Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-09
IT'S NORFOLK'S PRIZE.
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION 10 BIZ HELD
IN The CITY BY The SEA.
May 18th Fixed Upon as the Time OF
Mesting-B Basis OF Reprssen-
tation, &c.

cratic Committee was held last night IN
the Exchange Hotel at o'clock-Hon.
John S. Barbour in the chair.
The following were present in person
or by proxy:
Messrs. l.. NJ. Smith, T. r. Wright,
r. X. Prentiss, ". II. Morecock, A. j..
Dalton, j. T. Duke, M. L. Hughes, ii.
NJ. Smith, Jr., Tazewell Elicit, Conway
r. Sands. A. Gary, J. d. O'Dell, n. ..
Turnbull, NJ. Page, r. G.. Southall, a..
Wooding. s. Mullins, G. A. Staples, Il.
W. b. Hale, NJ. NJ. Martin, P. A. krise,
T. w. Miller, p. II. O'Bannon, L. >.
Martin, r. e. Byrd, NJ. i. Walton, d..
Heaton, &. s. Shackleford. A. NJ. Bow
man. A. Mccartney, w. McAllister, >.
+. Coleman, L. Echols-all OF the Cen
tral Committee, and Colonel A. 3.
Buford, Hon. J. d. Patton. and Mr..
Basil B. Gordon, Of the Executive Com
mittee.
A quorum was found to be on hand,
and the members of the Executive Com
mittee present were invited to partlcl-
DdlC III lilc utlDCidbiOAos
TINE.
After deciding to hold State convsn-
ton, the question of the date was
opened, and the 10th of May was decided
on by vote OF twenty-five for that date,
eight for the sth, and one for the I'd OF
May.
PLACE.
The place was next discussed, and del
egations representing the location de-
string the convention we're heard and
each allowed ten minutes.
Colonel Elicit first spoke in favor OF
Richmond.
Mr.. Dalton showed that Norfolk had
fine hotels and one Of the finest halls In
the country. If the convention went
there the members would be invited to
Virginia Beach, Fortress Monroe, the
Indian School at Hampton, Soldiers
Home, hayward, &c.
Mr.. Marshall also spoke for Norfolk,
and so did Mr.. Hughes.
Mr.. Harmon eloquently pleaded for
Charlottesville.
Senator Gordon favored Charlottesville
and said Piedmont Virginia is dissatisfied
with the results OF this Legislature, and
that the convening OF convention there
would do much to harmonic the party.
Mr. Duke advocated the claims Of Nor
folk, and said that the Second congress
sional district had worthily won that
compliment by their party feelty.
Mr.. II. NJ. Smith, Jr., of this city,
spoke for Richmond in order that any
rivalry between Charlottesville and Nor
folk might be avoided.
COMPROMISE PROPOSED.
Mr.. Martin proposed, in view OF the
rivalry of Richmond and Norfolk, that
a compromise be made on Charlottes-
vile.
Mr. Wooding said Danville was anxious
to have the convention, but considered
that its geographical position precluded
its selection.
NORFOLK CHosESS
The vote was then taken, and re-
suited:
Richmond. ............... ....................li
Charlottesville.
After a recess of five minutes Mr.. FL
lett again spoke for Richmond and Mr..
Dalton for Norfolk.
Colonel Buford gave additional reasons
why Richmond should be selected.
Mr.. Page presented cogently the
claims of Norfolk and that section.
Mr.. Heaton also spoke for Norfolk.
Another vote was then taken, and re-
suited:
Nor1ok
hlchmOnd.
REPRESENTATION.
The basis of representation was then
considered, and Mr.. Page moved that it
be one delegate to each 100 Democratic
votes or fraction thereof in excess of
fifty on the returns of the last guberna-
torial election.
Mr. Miller moved as a substitute that
the basis be one delegate and one alternate
for each 200 Democratic votes and frac-
ton thereof equal to 100 cast in the last
gubernatorial election.
The substitute was adopted, and the
committee then adjourned to meet in
Norfolk on the night before the conven-
ton.
This basis OF representation gives
Richmond thirty-nine delegates, as we
gave Lee 7,72S votes.
The total number of delegates will be
763, as Lee received l52, 544 votes.
GOOD WISHES.
or course Richmond wished the con-
vention, and would have made extraor-
dinary arrangements for the comfort OF
the delegates, but Norfolk is the next
place. 1t will do our mountain, Pied
mont. and Valley friends good to have a
look at the thrifty city by the sea and
breathe the air of the ocean and ride on
the salt-sea wave.
Norfolk and Portsmouth bave the
halls, the hotels, and all the con-
veniences to treat the delegates hand
somely. Richmond will send full dele
CATION and hundred visitors besides.
Norfolk is very conveniently reached
from here. There is the Chesapeake
and Ohio route; there are the steamers
on the river and the all-rail route by
Petersburg. Many persons will improve
the opportunity to leisurely journey
from here to Newport News, Hampton,
and Old Point, and from the last-named
place go to Norfolk by boat. Indeed,
with the usual enterprise shown by the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad and other
lines, it is very likely that the conven-
ton will be one Of the best-attended
bodies of the kind ever held in the State.
The chief duty of tho convention is
TO nominate presidential electors and
elect delegates to st. Louis.