The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-06
ECHOES OF THE CONVENTION.
Some Pertinent AlisrlhcushtS Of The
Silver Carnival.
THE "OLD CLEVELAND GUARD" ABSENT
The sound-Money Men Did NOT "A~
Good . showing as They Couid ha'e
Dons-Daniel's Autocracy aud MAT
tin'sFlop-Mr. Munford's Enor''

Late Thursday night after the conVeh-
ton had adjourned and the last hhsei
ing delegate had LETT the haii, an OH
man remained seated on the piAuo. I"
the busy ianitor extingulshed the lignts
and the long streamers OF bright coiors
cast weird shadows upon the "nIte-"Asi-
ed walls.
In reply TO a half-Jocular reminder tha'
the convention was over he SAID.
Yes. young man, I know II Is over
but | wa5 lust musing little over con-
ventions long before this ana even upon
our last one In Richmond | was thinK'
ing of how uncertain is politics and now
unreliable are political prophecies
This will be my last convention, PROB
ably as four years are icng to an OLD
nan, and then, too, / am somewhat DIS
couraged and regret'ul tonight
-Four years ago." be said, / was a.
Richmond and a Cleveland man with
a plenty of friends, but tonight am
here sun for Cleveland, and
Feel like one who treads alone
Some banquet hall deserted"
Then we had promises and prophecies
galore, but tonight | find all changed,
and even the prophets at home Then we
had Senator Daniel interposing his won
derful personal popularity to keep the
cleveland majority from disregarding his
wishes TO go 10 Chicago. Tonight We
have him back on a rehuent tide powerful
20 a degree. absolute autocrat In tiAs
convention, dispensing the favors he was
then asking. The idol OF the people
But" he continued. ~ miss the old
Cleveland guard Governor OFerrall is
busy with applications for pardons. John
Goode is occupied with claims and busi-
ness In Washington. Basil Gordon has
left the fortunes of politics for more
reliable fortunes. Fitz Lee was timed for
Cuba when the fight was lost and all
In all 1 cannot help but feel that even
sound-money men have not made the
best showing that we could have done"
The position taken by Messrs. ". Glen
nan and J. T.. West, the sound-money
delegates from the Second district. was
distinctly a high ana proper one. There
was some disposition IN certain quarters
TO maintain that these gentleman snoud
have resigned In the face Of the conven-
ton.
The gentlemen had been selected by
their district as sound-money men. ana
they could not have resigned. with a
view Of having the district stultify itself
In the selection OF silver delegates. TO
please the convention. There was but
one course to pursue. and Glennan dii it
make the convention Adopt an iron-clad
unit rule. or let's his district cast its vote
as hn and West would have done.
The suggestion OF Sheriff Williams that
each OF the delegates elected should 80
before the convention and state how he
should vote, was certainly an innovation.
and Colonel Marye or Lynchburg
promptly excited the spirit OF the con
vention when he declared that ii was
beneath the dignity Of a Virginia gentle
man to stand up and be catechised.
At this juncture. II looked as II the
convention was willing to allow the Sec
ond district TO send her two lonesome
delegates. but Congressman Swanson
stepped in the breach and raised a point.
which was legal one. anl theoretically
was right. His point was that the Sec
ond district simply nominated or indicat-
cd their prefernces TO the convention and
the convention commissioned the dele
gates and had right 10 do IL, with such
limitations as il saw III to impose
This was the mooted question. and 10
avoid an acrimonious discussion OF IL Mr..
Swanson quickly wrote out a bona-fide
unit rule, which the convention adopted
in hurry.
II is claimed by those opposed 10 The
unit rule that many OF the counties
OF the impression that II simply referred
10 the four delegaies-at-large. which the
convention was 10 elect However, this |
may be, it is now history that this cher |
ished custom OF immemoriai observance |
has been shattered for all time.
Hon Beverly b. Munford. of Richmond. |
certainly came I'm for a round share OF |
approval OF the whole convention for the |
mastery way in which he presented the |
sound-money platform and the wishes OF |
his associates in the convention. lie knew |
tha; the resolutions were doomed. but |
he nas determined not 20 be awel by |
numbers or deferred from his purpose by |
the shouts and gibes Of the needless |
horde that wanted TO listen to nothing |
bur silver twaddle and Is 10 ! idiosynca-
crcs.
Mr. Munford's thought was that the
soHni-mcney men should BE- heard in the
coiveation-should stand up and be
Not with a view or hope OF |
the sentiments OF the conven-
ton. but thar a record should be left |
that a majority of the metropolitan cities
OF Richmond, Norfolk and Portsmouth !
We're sound on the currency question. and
that when the air castles OF the silver
ties were dissolved IN the future that
Hegclus would be known 10 exist In tho
State, around which a purified party
would again rally for the perpetuatlon of
Democratic principles.
Mr.. Munford was good humored and
thoroughly In earnest. lie was not there |
for the purpose OF sowing seed OF dissen-
sion. OF TO excite prejudice and passion.
and the record stands that his we'll
timed and most iudlclOus utterances
wenC fal to foster the spirit OF harmony
which was well preserved in the face OF
the unusual proceedings.
rhs remarkable card issued by Major
Otsy was to n very large extent disge- !
yardod by the districts in their meet
NOS II was a trihe too much 10 ask |
.hat silver and gold lines he drawn down
10 the selection Of state committeeman,
and as a general thing tho districts did
"a they pleased Notwithstanding the fun
distribution OF the unprecedented card OF
Nator Otey fully sustained his reputa-
-on "a a fine organizer and party work
r. for he certainly had his figures true.
nd had a majority Of that convention
eady to sustain any position which was
lken by the leaders
REPRESENTATIVE Tyler is stlll OF the
nlulon that a majority OF the rank and
le Of the party in the Second district
IN favor Of silver.
state Senator Edward Echols. OF staun-
IN was certainly indefatlgable in his
forts TO have everybody comfortable
nd happy while they said in his town.