Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-05-27
The pemooratic state Convention.

The Democratic State Convention
The Democratic State Convention which
met IN Richmond last week, was one of
the largest ever held IN Virginia. After
being called to order by Hon. J. T. Elly-
son, chairman OF the State Committee,
Hon. John f. Ryan of LOuSoun, was call
ed to the chair as temporary presiding
officer. subsequently, by agreement of
the contending factions. Hon. Marshall
Hanger. of Augusta, was made permanent
president.
The Cleveland and Hill forces had held
caucusses and had determined TO mako a
fight for delegates at large to Chicago.
The Cleveland people had selected as their
candidates, ex-Gov. Fitzhugh Lee, Hon
John Goode, Hon. Rufus A. Ayers and
Hon. Basil b. Gordon, while the Hill sup
porters bad agreed upon Hon. John w.
Daniel, Gen. w. II. Payne, Lieut. Gov. J
Hoge Tyler and Hon. }. T. Ellyson, as
their candidates. The excitement was
growing in intensity, aud everything
seemed to point to protracted and bitter
contest. Wiser cOunsels prevailed, how
ever, and after a conference among the
leaders of the two factions a compromise
was agreed upon, by which the delegates
at large flour in number) were to be
equally divided between the Cleveland
and Hill supporters. This threw oil upon
the troubled waters and harmony once
more prevailed. The fact that the Con-
vention was apparently so equally divided
as to render doubtful the result of test
strength had mEch to do with the final
decision as to a compromise.
The Craftsmanship of the State Commit
tee was resigned by Hon. }, I. Ellyson
and Hon. b. B. Gordon was elected to
that position. ATT o'clock the convention
took a recess until ).
The convention re.assembled at o'clock,
when the report of the members selected
for the State committee, as recommended
by the congressional districts, was adopt
ed.
Governor Mckinney, who had been in.
vited TO be present, came info the con-
ventiOn at this juncture and was received
with applause, was introduced and made
speech extolling the democratic party
and argued that its success was far ahead
of any man who might be a candidate for
the presidency. He urged the convention
to be harmonious and to settle their dit
feTeuces here.
Lieutenant Governor Hoge Tyler was
presented and made a most humorous
speech, comparing the two factions in the
party to pair of butting billy goats. HIS
speech was heartily enjoyed by the con
vcntion John Bell Bigger and James K
Fisher were elected permanent secretaries.
DISTRICT DELEGATES TO CHICAGO.
During the recess the various districts
met and elected delegates to the Chicago
convention. They were reported to the
convention and ratified, as follows
First district +. /. Smith, Frank
Fletcher; second, Or. Joseph Bryant,
VIM. a. Young; third Charles V, Mere
dilh, b. L. Winston fourth, i. L. BIN.
ford, w. X. Mckinney; fifth, o. W. Dud-
ley, w. NJ. Semple; sixth, Carter Glass,
Wood Bouldin, jr. seventh, NJ. L. Wal
ton, 5. " Southall eighth, }. F. Ryan, ),
c. Gibson; ninth, Henry Stuart, Abe
Fulkerson tenth, Taylor Berry, II. W..
Paxton.
OF these the first, seventh, ninth, tenth,
and one each of third and eighth districts
are for Cleveland second, fourth. fifth,
sixth and one each of third and eighth are
ti-Cleveland.
Holmes Conrad AMI r. c. Kent were
elected electors at large. The latter Is
prominent alliance man.
DISTRICT ELECTORS.
First Dlstrict-W. a. Litila, Jr., of
Fredericksburg.
Seeond-Ro5ert R. rrcutiss, of Nanse.
mOnd.
Thlrd.-Meale Haskins. of Richmond.
Fourth-F X. Lasster, of Petersburg.
Ffth-II. n. IIairstOn. of Henry county.
SIXTH. Thompson Brown, of Bedford
Seventh-lIon. A. Moore, r.. of Clarke
county.
Eigdth-R. ". More, of Fairfax
Courthouse.
Nnth-Jos C Wysor, OF Pulaski
Tenth-H. D. Flood, Of Appomaftox.
Congressman Jones nominated Basil b.
Gordon for chairman of the State com
mittee, and he was unanimously elected.
Resolutions were adopted thanking the
retiring chairman, J. Taylor + Tyson, for
his services. Adjourned at 8 o'clock to
meet at $50.
THE FIRST FIGHT ~ THE CONVENTION.
The first fight of the convention was
preclpitated by motion of Mr.. Rhea. Of
Washington, a Cleveland delegate. to re-
scind the rule adopted IN Che morning re-
ferring TO the committee on resolutions,
without debate, al resolutions presented.
The object Of this was to get before ID 2
body a resolution expressing the prefer
ence of the convention for Grover Cleve
land At the conference to-day of Cleve
land delegates, Mr. Rhea said the COM
promise was ratified with the understands
ing that such a resolution should be pre-
sented. At this iuucture there were
cheers for Cleveland. An effort was made
by the Hill men to cry down Mr., Rhel,-
In moment the whole convention was
in an uproar. Senator Daniel was loudly !
called for, and the Hill men yelled them /
selves hoarse. Friends of Hill he'd a
hurried conference with Daniel on the |
stage. He arose and tried to induce his
side to all)w Rhea to proceed.
Mr.. Rhea continued to attempt to speak, |
that if the Cleveland men had a
majority of the convention they should |
express a preference, AMI if the Hill men |
had they could indicate theirs. He cited |
the case of Georgla's convention Wednes- |
day. The Hill delegates continued to yell |
and attempt to interrupt the speaker.
MR.. OoRDoN's WARNING.
Mr.. Basil b Gordon the newly Il cted |
chairman of the State committee and a
Cleveland man, explained that he with
seven prominent Democrats participated |
10 last gifts conference. His understand
ing of the compromise was that its intent
was to harmonic the two wings and not
to bring about any conflict. He chopped
that there woull be no discord and warn
ed the convention against such course.
GEN. LEE URGES HARMONY.
Con. Fiiz Lee. another Cleveland leader
who took part IN the compromise confer
ence. gave his construction of its intent
lie did not remember exactly its language,
bt the intent was that there was to be
no instructions given to the delegation
Gen. Lee had, be said, seen Mr. Cleveland
IN the last few days, and he did not
believe that gentleman would accept
a nomination of the Chicago convention