Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-06
SOUTHERN SOCIETY ELECTION.
The Most Exciting Contest In the History
of the Organization.

There was lively contest on 1nursOay
| night last. says the New York Times. at the
| annual election of the Southern Society.
The fght centred mainly on the secretary
ship. for which there were two candidates.
Wilton Randolph, who held the Office last
| year. and A. q. Lathrop.
Both gentlemen made warm contest for
the Office. and for two weeks their friends
had been active day and night in their be-
half. IL was by far the most bitterly-con-
tested election known in the club since 1T
was founded. and during the canvass II
assumed all the features of political
campaign.
Toward the end the battle grew particu-
larly warm through the revival of the old
scandal, which almost caused an upheaval
in the club two years ago. This was the
shooting ARRAY in which Mr.. Randolph
and w. II. Clark figured. As far as could
be learned at the time Of the occurrence,
Mr.. Randolph was perfectly innocent IN
this matter. and the club endorsed this
view soon after the affair by expelling
Clark. The latter had picked q quarrel
with Mr. Randolph and afterward tried to
shoot him.
Clark disappeared after the shooting.
but he was afterward arrested. indicted.
and admitted to bail. Before the case was
called for trial he left the city, forfeitlDg
his bond, and he has not been seen in New
York since. He never again entered the
Southern Society's clubhouse on west
| Twenty-fifth street, but he left number
| of friends in the club who took up his
quarrel against Randolph. Naturally these
gentlemen were among the most ardent
workers against the reelection OF the
| clubs secretary, and the old scandal was
made q distinct issue.
This angered MIR. Randolph and deter
| mined HIM to win the election at all
| A Il n1IaI 20 ha f,ra ia
| DAYS ago by the publication OF Oh anony-
nous communication in an evening paper
contaiping a fierce attack on the Secreta-
~, denouncing him for being mixed up
! in a dispraceful scandal" and accusing
| HIM of having neglected his duties as an
| officer of the club during his term. MT.
| Randolph's friends redoubled their efforts.
| The other side also increased Its active
working force. and az result every mem
| CLUB to vote was taken possession OF by
one faction or the other yesterday.
Captain Hugh II. Garden, the retiring
president. was drawn into the contest very
much against his will. The regular nomi-
nee for the presidency was DR.. James H..
| Parker, president of the United States Ma
tional Bank, and very popular man IN
the club When the movement for Mt.
Randolph's reelection was started 1T was
| 0eclutQ Dy ltS iN-SiONs up
tain Garden. The latter, however, de-
clined at the last moment TO run. and so
there was only one candidate for the presi-
dency.
me fight was extended to portion OF
the Executive Committee. There were
thirteen members TO be elected, and
twenty-two names appeared on the bal
lots. from which choice was TO be made.
Four OF these Withdrew after the ballot
was made up, and opposite their names
was the word declined. They were
Joseph l.. Robertson. Howard Saunders,
q. Terry Sinclair. and Robert w. Gwath-
mey.
On account of the irregularity OF the
vote on the Executive Committee the
count of the ballots was not completed
until after O'Clock this morning. although
only 225 votes were cast. Mr.. Lathrop was
elected by majority of three votes, the
total number cast for HIM beng ia,
against III for Mr.. Randolph. The ticket
elected in full is as follows:
President, James II. Parker; Nice-Presl-
dent, William =. Thompson; Treasurer.
James l.. Johnson; Secretary, A. u. La
throp: members of the Executive Commit
tee-Hugh Il. Garden, John II. Abney, X.
l.. Harrison, Ex. Norton, Peter Mallett;
Stuart Douglass, John @. Calhoun. Samuel
Spencer, Charles A. Deshon, James Swami.
r. A. Pickrell, Lorenzo Semple. Evan
Thomas.