The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-09-17
sTAuNToN NOTES

on the 14th, after protracted illness,
aged II years. He had been a magis>
trate for a number of years, and had
taken an active part in the temperance
cause. He was gentleman of the high
est integrity, intelligent, genial and pub
lie spirited. His remains were inferred
at Staunton on the 18th. He leaves five
or six children, among them Mrs. John
NJ Carol, of Staunton.
The well known livery stable, with all
its fixtures and appointments, of Alex
ander Hartman, of Staunton, was sold
Monday last, to Messrs James w. Teabo
and " B. Smith.
As stated last week would be the case,
s. P. Ker, son of Heber Ker, of Staun-
ton, was married in Nashville, Tenn,
ON the 10th, to Miss Annie Gray, an ac>
complished lady of that place. Mr.. Ker
is member of the firm of Smith Bros.
g. Co., of Pittsburg. AS an evidence of
their appreciation of his character the
firm was represented by another mem
Der and as a token of their esteem for
Mr. Ker a solid silver service was pres
sented on the occasion of the marriage.
A number of other very valuable presents
came from friends in Pittsburg. A few
years ago Mr.. Ker went to the Smoky
City total stranger He secured a po-
sition as stenographer in the firm of
which he is a member, and 10y steady
promotion, based entirely upon merit.
he has been advanced to his present pro-
prietary relation to the establishment.
The convention called by the regular
Democratic organization, which met in
Staunton, on Monday, the 18th, to nom
mate two candidates for the Legislature,
was largely attended by influential citi-
zens from all parts of the county. The
| interest which caused so many farmers
to leave their homes, for political pur-
pose-something rather unusual of late
in Augusta eounty-was the contest be-
| tween the Alliance and the simon pure
Democrats. The Alliance had recon-
mended to the convention two of their
number-Messrs. H. J. Williams and G.
w. Koiner-for the nominations. The
district primaries to appoint delegates
| to this convention, resulted in the selec-
ton of a majority of Alliance men, be-
cause they were fully organized and
aroused to the Importance of capturing
the convention. They went to the con-
vention to man, and answered the call
of the secretary from the hour of assem-
bling to the close of the proceedings. The
Democrats attempted to circumvent
them, and worked, through all the arts
and tricks of old politicians, to defeat at
least one of the Alliance candidates who
had been recommended by that organi-
! cation. They were not particular as tn
which one of them. The object was to
break the Alliance slate, and to that end
concentrated on Col. J. III. Crawford, a
member of the Alliance, but who had
published a card declaring against the
sub-treasury scheme and out and out in
favor of John w. Daniel for reelection
to the Senate. The first test of the
| strength of the two factions was in the
contested delegation from South River
| district. The simon pures and the ALI
ance men had each sent delegation
the latter having majority of nearly
| two to one in the prinary-the former,
| boiling and claiming to and did represent
| the party machine and its rules. The
committee on credentials was with the
| simon pures, and reported in favor of the
minority report was submitted, and
when the question came up for decision
before the full convention, the Alliance
won by nearly four to one and seated
their delegation. When nominations
were called for the three candidates
above mentioned were presented to the
convention. Three ballots were taken,
and at the close of each, to defeat nom
nation the Staunton delegation, in the
interest of the machine, changed their
votes and then howl would go up for
| another ballot-a preordained and pre-
arranged programme. This was kept
| up until nearly shutdown, when it be-
came evident that the Alliance men, who
| had been very conservative and orderly,
under the provoking circumstances did
not intend to submit much longer to
such tactics. They were in a humor to
assert themselves, rules or no rules, NOM
mate their men and go home Before
the impending crisis materialized, at a
| time when it was clear that the simon
pures could not secure one of the nomi>
nees, the Staunton delegation voted for
Williams, and thus closed the wrangle,
Koiner having been nominated on pre-
viOus ballot.
1t was a clear, distinct and positive
Alliance victory over the machine all
| through, and severe and crushing re-
huke to the machine and its lnanipula,
tors.
A resolution was adopted endorsing
the record made in Congress by Hon. HI.
st. George Tucker, which was followed
by speech from Mr. Tucker-and such
a speech it was. He proclaimed himself
| as always the friend of the farmers and
asked them if there was any other party
than the Democrats to which they could
go for free coinage of silver bill; legis-
| lation to reduce taxes; to condemn the
''billion" congress and to make the rails
roads surrender the public lands, which
had been granted them to assist in con-
structing the five great continental lines
| which link the Pacific and Atlantic
oceans together by iron bands. Mr.
| Tucker knows that the free coinage of
silver bill was introduced in the last
congress by a Republican Senator
He knows that Democrats from the
South who were known to be bitterly
hostile to it, entered into a bargain with
the silver mine-owner Senators to supe
port it provided these silver Senators
would vote with them to defeat the
election bill He knows that some of
the ablest Southern Senators, were and
are utterly opposed to free coinage of
silver. He knows that the Sherman bill,
which was a substitute for the free coin
age bill, has given the country $40, OOO.-