Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-24
At MARSHALL HALL.
,rtjrs Of WsshlnSton's Virginia Demo-
Gratis a Great Success
.,orurn CONFEDERATE REUNION
rree-siIver Meeting of Very
n..,aca sort-secretary smith Mum
90 ri. Attitude Toward the Adj
ministration.

.r,fA-Aftor a dciightfu evening Spe"s a.
,,.rsb.p Hall on the occasion Of It's
,,,-tb annual excursion, the virginia
,,...,o,ratic Association OF the District Of
l,,,,r,h,a returned 20 the city last night
,hout midnight. every man and woman Of
a.. 40 that went having thoroughly en-
,oysa themselves, and all Of them feeHhg
,soov and much the better for the TIP.
THO excursion was down the Potomac on
49, steamer Charles Manchester, and I'M
der the excellent management OF III
= \. Harper and his assistants, was
decided success.
When the Virginia Democrats lanaeo
they were Joined by quite a large num-
Der who had gone down by earlier boa1s'
and when they assembled in the paVlloh
there were probably 1900 persons present
about one-third OF whom were ladies'.
great many who had attended the granu
Confederate reunion at Richmond were
present. and aside from the fact that the
entertainment yesterday evening was re-
do.cnt Of free silver. one would have sup
rosei that II was another reunion OF Con-
tolerate vets and Nifginians on the MS
tor.c banks Of the Potomac. The utmost
gO0l-feliowship prevailed, everybody was
introduced and reintroduced, and hand-
shaking and congratulations were the or
der Of the day.
THE sPEECH-MAKING.
The stand. which was neatly decorated
ana brilliantly lighted with electricity,
WAS occupied by the officers of the asso-
clatlon. aud DR.. Harper presided In
onenine the proceedings he gave a brief
history OF the organization, and told OF
the vast good Il had done for the cause OF
Democracy In the sixteen years Of It's ex-
istence. and the Doctor concluded his
well-timed address by saying that he
hoped they would send sixteen voters 10
Nirrinia next November for every one
sent I'm previous presidential contests to
vote for Bryan and sewall.
Commissioner Bell was then introduced,
az he made a capital free-silver speech.
which was enthusiastically applaNted
throughout He was followed by Mr..
Frank H. Anderson. OF Alexandria, who,
though now resident Of Washington. IS
an asplrant 10 congressional honors in
lhe Eighth Virginia District. He made
an appropriate speech, which was well
received.
Among those present were Messrs. Ru-
fus B. Merchant, Frank Hume, John
A. Jones' Burton T. Doyle. d. z. Nc
Kenna. A, K. Phillips. w. ". Price, r.
&. Glasscock, Harold Benedict, J. A. Set
he. s l.. Harmon, G. y. Brooks, w. II.
saunders j. W Peake. and others.
Tee association Is unanimous for Bryan
and sewan and free silver.
HOKE SMITHS POSITION.
Among the sixteen or seventeen thousand
government officials and the politicians
On Washington Secretary Hoke Smith,
and hts position in regard to the pending
political contest Is the topic Of discussion.
His paper, the Atlanta (Ga) Journal has
declared in favor OF the Chicago nomi-
nees. and will support that ticket. though
the convention that nominated II not
only refuHed 10 endorse the a0ministra-
ton. but absolutely declined TO entertain
such a proposition Under such circum-
stances. II was supposed that Mr.. Smith
would tender his resignation as Secretary
81 the Interior 70 the President. and it
was currently reported that he had done
60. Mr. Smith however. refuses either
20 confirm or deny the report that he
would resign.
The Star Of this evening says; ut IS
understood that Secretary Hoke Smith
has informed several intimate friends in
che South OF his purpose 10 support Bryan
and Sewall. and that If the President and
is Cabinet bolt the Chicago ticket, either
up Mckinley or for a sound-money Dem
ocratic ticket he Smith will retire from
the Cabinet without further ceremony"
II this Is true. Secretary Smith must he
va',ing for an intimation from the Presi-
that his resignation would be ac-
bic. Either this. or Mr. Smith has
assurance that the administration,
Ike himself, win support the Chicago
nominees. and will make a declaration to
that effect.
GEORGIA EXPECTATION.
After the very decided stend his paper
has taken IN support Of Bryan and re-
vail Mr.. Smiths Georgia constituents
Uil certainly look for his retirement from
Mr.. Cieveland's official family. unless Mr.
smith IS perfectly satisfied that the Presi-
dent IS I'm accord and full sympathy with
the position taken in the national cam
paign by Mr.. Smiths paper, the Atlanta
Journal. Ills closest friends say IN de-
fence Of his present equivocal attitude
that the administration has given no in
umatlOn that II prefers the election OF
Mckinley and Hobart 10 that of Bryan
and Sewal. and they argue that because
SIR Cleveland has given no intimation
that he would support the Republican
nominees. Mr.. Smith Is justified in re-
naming a member of Mr.. Cleveland's
cabinet.
This will not do for southern Demo-
cratic leader Mr.. Hoke Smith must re-
sign. II the President does not declare
himself I'm favor Of the Chicago nominees.
or the influence Of his paper in the cam
paim will be practically nothing. He
can't be one thing In Georgia and another
in Washington.
PERSONAL
Mr.. Frank McGGirk, Of the Hot Springs.
Va is at the Shoreham.
ar. and Mrs William III. Selden, Of the
Metropolitan Hotel have gone 10 Abng-
don, Va, to visit Mrs. Selden's sister, Mrs.
Carpenter
Minister Mcdonald spent the greater
portion Of the morning at the State De-
partmont discussing diplomatic affairs
with the Assistant Secretary.
j. r. Gordon, Of Charlotte, n. C., is at
the Raleigh.
W. Stronach. T. c. Wilkinson. and John
A. King. OF Richmond. Va. are at the
Howard House
Editor r. r. Barham. OF the index-Ap-
peal Petersburg Va. is in the city, on
business trip and will return home to-
morrow.
H. h. Fries. OF Salem. n. C., is at the
Metropolitan.
a. ". Butler. Of Richmond, is at the
S. James
POSTAL.
Hanna f. Fulcner has been commits
stoned postmaster at Atlantic, n. c.
new pOst-oflice has been established
az Tamesa. Franklin county. Va, with
Cordilic c. Smith az postmaster.
Changes in star schedules have been
made In Virginia as follows:
Abingdon 20 Lebanon-Leave Abingdon
daily except Sunday. 8 A. ~: arrive Le-
hanon by 2:o0 T.. NJ; leave Lebanon daily.
except Sunday. 10 A. NJ: arrive Abingdon
BY 800 l.. NJ.
f,,,,,,,c,..s % ptrchiaa fl .eave Durnn-