The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-08-29
The Norfolk Convention.

vent the prompt and large aIlenuauce
on the part of the delegates to the Re
publican Convention, which met in the
Academy of Music at Norfolk, Va,
Thursday, the 22d inst. Tuesday and
of delegates, and by Thursday morning
the lobby of the Purcell House and the
streets near by were filled with surging
mass of humanity, all intent on learning
what was to be done as to the Conven-
ton which was to place before the peo-
pie of Virginia the candidates OF the
Republican party for State offices. Up
to the arrival of Gen. Malone, the an
swer to every enquiry was, "Wait until
the General comes.n Not even the lead
the important enquiry as to what would
be the outcome. 1t was not known
what Mahone's mind was as to the ac-
ceptance of the nomination, which all
parties were ready to lay at his feet.
The movements, as well as the opinions
of the General, were wrapt in profound
secrecy. A few of the delegates were at
the Norfolk and Western Depot Tues
day night when the 1890 train came in
from Petersburg, but they were doomed
to disappointment, as the General did
not put in an appearance, and his dep
uties, Asa Rogers and Butler Malone,
did not satisfy the waiting crowd. When
the General did arrive at 1 o'clock
Wednesday, there was an utter lack of
enthusiasm, either at the Depot or at
the Hotel In front of the Hotel, there
was packed crowd of delegates. A
hack, containing General Malone and
three of his lieutenants, drove up. The
little man, who aspires to rule the desti-
MES of the Great Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia, stepped quickly out. He was re-
cognized by all standing near; two or
three shook hands with him, saying
''How do you do, General p A simple
handshake was the reply, and the Boss
of the Republican party OF Virginia
passed into the Hotel without single
cheer or demonstration of any kind. He
was soon hid within the guarded doors
of rooms on the second floor OF the
Purcell House, and very few, other than
the trusted, leaders were admitted to his
presence.
Malone having arrived, the machinery
began to work, and soon the announce
ments from the inner court began to be
given out. The ticket assumed shape
quickly, and without ''variableness or
shadow of turning" was unchanged to
the final conclusion. Thursday night
the work of the Convention was arranged
before hand in all its details; the ticket,
platform, and all it's workings, and was
accepted by the Convention in matter
of fact sort of way, which indicated that
there was no disposition on the part of
the delegates to worry about matters,
which every one seemed to understand
had already been arranged and needed
only to be announced.
On the streets and in the hotels only
Malone badges were to be seen. Judge
M. B. Woods had a room at the Atlantic
Hotel, over the door of which was
sign in large letters, ''Woods Head
quarters" but the Wood movement APP
parently never got outside of that room
The ticket was given out as Malone,
Slemp and Lurty, and no man raised a
voice against it, as will be seen from the
proceedings of the Convention given
below.
About 10 o'clock Thursday the Nor
folk City Band opened up with music,
in front of the Academy Hail. when the
crowd began to gather. By 10 o'clock
the delegates were nearly all seated,
and the galleries and places reserved for
visitors were packed with a hot, per-
spring crowd. Palm-leaf fans waved
from the top to the bottom of the large
building, and the voice of the lemonade
boy was heard in inviting accents, Lem
onade. 5 cents a glass" The seat OF the
Chairman on the stage was raised three
or four steps, covered with bright car
pet, and surrounded with potted flow
ers On either side of the Chairman's
stand, the committee of arrangements
under the supervision of Capt. Lowry,
of the City Republican Committee, had
made ample and comfortable arrange
ments for the press, which had repre-
sentatives present from Washington.
New York, Cincinnati, and from all parts
of the State
General Malone came on the stage
about 1890 accompanied by Asa Rogers,
Congressman Bowden, and others. The
appearance of the General was the sig
nal for boisterous and long continued
applause. AS he stood before the wild
crowd, he presented a very unique and
singular appearance. His appearance
has so often been described, that it is
useless to repeat it here, but to those
who have never seen him, the first sight
would be comical in the extreme, and
does not betoken the sage politician, or
the profound statesman. In a few words
he called the Convention to order and
introduced the Rev. Vernon F. Arson,
who made a short prayer.
Gen. Malone then addressed the Con-
vention. He held notes in his hand, but
had committed the first part of his
Speech and did not refer to his notes
until later on. His voice was good, and
was distinctly heard throughout the
hall.
When the Convention assembled at
$3.50 p, m, it was merely to hear the re-
ports of the committees and then it adj
journed to 7:30 p. M, when the real work
of the Convention begun. From the
committee on credentials all the Malone
delegates were seated There were three
contests, one from York county, one
from Portsmouth, and one from Eliza
beth City county and Hampton. The
Malone men were seated, except in the
case of Elizabeth City and Hampton,
where the vote was divided, and the
Mahonites given the lions share. Thus
at every turn of events during the ses-
sion of the Convention, the little man
from Petersburg came out on top, and
Mahoneism thickened as the play was
put upon the stage in it's progressive
acts.
The report of the committee on plat
form and resolutions was read by Col.
W. G. Elam in a pungent, caustic style.
Emphasis was given the salient points
in bitter, kissing enunciation of the
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