Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-17
COMMITTEE MEETING.
ANOTHER CONVENTION TO BE
HELD.

A meeting of the city and county
democratic committees was held last
night TO take action looking to
the selection of single demo-
cratic candidate for the House of
Delegates, the convention called for
that purpose having on Tuesday adj
journed sine die without making a
nomination. The meeting was held in
the Aldermen's chamber in the Mar
ket building and was presided over by
Mr.. ]. T. Sweeney, chairman of the
city committee, while Mr.. r. T. Cook
acted as secretary. All the members
of the city committee, except Mr.. g.. L..
Boothe, were present, while e.county
committee was represented by Messrs.
G. B. Graham and w. W. Douglass.
Messrs. Barley, Bendheim and May,
three of the candidates before the last
C invention, were also present, while.
Mr.. Lipscomb, the other candidate,
who could not he present, was repre-
sented by Mr. T. l.. Waters. Several
of the delegates to the last convention
were also present and large crowd of
spectators were without the bar. Mr..
Sweeney stated the object of the meet
ing.
Mr.. Douglass, of the county COM
mittee, and Mr.. Norton, representing
BIr. Bsndheim, said they were present
to see if some satisfactory settlement of
the existing middle could be reached.
Mr.. Marbury, representing Mr.. Bar
ley, hoped something would be done
80 that on election day only one demo-
cratic candidate would be in the field.
He wanted the candidates TO settle this
matter if they could, but held that the
matter had not passed beyond the con-
troll of the committee, though the can
didates could not be bound by the COM
mi,tee's action.
The chair asked if it was thought
that the committee could arbitrarily
settle the question.
Mr.. Norton said he had upheld the
committee on the floor of the conven-
ton, but thought that now the matter
had passed beyond the committees
control; the committee could not. go
back on its previous ruling in ordering
primary and a convention.
Here Mr.. o. F. Carter. one
of the committee, interrupted Mr..
Norton by moving to proceed to
business; he said he wanted no oratori-
cal displays, but action. Some confu-
sion followed.
Chairman Sweeney cautioned har.
mony; he said nothing had been done
for some time for the party and he
thought it time that party rights and
principles were being looked after.
Mr.. Norton then proceeded with his
speech and said his side was willing to
accept any reasonable proposition and
bad earnestly tried to make nomina-
ton in the convention.
Mr.. S. G.. Brent, for Mr.. Barley, ask
ed Mr.. Norton if he (Mr. Brent had
not proposed during the convention
that the matter be submitted to two of
the Barley and two of the Bendheim
delegates for settlement and that Mr..
Bsndheim had declined the offer.
Mr.. Norton admitted that such
proposition had been made, but asked
Mr.. Brent if Mr.. Barley had not had
sufficient control over the convention
to adjourn it at any time. He then went
on with his speech opposing another
primary, which he said the people did
not want. he said Mr.. Bendheim was
willing to meet the other candidates Cd
fair ground aud come to settlement.
He wanted whatever odium that was
attached to those who brought about
the adjournment of the convention to
be borne by those parties.
Mr.. May said that neither Messrs.
Marbury or Norton had suggested any
plan of settlement. He proposed that
the candidates ask the committee to
order another convention to meet on
Tuesday; that each candidate select
new delegates (none of the old dele
gates to be named) and if this conven
ton did not select candidate, then the
committee should settle the matter.
Mr.. Carter moved that the candidates
be requested to confer aud submit g
plan to the committee.
Mr.. Brent held that it devolyed upon
the committee to take the matter in
hand and settle it.
Mr.. May opposed another primary,
saying it would entail an unnecessary
expense, but warned the committee
that if all four candidates went before
the people on election day republican
would be elected.
Mr.. Norton held that whatever ar
rangement might be reached must be
made by the candidates themselves.
Mr.. Bendheim then took the floor
and made quite long speech. He said
ne had struggled 10 bring ehcnt nomi.
cation by the convent,c- "a submitted
several propositions, anyone of which
would have brought about sisrmouy,
and had not been unwilling to sacrifice
his interest in the matter. Now he in
tended to fight the battle to finish,
20 do what he deemed proper. He
would not consent to go into another
primary; if such was held not 500 demo-
Gratis would take part in it; the Barley
men had adjourned the convention and
having made their bed they should be
compelled to lie on it; he would
meet the candid ,tes on fair and equal
Germs for settlement of the contro
yersy.
Mr.. Brent controverted Mr.. Bend.
neim's statement that he had done
everything in his power to bring about
4 settlement and then told how Mr.. B.
nad prevented settlement of the af-
fair. He then said that Mr.. Bendheim
had offered to toss coin to decide who
should be the candidate, but that he
Mr.. BRENT had refused to gamble for
the place.
The chairman again cautioned har-
mony; nothing could be accomplished
by the various delegates making charge