Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-03
RADICALS In A ROW.
eou1nWaRo's REPUBLICAN r CONFER
eNcs a plSoRDeRLY GATHERING.
u.adm Arrsigbed for Not Voting for
Iangston--a Delegation to Meet tho
District Committee.

Great disorder characterized Mr.. South
wards Republican conference held yester-
day At Henrico courthouse.
Az one time there was q general row
which threatened TO terminate IN free
fchi. and there was more or less confu-
sion throughout the entire proceedings.
The assemblage was intended TO embrace
"lcading and representative Republi-
cans from all parts Of the Third congress
.onal district, but II was made up almost
,riirely Of Richmond and Henrico ne
groes.
tendance. There bad been light showers
ali the morning. and about the time of
meeting designated in the call the rain be
can 10 come down pretty steadily
Bgt the dark skies were not confined 70
che heavens, for within the courthouse
irilding was black cloud much heavier
than any visible on the outside. Even this
lad iis silver lining in the presence of
few white men who were all the more con-
ep.cuous IN consequence OF the sombre
background.
NOT SUCCESS.
Il was evident early in the day that the
meeting was not going 90 be the success
fiat ia promoters hoped for. Barring
ise cOlorcd contingent from this city and
frc county there were hardly bakers
dozen Of representatives present.
t0lling-beil in the neighbOrhood an
ronuccd the time of meeting and likewise
tle hour of noon. The courtroom was
comfortably filed, and outside the "sOve-
yeirtsn were gathered III knots discussing
.ge situation. Half past II and o'clock
cqlae and passed and still the conference
d,i not confer. The people In the court
room became restless and began to 60 out.
Two white men got into n discussion which
made things a little lively.
THE FUN DEGISs.
4 few minutes after o'clock the sudden
influx of a large number Of negroes showed
mat something was about TO occur. In
f~w seconds Sheriff Southward appeared,
followed by large crowd OF darkies.
The meeting was at once called to order
hy Sheriff Southwark, who made a brief
suocch. saving that II was well known that
some ~ the leaders were opposed TO making
a nomination for Congress. After an
nonncing that the Republican party IS one
Of principle, he went on TO say tnat II the
District Committee think the Republicans
dead they are mistaken. We. the peO-
nle" he said. have called this conven-
tom 90 see what we should do. ] announce
Colonel W. +. Giddings. of Chesterfield,
o. temporary chairman, and Charles Is.
Roane, Of Henrico. as temporary secle-
tary When they take charge. OF the
meeting you can determine what you
should do
GIDpINGs CHAIRMAN.
A nero in the crowd objected TO the ap-
pUntment of secretary, advancing the
opinion that il was enough for Air. south
ward to name the presiding officer. The
ob,ector was ANONYMOUSLY overlooked.
Colonel Giddings took the chair and
made IA speech. He said among other good
things done by the last Congress was the
fenting Of LangstOn, and from TINS omen
the negroes had every reason TO feel en-
couraged He criticised the action Of the
District Committee, approved the proceed,
inps Of Congress, told the negroes they had
DO right 10 be discouraged, ana spoke OF
Iangston "a one of the brightest men In
the country.
Some one in the crowd nominated Colo
mel Giddiugs for permanent chairman. ana
he was unanimously elected with yell,
Ar. Southwark putting the motion.
wRANGLISG AND UPRoAB.
Tho election Of secretary was not so
easily accomplished. II was here that the
wrangling began. which continued almost
uninterruptedly until the meeting adj
iourncd, two hours later.
Three people were nOminated-Ireasurer
George f. Anderson. of Henrico; J. IA.
Roane. of Henrico.
As soon as the Chair could make himself
heard. which was about ten minutes after
the nominations had been made, he an
nounced that the last name would be voted
on first This was done. and Roane was
declared elected. In the interim Mr.. An
dersons name had been Withdrawn.
TIE RESOLUTION WAS READY.
No sooner had the presiding officer an
nounced business in order than the IRE
pressible Southwark took the floor. He
had resolution and preamble to offer. the
reading of which was greatly beautlhed by
a big-mouthed niger sitting IN front
Of the crowd, who at the end of every sem
teuce clipped IN witha long-drawn Vas.
The bent of the resolution, which II not
drawn by was evidently the work of Judge
Waddill. was that the question of running
candldate should be referred TO a COM
mittee of one from each county IN the dis
trict. one from Manchester, and four from
Richmond CITY. who should confer with
the District Committee as 10 what IS best
to be done, if anything, looking TO the
placing of a candidate for Congress in the
field and as 10 the course to be pursued
by tho Republicans Of the district; and
that all the Republicans of the district be
advised of the result of the conference
with the committee.
lots or GOOD FEELING.
James Russell (white) and Captain r.. A.
Paul (colored), of the state Guard, eX-
pressed surprise and pleasure nj the unani-
mity of sentiment of all present. The
latter made an especially good speech ex.
eept IN few particulars. lie thanked
God for Reed and Mckinley. New States
had been admitted which were so surely
Republican that the presidential result
would not rest upon Indiana or New York.
lie was gracious enough, however, TO say
that there were some good Democrats.
One thug he wanted his friends TO under
stand was that he was Nirginian. and
had no more ties in Africa than Colonel
Giddines. The colored man was amply
able TO take care of himself. And the
white man, too" added Colonel GIddings.
The Captain. who said he was born III Mel
son and reared in Richmond. declared that
there is no negro problem except TO give
the negro what IA hls due.
JUDGE wADDTLI.
About this time In the proceedings Mr..
southwark for "a change. got the floor
again. and proposed that Judge Waddlll.
who was ia waiting near by should be
asked TO address the conference
This brought dozen darkies TO their
feet. They all wanted 90 hear Maddill,
but their sentiments were voiced 10y one
with a game eve. who said all the business
IN the convention had been done by Mr..
Southwark and that they hadn't come to
have Southwark run the convention. Once
again confusion was supreme. Colonel Cid
dings raped ON the desk IN front of him
until be WAS red III the face and nearly
splnterod the oak plank before order was
ANYTHING like restored. But the appear.
ance OF the rodoubtable Judge was one OF
the most important numbers down on the
programme. and he had to be called out.
A youngTnan with light hair and sicsily
smile ran up TO Colonel Giddings and told
him TO appoint committee To bring IN
the congressman. lie was too late. as
the Judge was already on the stand.
A PARTING sHor.
Mr. Waddill began by opening up on
those people who had left the party re-
Gently. Next he endorsed the sherir'
resolution as admirable ana Just calculated
to meet the case. and advised his hearers
TO follow the District Committee.
No sooner had Judge Waddill began thar
il became apparent that he had hard roao
wa.Na n