision might be
he would abide the result and battle with
all his might for the success of the party
In order to test the sentiment of the
meeting, he proposed the following reso
buttons
The Republicans of Augusta, in con
vention assembled, hereby re affirm theil
devotion to the principles of the National
Republican party; especially do they re-en
dorse those well known tenets OF the party
creed, which demand protection to Amer
lean labor and American industries; the
passage of the Blair Educational Bill, and
relief for the people from the ubiquitous
system of war taxation. known as the In.
ternal Revenue.
The delegates elected are hereby in
tructed to vote against the unit rule
and to demand such a change in the
:
Republicans of each county the right
to elect their own chairman. and to the
Republicans of each precinct the right tC
elect their own committeeman or commit
teemen.
Resol' ed, That the delegates elected
: by this convention to the State Conyen
: tion at Petersburg, shall also attend the
District Convention to be held at Licking
ton on the 10th of May.
In support of these resolutions Mr.
. Y ost spoke briefly explaining the differ
ence between the present plan of organi
cation and that provided in his resolu
tions-the one placing the party at The
mercy of one man, the other letting thu
people control their own affairs.
AS to the duty Of sending delegates tt
, the District Convention there could be N
, question. He read from the Nationa
Republican call that provision which re
quires that district delegates to the n a.
i tOnal Convention shall be chosen as mem
bers of Congress are nominated in thei
, districts. This is the highest party law
he said and cannot be either evaded or de
q fed. The only instances in which distric
delegates were chosen at State Conven
r. tions were where it was by q9laninaou