The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-18
QUICK RETALIATION
State Chairman Lambs Friends Get To-
gether and Enter a Bitter Protest.
WILL NOT SURRENDER TO DESEnTERS.
The Uniinppy Prcdtcnment OF s.irctor
Harper Who Accidentally found
ing Where Iras the
$4,000 Gone To.

Immedatly after the adjournment of
the committee meeting composed OF
about Atty prominent Republicans. OF
the Second District. was held to protest
against the action of that body. This
meeting included the unseated mem
! bers. the old Executive Committee.
number of Lamb members OF the state
Committee. and others. Among those
on the floor were Mcssrs. Alvah H.
Martin, l.. l.. Many. II, l.. Woodard
S. b. Carney. S. B. Carney, .Ir., y. G.
Peachy. W. II. Fnirless, II. Libby, j, J.
Beale, j. r. Waddy, s. w. Fleming. S.
w. Seldner. NJ. Levy, w. IL. King. $.
w. Lyons, w, J. Peale. Judge c. w.
Murdaugh. George l.. i'ryor George l..
! Melvin, Jordan Thompson, l.. j. i.
Killam and John r.. Dolcs
MIR. Alvah ii. Martin was made
chairman and Mr.. James r. Bcale see.
retary. and the meeting settled down
to business.
In the very beginning an incident
occurred which was both tragic and
humorous. depending entirely upon the
point from which 1t may be viewed.
When the door was closed and NIL
were assembled II was seen that there
was present Colonel L. H. Harper. dis
trict elector, who was rather more than
suspected of not being In sympathy
with the meeting.
| Some one saw Colonel Harper and
asked him TO make n few remarks
| Colonel Harper said he had gotten in
merely by accident. was there as re-
porter and had nothing To say.
Then some one asked the colonel to
explain himself-to say whether he
was in favor of the regularly elected
committee or for the men who had
supported Whaley.
Colonel Harper. being thus pressed,
said he had attended the meetings on
both sides. He had opinions. but did
not care to express them. He was no
speaker
a POINTED QUESTION.
AT this point Mr.. s. b. Carney arose
| two inches, and remnrkcd Il know
Colonel Harper; | don't say he Is a
speaker but he talks well. During the
campaign used to drop into his office,
which was headquarters in Il way, and
! l liked TO hear him discuss the issues
of the campaign. Every Republican in
the Second District voted for him. In
all fairness and candor he owes II to
us and to himself TO say whether he
agrenc Win the action of those whom
we are denouncng or with us. He
don't have 10 make II speech: all he has
to say Is yes or no.
Mr.. Peachy said Mr. Carney was more
or less mistaken. Colonel Harper was
not the choice OF Che district. He had
been forced upon il by the convention.
He no more represented the Republic
cans OF this district than he, Pcachy
did
Then some one moved to excuse Colo
mel Harper.
PUT YOURSELF IN HIS PLACE.
Colonel Harper stll making no re-
ply, Mr.. Fairless was on his feet dcclar-
ing that If any one should ask him
Fairess) his opinion regarding any ac-
ton of the Republican party. either in
Itct tVfn l. Ia ,s,,,l
nothing that would or could prevent
him from giving an honest answer yes
or no. He was SURPRISED at Colonel
Harper The colonel was not his own
man in this matter. lie was created an
elector by their votes lie belonged. hi
a sense 10 them He owed ii To them
TO explain his position He had said he
was there TO report. Report what? The
action OF that meeting To Mckinley?
Then let him do it. He. for one. had
nothing to conceal from Mckinley or
any one else.
WANTED TO SELL OUT.
Mr. Peachy wanted to know II there
was any question Of bargain ana sale
connected with the ownership OF Colo
mel Harper, If So he would like To dis
pose Of his interests in that gentleman
Mr.. Sylvester: Colonel Harper is a
servant of the people. Who made him
Ielector.
Mr. Thompson, of Nanscmond: "Tne
Republicans of Nansemond are in sym
pathy with this meeting. If Colonel
Harper isn't"
Il just want to ask" continued MIR.
Sylvester, did Colonel Harper vote for
Wise or Whaey?"
HE WAS NOT A REPORTER.
There was an apprecable pause for
reply. Colonel Harper, cornered, arose
and said he voted FOR Wise tappiausc).
He then declared that the attack which
had been made on him was an outrage
He had come there. the election over
as a private citizen, and had right to
his own opinions. He had been asked
to do this and do that, and he did not
propose to do 1t. He explained that lie
had used the word reporter inadvised-
ly. He should not have said IL. He was
not there as reporter. He was no
teller of tales
Mr. Carney and MIR F'airlcss explain
ed that they had mercy asked that
Colonel Harper he allowed to speak as
q matter of courtesy to Colonel Har
per. With this the incident closed
MASS MEETING SUGGESTED.
1t was then suggested by Mr.. Lew
that 1t was the sense OF the meeting
that mass meetings be held all over tho
district 10 show the disapprovaI in
which the action of the State Committee
was held.
Mr.. Beaver thought the Executive
Committee should hold n meeting and
decide which was the proper organiza-