Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-05-27

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in the fullness of years and honor, has been
gathered to his fathers. He was my personal
friend, and therefore mourn him. He was
The pride of Virginia and did splendid service
for her i'll her hours of need. and his name
will ever be reve1ed and beloved throughout
this Commonwealth
81 hope we may have something of the in
spiration of lis prudence and wisdom to guide
us in our deliberations OF this occasion. There
is divergence of opinion as to who will be
the choice of the National Convention in Chi
cago, but we are all Democrats, and whoever
he may be he will be Democrat and know
the Democracy of Virginia we'll enough to say
that when the selection is made they will all
rally with one voice to his support, and will
march on to triumphant victory. hope, gen.
tlemen, that all we may do here to-day will
rebound to the honor of the people Of Virginia
and Of their common country
This was followed by Judge D. S. Pierce Of
Wythe, announcing The agreement that had
been arrived at, and suggesting that the con-
vention take recess and the two Wigs retire
and select their two elegates-at-large. This
was done.
UNDOING THEIR FIRST WORK.
When the Cleveland meeting assembled to
make their new choice of two instead of four
delegates large, there was considerable
opposition to the acceptance of any such COM
promise, and Hon. John Goodc in his speech
withdrawing as a nominee for delegate-at.
large was frequently interrupted. Mr.. Ball
any compromise and moved that all
Il .1 nnn tacl Na MI 7
and Mr.. Ayres urged the acceptance Of the
compromise. A telegram from Atlanta an
nouncing the Cleveland victory in the Georgia
convention, added to the opposition to accept
ing the compromise. Judge j. W. Marshall
of Craig, Holmes Conrad and Hon. e. L
O'Ferrall (who had just come from a sick
bed) appealed in behalf of the compromise.
Mr.. W. R. Alexander Of Winchester, claimed
that it was Democratic principle for the
majority to rule. There had always been
differences of opinion in conventions, but nc
harm followed. The Cleveland men should
make no concessions. The meeting finally
nominated two delegates-at-large under the
compromise plan-Basil Gordon and John
Goode, with Fitz. Lee and Rufus A. Ayers as
alternates.
The anti Cleveland men met to select then
two. Their delegates-at-large all resigned as
those of the Cleveland men had done, and the
meeting elected John W. Daniel and S. Well
ford Corbin as delegates-at-large, with W. T.
Sutherlin and DR.. NJ. Q. Holt as alternates.
SECRETARIES AND VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE
CONVENTION.
The way being now cleared, OF supposed to
be clear, the State convention re-assembled al
5 P. NJ. and was addressed by Gov Mckinney
counselling harmony. The committee on per-
Bell Bigger and Jas. K. Fisher were the Sec
retaries and Thos. Kivlighan Of Staunton
Sergeant-at-Arms. The Vice President for the
10th congressional district, chosen by the dis
trict and elected by the convention, was W
A. Anderson of Rockbridge
ELECTORS AT LARGE.
Holmes Conrad of Winchester, and Mai. R
e. Kent Of Wythe, (author of the Kent Rail
road billy were chosen as electors-at-large.
The District electors are-1st District, W
A. Little, Jr., of Fredericksburg; I'd, Robert
R. Prentiss, Of Nansemond; Sd, Meade Has
kins, of Richmond 4th, F. R. Lassiter, Of
Petersburg; 9Th, N. H. Hairston, of Henry
9th, J. Thompson Brown, of Bedford; 7th. A
Moore, of Clarke; Sth. r. W. Moore, of Fair
fax; 9th, Jos. q. Wysor, OF Pulaski; 10th. II
D. Flood, of Appomattox.
CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE COMMITTEE.
Hon. W. A. Jones nominated Basil Corridor
of Rappahannock, Tor Chairman of the State
Democratic Committee, and he was unani
mously elected A resolution thanking thu
retiring chairman, j. Taylor Ellyson, for hi.
superb service, was offered by M. Glennan
of Norfolk, and unanimously adopted. The
convention then ad journed until $50 P NJ
A STORMY TURNING POINT.
So far everything in the convention itsel
had worked without jar. On the reassem
bling. Judge W. F. Rhea, Cleveland man
with long dropping moustache, a plenty o.
nerve and Gas delegate describes him) {
good deal Of the devil in his eye rose He had e
resolution endorsing Cleveland to introduce
and in order to get it before the convention
moved to reconsider the resolution adopted il
the morning requiring all resolutions to go tt
the Committee ON Resolutions. The anti leve
land men quickly OWNED his purpose and &
strong lunged antl-Cleveland contingent
from Richmond who were not delegates, bu
were in the hall, assisted the Cleveland
men in an attempt to howl Judge Rhea down
The Times says Of the scene:
The speech OF Mr. Rhea was turning poin
in the work of the convention. As soon as he
llluded to his intention to induce the conven
ton to express preference for Mr.. Cleveland
if a majority Of the delegates should be in
favor Of him, a regular bedlam broke loose
The speaker endeavored to continue, but fol
many minutes he was unable to make himself
heard on account of the immense uproar that
prevailed. Repeated calls for Daniel brought
the Senator to his feet and he was greeted
with frantic applause by his friends.
Major Daniel endeavored to silence the ex.
cited multitude, but in vain. In the mean
time the chairman sat motonless. Finally
the tumult somewhat subsidized and Judge
Rhea could once more be heard. He contin-
ued in his strain undisturbed. and the uproa1
broke loose again. Matters began to look eX-
ceedingly serious, and the leaders hurried to-
gether for hasty consultation. There were
Senator Basil b. Gordon on the platform, the
neW-elected Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee; General Fitz Lee, Mayor
Ellyson, Colonel Tazewell Elicit, j. S. 3
Thompson, Senator Daniel. Thomas Martin
and Colonel Thomas Smith. During this con-
sultation the friends of Mr.. Cleveland adj
mitted that the step taken by Judge Rhea was
in violation of the spirit of the compromise
agreed upon. 1t had been distinctly under.
stood that the delegates should be equally di-
vided and that the Cleveland people should
have the'privilege of organizing the conven
ton provided thatno fight of any sort would be
made. The outcome of the consultation were
several conciliatory speeches by Senator
Gordon and General Lee.
SENATOR GORDON
Senator Gordon expressed his views in the
following manner:
at about o'clock last night, gentlemen
wearied and worn out and tired and exhaust
ed with the conscientious duties of the day,
there gathered in nv room a little Dartv of