The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-03
STAUNTON.VA.
The Convention.

cans of Augusta to appoint delegates to
the Petersburg Convention on the Nth,
held in Staunton on the 2Sth, was anything |
but harmonious body. 1t was apparent
for several days previous that there would
be warm contest between the two fac
tions of the party, divided upon the lines
of the present plan Of organization, and
the proposition to instruct at the State
Convention for the unit rule at Chicago.
The friends of the present plan had been
very industrious for a week before the
Convention met in urging, by person
al visits and appeals. those OF thelr
own way of thinking to attend. The oth-
er side, outside Of one district, did DOL put
forth any unusual effort to secure an at
tendance further than would be suggested
by the people themselves. 1t was eViuen''
from the sentiment expressed VI '"0
streets on Saturday morning, tnaI INC Up
Moments of the plan were in the majority,
and if was further evident from the repre-
sentative character of most OF these, that
thev reflected the views of a large major
ity of the Republicans of the county.
When the proposition was made to con
tinue the temporary organization, with
Capt. w. Fl. Peyton in the chair, as the
permanent officers of the Convention, it
was antagonized by the nomination of DR..
Geo. Z. Robson. There was a general
feeling of sympathy for Mr.. Peytons
physical condition. which has been fer
many months extremely hazardous, such
as to utterly unfit him for an efficient
discharge of the duties of that position IN
turbulent convention, and for that rea-
son, after considerable squabbling and yot-
ing by which no decision was declared, Ii
was determined to withdraw l'r. Rop-
son $ name as a matter of humanity to
Mr.. Peyton, whose friends had SO cruelty
insisted on his presiding on the occasion.
This was followed by MIR. Craig reading
list of delegates to be appointed TO the
Petersburg Convention, among them Jacob
Yost, w. E. Craig, aud S. B. Allen as
delegates at large. Mr.. Yost met this by
Offering series of resolutions, declaring
for Republican principles, against the unit
rule, for modification of the present plan
of organization and the election of district
delegates to Chicago by Conventions held
within the district, as the law of the party
unequivocally and in plain terms requires
An animated discussion took place over
these resolutions. participated in by
Messrs. Craig and Allen against and
T.andls. y ost and Roller for. Alter
much wrangling and in great confusion
the question of the adoption OF the reso-
lutions was put to the Convention. and on
an aye and nay vote they were adopted
by large majority. from the sound. But
the chairman did not announce the
vote. In fact he was suffering SO much
physically that we do not think he knew
what was going On, and as he can see very
little, he could not observe the progress OF
the proceedings. After more contention
and good deal of excitement, 1t was de-
termined to appoint tellers, and for the
voters to be counted as they passed in
front of the Chairman seat, The vote
was taken on motion to lay the resolu-
tions on the table-an affirmative vote car
rying with it negative result. FMS
confused good many, especially OF the
colored people. who in addition were de-
ceived by the statement that they would
be voting for the resolutions and in sup
port of the mover. Mr. J. Yost. The
votes counted to lay Oh the table were 76.
including number who voted under a
misunderstanding. The negative voting
was then commenced, which was to have
the effect of adopting the resolutions. The
number had reached SO, with a number OF
others in sight, awaiting for the aisle tC
be thinned out SO as to pass up, when the
teller against the resolutions left his Pc.
sition and reported to the chairman that
the vote stood IS to 65, and the chair SC
announced as he was requested to do
This was followed by a perfect storm OF
protests an3 af1irmations, as there were
not less than 400 Republicans in the
house on the lower and upper floors. e
motion to adjourn was entered. and de-
mand for another count made, amidst
such confusion and noise as to make eve
rything uninteligibe and confounded
While this was going on and no one
watchingthe proceedings, paper was sent
up to the Chairman, and without taking q
vote it was adopted 1t was passed to the
hands of Mr.. Craig, who was standing
conveniently ard directly in front OF the
Chair, and he waving it above his head
commenced hurrahing, followed by deaf
ening chorus. no one scarcely knowing
what it was all about. Immediately the
chair was vacated, without Il formal vote
of adjournment. and number of those IA
voring the views of Mr.. Craig left the
house, as did others, who were tired out,
and had to leave town.
The paper was list Of names purpoit-
ing TO be the delegates. AS read few
hours before, it contained the names OF
J. Yost, w. E. Craig, and S. b. Allen as
delegates at large and G. S. Roller
as a district delegate. The original
reading was all that it had before
the conventions; bat when it appeared in
the Richmond papers. as despatched by w.
E. Craig, or at his instance, Immediately
after the Cot veDtion adjourned. the name
of J. Vest was omitted and that of Chas.
Curry substituted, and those of MessrS
Roller as delegate, and Arthur Parker and
VIM. McCue as alternates were also SUBJ
stituted by other names. This arbitrary
action of Mr.. Craig was not inconsistent
with the other proceedings. While total
3y unwarranted. it was as legitimate as
any other of the assumed acts OF that
body, and is entitled to about the same
conside ration.
So that there was not single PROPOSE.
tion or motion made by the Craig faction
that was adopted by the Convention, ex-
eept the appointment OF chairman, in the
manner, and for the reasons stated above
1t was clear to every impartial observer,
chat at least two thirds of the convention
were in favor of the resolutions, notwith-
standing the efforts actively employed for
days previously to bring in all who could
be induced to vote on the opposite side.
and the trick that was resorted to to de-
ceive some of those who did vote. There
were no delegates properly elected by the
Convention over which Capt. Peyt0n pre-
sided. There was nothing done but wrang-
oIn