Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-14


| terfield county in the convention, and their
votes will be cast for Hon. George ID. Wise.
They were chosen last night OF q mass
meeting of the Democratic voters OF the
! district held AZ Morrissett's Hall. at tho
/ head Of Hull street. in Swansboro'. Inc
meeting was the largest known IN the hls-
| tory OF the district. and the deepes, III
| terest and enthusiasm were manifested.
The voters OF Hancock's-Store precinct,
/ in the adjoining district. were entitled TO
| take part in the selection OF these two re-
presen;atives. and quite large delegation
came down, but did not arrive till late,
and found the business of the evening
nearly over.
MR. OWNS pREsIDEs.
| The vast assemblage was called TO order
| by District Chairman Ben. j. Owen. Jr..
/ who requested DIR. Wilkinson TO preslce
| temporarily. Mr. Owen was then elected
permanent chairman and Nr. A. j. Janke
| secretary.
The attendance reached 300 perhaps.
/ Captain Wise and Colonel Elicit and friends
/ Of each were present, but neither OF the
candidates entered the hall while the con-
| ventiOn was in progress.
The fight was one directly between the
friends oi Mcssrs. Wise and Elicit. judge
| Gregory conducted the contest on behalf
of the former, and Mr.. Owen led the forces
of the latter. Each of these gentlemen
spoke at some length in the interest OF the
| candidate whose cause he espoused.
THE WISE MIN CHOSEN.
The candidates put up for delegates by
the Elicit mon we're Messrs. Benjamin L.
Owen, Jr., and Joseph Mittendorf; messrs.
Brown and Clements were named by the
Wise followers, and when the vote was
taken by division the two latter were found
TO have large majority.
The delegates were authorized to aD-
point their own aternates.
The announcement OF the result OF the
vote was received with tremendous out
burst Of applause and there were loud calls
for Wise. MANY of his friends left tho hall
and soon brought him in. committe was
appointed To invite Colonel Elicit TO the
hail and both of the candidates were hearth
ly applauded.
CAPTAIN WISE SPEAKS.
Captain Wise was first presented and
spoke about FIVE minutes. lie sald TINS was
notime for speaking and no would only sub
nit a few remarks. The contest, he declared,
is friendly one and if either OF his honor
able competitors, for both OF whom ne
entertains the highest regard, secures the
nomination, he will rally around their ban
ner and work as enthusiastically as II II
were his own. I" / am Democrat, SAID
the speaker with o good deal of emphasis.
"and will work for any man who IL selected
as the Democratic standard-bcarer Just as
/ would for myself"
CAPTAIN Wise said that he desired 70
make an explanation for which he hoped
the Chairman would excuse him. Mr..
Owen. than whom he believed he had no
better friend in Manchester, had, while on
the floor. he understood, made stateme mt
TO the effect that he (Wise) had failed to
receive the support Of his party, which.
while not so intended. was calculated to
do him an injustice. The offIclal record
| would show that he had polled larger
vote in Chesterfield than any other candl-
| date had ever done. And you can do 1t
again. remarked Mr.. Evans. soto coce.
Yes said the speaker with enphas's,
~ can do II again If nominated. why
noty | have not friend IN the county,
| / think, who would not support either OF
| the other candidates If chosen as the
nominee, and their friends, / am sure,
would do likewise. Therefore. 1t seems
that the vote would be about the same III
any event"
Continuing. Captain Wise said it was
not fair TO draw comparisons between
| Federal and local elections. He was
| led by Mr.. Cleveland only about
| twenty votes in Chesterfield and the
| 0lUfItUft DflNttA bIt 'ONV iNN'''NN-
| bv them respectively was small every
where else in the district except in Han.
| over, where his opponent hada very strong
personal following, having once been
| deputy clerk of the county, and he and
| his wife both having relatives there.
Mr. Wise closed by relterating that he
would cordially support the nominee,
whomever he may be.
BEN HAS HIS SAY.
Mr.. Owen, rising to question of per-
sonal privilege. said ho had not designed
| TO do his friend. Mr.. Wise. any injustice.
| He simply stated result well authentl-
Gated by facts. and did not undertake 10
explain why Mr.. Wise's majority had been
| reduced from large one IA few years ago
TO IA small one last year
COLONEL ELLETT.
Colonel Elicit SAID he hoped he was a
good enough Democrat to bow with be-
coming grace TO the decision of the meet
ing, and if the convention of the 10Th
voices the same sentiment expressed IN this
sub-disirict he will accept the situation
philosophicaly and no person will do more
to uphold the arm of the nominee. The
Colonel spoke III very pleasant VEN
and urged the importance IN the present
crisis of our affairs for every white man 10
look to tho records of those Offering for
the nomination ana PICK tnc strongest
man, SO that he can be elected. and there
by put a stigma on the Congress that re-
Gently put one on the district. 1t iss our
duty 10 look to the vindication OF the
party as well as the man injured, and to do
this the most eligible candidate. must be
chosen. If the party and the man
can both be vindicated at the same
time why it is the duty of the
voters of the district to do both and it was
his duty as an honest man to tell them so.
[Applause.l
Referring to the question raised between
Messrs Wise and Owen. Colonel Elicit SAID
there had been a great decrease IN the
Democratic vote of the district since 1876.
The official records from the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth showed
that within that period the Democratic
majority had been cut down from about
2,s00 to 267 two years ago.
Colonel Elicit i'll conclusion spoke OF the
force bill staring US in the face, and urged
all white men TO stand together and elect
the man nominated next Tuesday, whether
he be Wise, Cardwell, Elicit, or some one
i.