The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-04-12
National Republican. April 81
Hen. w. C. Elan and The Virginia
Convention.

National Republican, prl s.
Hen. w. G. Elan and the Virginia
Convention,
We are in receipt of the followinesletter from
the Hon. W c. ELAN, which we give in full:
TREvILIAN's, VA, April 2. 1888.
Editor National Republican.
1t is very unfortunate, and Glso matter oil
keen regret. that your editorial OF last SATIN p
day, on the action OF the State Republican com.
mittee of Virginia, in calling the State Repub-
lican convention, had not been based on cor.
rect information instead of on false state men is
circulated by Democratic and other enemies OF
the Republican party. AS member of that
state con mlttee beg to say that there is not
one word of truth in the allegation that the call
1T has issued proposes ITO have the entire state
delegation named by the state convention -
nor was any proposition 10 that effect offered
or limited at in the committee meeting. On
the contrary, the call distinctly and carefully
prescrbes that each district delegation to the
state convention SHALL in separate meeting or
convention, not only choose its district dele
gates to the National Convention, but also one
presidential elector these district conven-
tions to be held either at the state convention
or in the respective districts, as the district
delegations may severally decide.
The Iowa state Republican convention which
met recently was called together ON The Same
plan. and its district delegations met at the
state convention in separate meetings to select
the district delegates TO Chicago. A wide in
quiry, moreover, made by chairman dis
closes the fact that the resolutions OF the Na-
tional Conventions of 1880 and 1884 and the call
OF the National Committees are Interpreted by
the Republican chairmen and committees of a
large majority OF the states TO mean no more
than that the district delegates to the National
Convention are to be elected by the delegates
OF each district to the state convention each
district delegation acting separately. Our
call provides ter this separate selection either
at the convention or in each district.
You see, therefore, that you have done us q
great wrong by too hastily accepting the false
| testimony OF our enemies against us, and you
seating of the national delegates elected under
our CALL if there is to be any Republican con-
yenslon at all a. 0hieago on me Iglh 81 next
Member State Republican Committee of VIZ
ginia.
The editorial alluded to was based on an I'M
contradicted dispatch from Petersburg Va,
where the Republican state committee held
it's convention. The National RepuGhcan ace
cepted the statements true, because the
| committee had not given any other report of
its proceedings, as it ought to hare done, and as
any other commf ttee would have done, The
| National Republican does not take any blame to
| itself for its comments the action OF the
committee, though they based upon false
premises. The blame rests with the commits
tee. because it did not furnish the press with Il
| synopsis of its proceeding.
i We have already printed the statement of the
chairman of the committee, Gen Malone, as to
what was the action of the committee-name-
ly, the calling of the state convention to meet
| May II at Petersburg TO select four delegates
for the state at large and two electors, and for
| the delegates to this convention from each con-
| gressional district, then to meet in separate
| conventions and select two delegates and one
elector for each district, these last conventions
to meet either at Petersburg or in their respec-
tive districts. AS the National Convention
meets on the 10Th of June and the delegates
must be chosen at least thirty days before the
meeting of the convention, this proviso about
the meeting of the district delegates in their
respective districts is evidently Impossible ex-
cept as to three or four of the ten districts IN
Virginia.
/ The plain meaning and intent of the RepUb-
| lican party law is against such conventions as
| that called by Gen. Mahone's committee. In
| 1856 loud protest was made in the National
| Convention against that class of delegations.
because, and we say it in all kindness to the
| Virginia Republicans, it gave the opportunity
| to political managers to control delegates in
| the interest of particular parties.
| In 1880 the opposition to these aggregated
| conventions led to an open revolt, and the con-
| vention that year. in the resolution appointing
its National Committee, gave it, by a unani-
NOUS vote, the following Instructions
| Said committee shall, within the next twelve
| mon tins. prescribe method or ethods Tor the
election of deiegates to The National Conven-
| ton to be held in 1884, announce the same to
| the country, and issue call for that cOnYen-
| ton in conformity herewith; provided that
| such methods or rules shall include and secure
| to the several congressional districts in the
| United States the right to elect their own dele
gates to the National Convention.
The National Committee appointed in; 1880
did not obey the instructions of the conven-
ton, and publish any plan within twelve
months directed. 1t did, in issuing its call,
make the following rule, after providing for
| the holding of a state convention on twenty
days notice to select the delegates at large:
The Republicans of the various congressional
districts shall have the option of electing their
delegates at separate popular delegate conven-
| congressional districts at any time within the
| fifteen days next prior to the meeting of the
! state convention, or by subdivision of the
| state convention into district conventions.
This regulation not satisfactory TO the
convention which met in 1884, distinctly
disapproved, aid the report of the committee
on rules of order of business in the tenth sec
| ton contains the following instructions to the
National Committee:
Said committee shall issue the call for the
| meeting of the National Convention six
months at least before the time fixed for the
meeting, AND EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
IN THE UNITED STATES SHALL ELECT ITS DELE
GATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION IN THE
SAME WAY AS THE NOMINATION OF A MEMBER OF
CONGRESS IS MADE IN SAID DISTRICT.
The rule is plain and inf1exible. No choice is
left as to methods. The delegates to the con
members of Congress are dominated, or they
| ViU not be entitled TO seats IN the convention.
In disc ussing this subject the National Re-
| publican has but one object in view-that is the
success of the Republican party in Virginia,
1t wants the electoral vote OF the State for the
nominee of the Chicago convention. That
only be obtained by the united and harmoni-
Gus action of the Republicans of the state, act
| ing in conformity with the supreme laws of
| the party.
wehave the highest respect for Mr. Elan,
whose letter we print. We know him to be all
able. honest, and sincere Republican. We
! know Gen. Malone to be a leader of splendid
| abilities, but no and no body of men are
above the law. That is the rule of action for
| the party. The state committee had more
| right to call those district conventions than
any other thirty gentlemen in Virginia who
| might chose to issue sneh call, and the wise
| thing for the committee to Go win ne to rescind
so much gifts actions relates to the district
| delegates.
| The committees of each congressional dis
t-ict should meet at once in their districts aud
call delegated convention selected in the
same manner as one would.be called to, nomi-
nate candidate for Congress. Delegates
selected in that way will be entitled to seats in
| the National Convention. No others a0iU. The
| National Republican hopes such steps will be
| taken as will secure the harmonious action OF
all Virginia Republicans. The work of the
| State committee has not done 1t =, and endangers
the electoral vote otherwise secure.
| We, therefore, earnestly. appeal to our Re-
publican friends constituting the congress
| sional district committees to perform the duties
| delegated to them as congressional committee
| men, and call district conventions in strict
| compliance with the law laid down by the Ma
| in yvitl
| call of the Republican National Committee
| We appeal also to Gen. Malone, chairman OF
| the State Committee, to use his great Influence
! to this end to secure harmony within the party
| which Will give success in November.
Card from Hon. John r. Brown.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April 8, 1883.
Editor of Falley Vfrgjnian:
Understanding that the Danyille Regis
ter has recently published statement to