The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-28
A FRIGID GATHERING
1t May Have Been EarneS'nesS. But Things
Looked to Be Mighty Gold.
DECLARE THEY ARE GOOD DEMOCRATS

OfGrovcr Clcvelnud's Nnmc Causes
Grcnt Checriu1-AII tho Districts
Except the Fifth Sent Delegates.
Richmond. Va, August 2I-(Special)
The State Convention of the National
Democratic party. or gold Democrats.
as they are generally known, was held
in the Academy of Music here to-day
IWcnty-tour delegates to the Indian
apolis Convention were chosen; an cleo
toral ticket was placed in the field.
and State Committee was chosen.
There were about 200 delegates in at
tendance. 1t was Il fine looking body
OF men. Some had been prominent in
politics, like James Bumgardner. of
Staunton; u. c. Venable and Alexander
Hamilton, OF Peters burg; S. V. Southail.
of Charlottesville; w. l.. Royal and
Wyndham r. Meredith, of Richmond.
There was Il noticeable lack of en-
thusiasm at the beginning of the pro-
ceedinSs. The entrance of none of the
leaders occasioned any applause what
ever II was 1l:20 O'Clock when Mr..
Joseph Bryan walked out before what
was apparently very serious or very
cold audience. Not n cheer greeted
the appearance OF Mr.. Bryan. He sim
ply called the body to order and intro
duced Rev. DIR. James p. Smith, who
offered a fervcnt prayer. Mr.. Bryan
then moved that Mr.. Alexander Hamil-
ton, OF Petersburg, be temporary chair
man. and Mr.. II. w. Anderson, of Rich
mond. temporary secretary. Mr.. Ham
iiion was cheered when he appeared on
the stage
Mir Hamilton Is a fine looking man
In the prime Of life. lie talks well. In
his address he made no attempt nt ora
tory. He talked more In an argumentive
tone and style. The audience gradually
4 ha L or gho I N ,c.-
ut the Chicago platform were applaud
cd. No noisy demonstration was made
until Mr.. Hamilton mentioned the
name Of Cleveland. Then the audience
yelled and cheercd long and loud.
After Mr.. Hamilton had concluded his
remarks the band played Il patriotic
air and the rules Of the House of Dele
gates were adopted 10 govern the body.
The .oli OF delegates was then called
and the delegates Went into conference
by districts to select members of the
variOus committees. \ short recess
was taken for this purpose
The committees were named as fol-
lows:
Permanent Organlzaton--Flrs Dis
trict. +. NJ. Scott; Second District, G. a.
Nash; Third District. j. NJ. Lcake;
Fou.th District, DR.. u. i. Taylor; Sixth
District. h. f. Kirkpatrick; Seventh
District. William D!nwiddie: Eighth
District. II. r. Howard: Ninth District,
J. .Sun;ing Jr.; Tenth District. T. Ii.
McCulloch.
Credentials-First District. Lewis NJ.
c. Baker Second District, Thornton
Jones. Third Distiict. II. c. os;erbnd;
Fourth District. II. p. Stratton: Sixth
District. r. j. Phelps: Seventh District,
J. Trplctt IiaXall: Eighth District, #.
l.. Cockrcil: Ninth District. j. B. Peters;
Tenth District, J. p. Hawkins. Jr.
There wee no delegates from the
Fifth District.
After :hc committees had retired for
conference Mr.. S. V. Southall. OF Abe
marie. responded to calls for a speech.
He told the convention that in 1876 he
represented in part the Seventh Dis
tV!ct at the National Democratic Con-
vention at St. Louis; in 1850 ne was an
alternate TO the Cincinnati convention,
and in 1892, he was delegate to Chi
cago. and assisted in nominating Clcve-
land. His remarks along this line
were loudly appiaudcd. Mr. SouthaIl
said some person who did not measure
up to the top OF Cleveland's boots had
called he President party wrecker.
Iiut he considered Mr.. Cleveland a pa
tr!ot Mr.. Southall went OH to argue
that no one who took part in the p,i-
mar!es to send delegates to Chicago
was in honor bound to support the
ticke; nominated for the delegates had
given the Democrats n Populist on n
Populist platform.
He closed his address by saying he
had stood in the Capitol square around
the statues of Virgnia's great sons
and asked them what he was TO do
All had told him 20 stand by the honor
and the credit Of the nation. Mr.. south
all was loudly applauded when he closed
his address. which was delivered with
fine effect.
The Committee on Credentials re-
ported that the roll OF delegates pre-
par I by the Secretary was correct and
the report was adopted.
The Committee on Permanent Or
eanization. through Chairman c. A.
Nash. reported as follows: Chairman.
James Bumgardner. Jr., of Staunton;
Secretary. II. w. Anderson, of Rich
mond. Vice Presidcnts-First District.
=. NJ Scott; Second, r. B. Tunstan:
Third, r. f. Blackwell: Fourth. r. G.
Venable; Sixth, William v. Wilson:
Seventh. A. l.. Rives; Eighth, George
L. Cocksan; Ninth, NJ. NJ. Morris; Tenth,
IT. N. Logan.
Captain Bumgardner was warmly ap-
plauded when he appeared on the stage.
He made n brief speech There wns
plenty. OF warmth and fire Ia his talk.
q N sogd txt,, al