Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-03
A BEAUTIFUL ROW.
The Fourth District Republican Con-
SIeSSiOlal Convention.
Thorp and Charles Gee. Of Prince
George--scencs of the Widest
Confusion-Thorp' spccch-An In
trryieyv With Colonel Brady.

FARMvU.IE. VA, June 2.-Cspe-
cial.)-The Republican Congressional Con-
vention Of the Fourth District met here
to-day, the result being that after a
session of storms and dissensions Two
candidates were nominated TO represent
the district in the Fifty-nfth Congress.
1t Is as fully conceded by all sensible
Republicans. as by the Democrats. that
the proceedings of this convention were
the most disgraceful ever known In the
Fourth District OF Virginia on any SINH
lar occasion. Rowdyism and confusion
reigned. and the chairman, who first
called the meeting to order, was as pow
erless TO preserve decency and decorum
as an infant would have been.
In the midst Of storm OF swearing
vengeance on the heads OF one another,
and without the first preliminary steps
toward q formal organization Of the con-
yention. two nominations of candidates
for Congress were made by the opposing
factions, before two irregular opposing
chairmen. sitting upon the same rostrum;
and each nomination was voted upon at
tho same time by reclamation. and each
was declared by the chairman Of the fac
ton nominating 10 be the choice OF the
Republican convention assembled.
BEGGARs DESCRIPTION.
The disgusting scenes of the meeting
,,egears description. and a number of the
hest element of both factions lett the
building.
Al ~ o'clock Distrlct-Chairman J. r.
Rawlings. of Brunswick, called the
convention 20 order. Before he could
state the object OF the convention a: W.
Harris. one Of Brady's delegates from
Dinwddie, began TO question ,he Cn a.
with regard TO the preparation oi tno
roll of delegates. which included two sets
Of delegates from LunenDurs.
The Brady faction, being unable 10 con-
4rol the organization without the eXclu-
sion of the Lunenburg delegates, made Il
bitter. bot vain, fight, on the GROUNDS
that no contesting delegation should nave
the right of participating until after the
temporary organization. and the Com
,nittee on Credentials had decided which
of the two sets Of contestants were the
prlma facie delegates.
The Chair ruled 10 the contrary. and'
amid terrible noise. Colonel Brady, VINO
himself was a delegate. arose and sara
he would appeal from the decision OF the
Chair. At no time from this point on
were there less than from two to SIX
persons claiming recognition from the
Chair and speaking at the same time.
INTO TWO SQUADS.
The Thorp and Brady factions We're
separated into two squads-the one on
the right. the other on the left OF the
huilding-and when IL became apparent
10 Brady that he was supported by a.
minority delegation, some one OF his lieu
tenants moved that w. NJ. Flanagan, OF
Powhatan. be made chairman. and be
fore the vote on this could be taken an
other of Brady's followers nominated
Hon Charles Gee, OF Prince George
for Congress. and the nomination was
carried In the mean time, on the op-
posite side of the house, the Thorp rae
ton had placed in the chair one OF their
men. and the vote was taken and car
rled on the denomination of Hon. X 1.
Thorp for Congress.
During all of this time Mr.. Thorp was
without the building, no one bat dele
gates. their alternates. and newspaper
renorters having been admitted Mr.
Gee, who seemed much surprised at being
nominated. went upon the rOstrum ana
thanked the convention for naming hin
as it's choice for 50 exalted position
as congressman. He pledged his untiring
emphasized the assertion that he would
under no circumstances give up the fight.
During the remarks of Mr.. Gee three
or four others were speaking on the other
side of the house, none of whom was "A
half dozen yards away; hence not much
of Gees speech could be heard. Be
fore the doors Were thrown open to the
public, and even before Thorp had been
apprised Of what his side of the conven-
ton had done. Bradys forces elected the
following members Of the State Commit
tee: James ID. Brady, Hon. w. NJ. Flana-
gan, and a. w Harris. After this they
assisted John NJ. LangstOn to the stage,
and requested him to make a speech, but
the tumult was too great, and Langston
withdrew in disgust. without uttering a
word.
HAD ENOUGH.
At this juncture Captain ]. A. G.
Stevens. who was acting as secretary
threw down his pencil and made his exit
from the building, saying he had enough
OF such Towdy proceedings The Brady
faction elected Captain Il. 5. Hooper
chairman of the congressional district.
Hooper was the eXpectant dark horse"
The split which came to-day was no
more than was generally predicted, and
Hooper thought his chances were excel
lent. His name, however. was not men,
At the conclusion of their informal cleo
ton above referred 10 the Brady fac
ton withdrew from the building and Mr.
Thorp was ushered in and took the stand
amid great cheering.
THORPS SPEECH.
Among other things Mr.. Thorp said he
did not know what he had done to bring
down upon his head the cnmity of a
single Republican in the district but he
did know many reasons why some who
were opposing him should be his support
ers He had taken the nomination two
years ago when not a man in the district
had shown the willingness or had the
temerity TO take up the grand old flag.
'Where are these Republicans to-day?
Seekinl; TO ride upon the current OF a
presidential year into office" The speaker
said tho great heart of the country WAS
with him. He had but a month ago been
offered the nomination. in a certain meet
tng not held for that purpose, If he would
60 certgj n things which his conscience and
his God knew To be wrong. He declined
the Offer. as he had rather be right than
be congressman. lie was told that he
was the first man they had ever seen who
had spuTned seat In Congress. "Who
am l opposed by?" said he II answer.
gentleman who but a month ago was my
strongest advocate: a man who but a
month ago said the nomination would
not be worth the paper II was written on.
i say 1 will carry the old flag to a glo-
rlous victory. From the day you gave me
the fae IN 'N / have never violated a
promise to a mortal man."
Mr.. T1oTp said he was no trickster bur