The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-08
MR.. THOMAS s. MARTIN
NOMINATED FOR UNITED STATES
SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA.
Gained the "Lopg Term" on tho Sixth
Ballot by Plurality of 1o-Gen. Eppa
Hunton for the "short Term"


Fxcange was thronged with members OF
the Legislature and their friends. fory
never since the famous Daniei-Barbour
senatorial contest has any one been waged
with such persistent earpestsess. Per
feet good feeling prevailed and frequently
the staunch supporters OF one candidate
would be found visiting about the head
quarters Of the others, all loyal to their
respective candidates. yet Nirsinians an
men above reproach, capable OF DONG
nothing dshonorabe or corrupt and yet
striving b. every commendable means
TO gain votes and enlist enthusiasm loi
their chosen favorites.
In the first early hours Of the morning
word came from the headquarters OF
Senator Hunton that his name would not
be presented for the long term. The an
nOuncement was swiftly passed 10 the
rooms Of the other candidates, and then
speculation was rife as TO the result thls
would have upon the other candidates
As night came on It was easy TO see
that the great fight was crysuiZing, ana
as the darkness fell IL was apparent that
before anothrr day should come the
Democratic party would practically have
elected the senators and ended one oil
the greatest contests within the history
OF the State
Some Of the leaders were inclined to
delay the caucus. thinking that such ac-
ton would best benefit their candidates.
When the hour for opening the caucus ar
rived IL was pretty generally UNDERSTOOD
that nominations for the two United
States senator's would be taken up al
though the General Assembly will, under
al Of fOd
the election until the second Tuesday after
the opening Of the sessiOn-December 18TH.
The friends Of General Lee were DESTROYS
to put of the nomination, but they were
out-manOeuvered by the Martin people
and It was then apparent that the latter
had tho upper hand. When the last pal
lot was taken and before the result had
been announced. there arose a u'ishy
cheer among the Martin men, which was
! Immediately taken up by the crowd that
uas I'm waiting outside IN the lobby.
II was SIS i. NJ. when Chairman Ryan
! called the caucus to order Senators
Lovenstein and Echols acted as secre-
] taries.
Senator Echols offered a resolution pro-
viCing for the admission Of the reporters
Of the Democratic press to the caucus,
provided that they only published re-
ports sanctioned by the chairman Of the
i'HFA+NAFAA
without opposition.
4 resolution offered by Mr.. Cardwen,
/ forbidding smoking in the caucus, as has
! been the custom Of former sessions, was
also adopted.
The following resolution was offered by
/ Senator James Hay. Of Madison county:
/ Resolved. That this caucus do now pro
! coed to the nomination Of a candidate for
! United Stetes senator 10 fill the uneXpired
/ term of the late Senator Barbour. which
! expires March 4, 1885. and then TO nomi-
| nate a candidate for United States sena-
| tor for the full term beginning March 4,
| 1885, and then TO proceed to nominate
| candidates for the Capitol and basement
/ officers beginning first with the First
! Auditor then Treasurer, Secretary Of the
! Commonwealth. Second Auditor, Register
/ Of the Land Office, Superintendent Of
! Public instruction. Superintendent Of the
/ Penitentiary. Railroad Commissioner and
/ Superintendent of Public Printing.
The independent.
! Major Baker p. Lee. Of Elizabeth City,
/ submitted communication from Judge
| r. T.. Buford, of Brunswick. who asked
! for admission into the caucus on mo-
! ton Of Mr.. ii. II. Downing. Of Clarke
! and Warren. a resolution was adopted
/ referring the matter 10 a committee Of
five. 10 report at the next meeting of the
caucus.
| When the chairman declared nomina-
| lions for the unexpired term OF United
! States sci ator TO be in order there was
! an ominOus silence. which lasted one OF
/ two minutes. Finally Major Baker Il
! Lee arose i'm his seat and announced that
| it afforded him great pleasure to present
TO the Democratic conference the name
| Of a gentleman who. thirty years ago
| was one Of the bravest soldiers and
| truest patriots Of this State. lie was now
a member Of the United States senate
! serving the people OF Virginia, and a can
ddate for the unexpired term Of office.
The whole life Of General Eppa Hunton
was a continuous eulogy OF his virtue.
The speaker next gave a short sketch
| of General Huntons life and he expressed
| the hope that his candidate would meet
| with no opposition. In 1Ong so Virginia
would not be honoring the man. but the
| old Commonwealth would only be doing
| justice TO herself, for few men IN this
State were more entitled TO the honor.
| (Applause)
Mr. John b. Moon. of Albemarle, in
| secOnding the nomination, stated that ne
was voicing the sentiment of the whole
people of his county. and he asked that
| the nomination be made unanimous.
Senator Lovenstein moved that General
| AluillOl It Ubulilldifu lN dftldildilNfl,
! This was agreed 10. and General HuntOn
was by the Chair declared TO be the choice
| of the conference.
H. The Long Term.
Chairman Ryan then announced that
| nominations for senator for the long
term, beginning on March 4, 1895, would
be in order
Senator Charles =. Jones. Of Allegheny,
was the first one TO be recognized by the
Chair. He stated that he took great
pleasure I'm placing before the Demo.
cratic conference the name Of a gentle.
| man. who If elected. would fill the office
of United States senator as Well as any
man in the United States-a man equally
famous in war and peace, General Fltz-
hugh Lee. Whenever the party needed
him no second call had ever 70 be made
upon him
Senator James Hay. Of Madison. called
attention 20 the fact that the Democratic
| members of the General Assembly had
met 10 discharge a very important duty.
and he urged his hearers TO undertake
! the deliberations with the utmost care.
The man to be selected should be a type
of Virginia manhood. man of honesty
and truth lie therefore nominated Mr..
| Thomas 5. Martin. who was recognized
| all over the State as one Of the ablest
| lawyers, who for years had devoted his
time and study to all the interests Of the
State. There was no man in whom the
affairs of the State could be better en-
trusted than Mr. Thomas S. Martin.
Mr.. j. r.. Mason seconded the nomina-
| ton Of General Lee in an eloquent speech.
| and was followed In the same strain by