Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-16
MEETING OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE
AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES.
NO EXTRA sEssIoN.-sTATE CONVENTION
TO MEET IN JULY.


NO EXTRA sEssIoN.-sTATE CONVENTION
TO MEET IN JULY.
The State and Executive committees of
the Democratic party. at the call of their
chairman, Hon. John 8. Barbour, met in
the Ballard House in Richmond last
Thursday night.
The following members of the State Com
mittee were present:
First District: W. A. Jones, of Richmond
county; DR.. Fletcher, of Northampton; T.
P. B. Wright, of Essex, by proxy CIV. A.
Jones).
Second District: Joseph T. Duke, OF
Portsmouth; R. R. Prentis, of Nansemond;
W, b. E. Morecock. of James City.
Third District: J. D. Odell, of New
Kent; Conway R. Sands, of Henrico; Louis
Rawlings, of Richmond city.
Fourth District: Alexander Hamilton, of
8. Turnbull, of Brunswick; Thomas N.
Williams, of Mecklenburg, by proxy will
liam Ryan, of Richmond city,.
| Sixth District: Miles Martin, of Char
lotto; Wood Bouldin, of Halifax. W. M.
Ellis, of Montgomery.
| Seventh District: Thomas Martin, of AL
bemarle; P. H. O'Bannon, of Rappahan-
mock.
Eighth District: Henry Heaton, of Lou
doun; G.. S. Shaokleford, of Orange, by
proxy (W. w. Scott.)
Ninth District: Samuel W. Williams, of
Bland; R. A. Ayers, of Scott.
| Tenth District: Edward Echols, of Staun-
ton; W. n. McAllister. of Bath; Samuel F.
| Coleman, of Cumberland; j. T. Coleman,
of Nelson.
| John s. Barbour, chairman; W. W.
Scott, secretary.
! Executive Committee: John 8. Barbour
and Bassi B. Gordon. of Charlottesville;
James D. Patton. of Richmond: Robert W.
Burke, of Staunton; and Edward G. Vena-
BILE, of Petersburg, congressman-elect from
the Fourth district,
| the meetings at such an early day was to
organize thoroughly for the approaching
campaign. He said that he had seen some
thing in the newspapers about his tender
ling his resignation at this meeting, but as
/, he was elected by the State Convention he
would continue to serve until the meeting
of that body, when an entirely new COM
u1ittee will be chosen. He desired, how
ever, to say now that he will not consent
to serve as chairman again, and suggested
that the members look about for the best
man to take the place and lead the party to
triumphant victory in the fall. This an
nouncement that Mr.. Barbour would not
resign at once was received with great
pleasure.
The proposition to amend the election
laws was only briefly referred to in the gen.
eral and somewhat informal discussion, and
while several changes that might be made
for the better were suggested. some
thought it would perhaps be better to leave
these statutes as they were now.
Several motions and amendments were
submitted and finally the following, offer
ed by Mr.. Scott, was adopted as substi
tute for them all:
Resolued. That the Chairman appoint q
committee of ten members to take into
consideration the questions properly COM
ing before this committee and report to an
adjourned meeting at II O'Clock Friday
morning at the Powhatan Club rooms.
| The following committee was appointed:
First district, W. A. Jones (chairman);
Second district, R. R. Prentis; Third dis,
trict, Louis Rawlings; Fourth district, N.
s. Turnbull; Sixth district, W. M. Ellis;
Seventh district, Thomas Martin; Eighth
district, w. W. Scott; Ninth district, R. A.
Ayers; Tenth district S. F. Coleman.
For the Fifth district Hon. ]. w. Daniel
was named, as no representative was pres
emit.
On Assembling at the Powhatan Club
Rooms on Thursday, Attorney General Ay-
ers presented the following report:
|
The Committee of Ten appointed to con-
slider an order of business for the General
Committee, after elaboration, beg to SUBJ
nit the following report:
1st. They see no occasion to recommend
a called session of the Legislature.
I'd. They recommend the calling of the
State Convention of the city of Richmond
about the last of June or the first of July
on the hasi, of one delegate to each 100
Democratic votes, or fractions over fifty,
cast in the last presidential election.
Sd. They submit the following resolu-
ton and unanimously recommend its adop.
| ton:
Resolred, That we recommend that the
State Committee authorize the chairman of
the State Executive COMMITTEES to appoint
secretary to be removable at his pleasure,
whose duty it shall be, under his direction,
| to keep open an Office 10 Richmond the year
round and to attend to all matters of party
organization.
| I'd. That the salary and other expenses
of the secretary be So. 900 per annum, pay
able monthly, the same to be raised by as.
sessments upon and contributions from the
counties and cities.
| MIR. Ayers made very brief speech in
presenting the report, stating the result of
| the interview with the Governor.
A lengthy discu ssion on the question of
an extra session eesued.
The Attorney General admitted that a
contingency might arise which would cali
| for an extra session, but, as at present ad.
vised, such contingency did not now ex.
| list.
Mr.. E c. Venable thought it would be
out of place for this committee to take any
| action in the matter of an extra session one
way Or the other
At length Mr.. Venable moved to lay the
question of holding an extra session on the
| table, and the motion prevailed, very few, if
auy, voting against it
After a short discussion on the second
clause of tho report, Mr.. Conway R, Sands
moved that it be amended so that the Exc
cutive Committee would be requested to
call the convention at such time in July as
| it might elect. The clause, as amended,
was adopted.
The basis of representation will make
this years convention the largest perhaps
ever held in this State. 1t will be entitled
to 1870 members.
The last clause of the report, prov iding
| the employ ment of a secretary all the year
round, was discussed at some length. Sec.
retaiy Scott urged the importance of such
an Office. stating that he could do so with
perfect propriety, as he would leave the
committee with the chairman at the next
convention.
| Mr.. Barbour said he would be glad to
see secretary employed as suggested if the