Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-10
Abingdon. va. July SO, 1897.
Mr.. Wyndham d. Robertson, Chairman


Ny Dear Si.,-The convention which as
sembled al Abingdon, Va, on the Zoth
instant. and over. which you presided. Sc
lected me as one Of the delegates at large
to represent them at Roanoke. at the
Democratic State Convention to be held
there on the 1lth proxlmo. As / was not
In the convention. and am not likely 10
receive any formal notification Of my APP
pointment. | deem 1t proper to address
you on the subject.
AZ the time OF the sitting OF your con-
vcnti0n | had just returned home after
an absence Of some months. and was not
fully advised Of the conditions which had
resulted in the two Democratic county
conVentiOnr the one then about TO as
semble and the other called for the 3lst
instant. both for the same purpose IN
part-that OF selecting delegates TO the
Roanoke Convention. Having been in
sympathy with the Independent wing OF
the party. at whose instance | had re-
ceived the nomination for the House OF
Delegates two years since my selection L
am sure. was made by your body because
It was believed l would still cooperate
with them. Upon looking into the matter
however. ] find that ! am not able TO 90
s., and It ig due you as well as that con-
vention. that [ should say so, and to
further say that 1 cannot 80 TO koahoAe
as n delegate in their behalf.
Two years ago there was by coliliiio'.
consent. and at the instance Of leaders OF
the respective factions, reorSahiIal ION
OF the Democratic party OF this county.
Tho Countv Committed was then selected
about evenly from the two wings, ana
each faction placed in nomination a can
didate for the Legislature, TO whose SUD
port the entire party was pledged. 1hiS
ticket was defeated, how, IL matters not
but IL left the party organization COM
plete and intact. and the committee lhei,
chosen has been the recognized mead OF
the party until the present time. Inns
committee at a recent meeting, alleiueu
by both wings, discussed ana dlsposeu VI
the question Of sending delegates 10
Roanoke. determining that primaries
should be held for that purpose on the
Sst instant, and the proposition or holu-
ing a county convention on the 10Th IN
slant for the purpose Of organizing the
marty and sending delegates TO Roanoke
was then defeated by a vote OF eight 10
six. ,
In obedience. therefore, to the action
of the Democratic committee, the pfl-
marles have been called for the 5lst
instant. and If they are ATTENDED anu
act. as | doubt net they Will, IT seems u
me tho delegates then selected VIII De
entitled to represent the county az Roa-
noke. | DO not see what authority the
minority of the committee had 10 can
the convention Of the 25th instant. as no
such mower was ever delegated to them.
I think you will agree that no party can
hone 10 be successful that disregards the
Democratic principle which recognizes
the right Of majority to control, ana
fails to give a proper regard to the con-
stituted authorities Of the party me
county committee being In authority we
should abide their action.
II is needless for me to say, what l
am sure you know-that L stand ready
at all times to cooperate with you and
all other good Democrats to correct any
and all abuses that may arise in the
PARTY. When the management OF the
party becomes corrupt. or its meetings
unfair [ will ever stand ready
TO right tho wrong But | fail to see
how the mere call for the primaries de-
termined upon by the committee can
be amenable TO the charge OF either IL
regularity or unfairness. Yet TINS seems
to have been the only cause Tor the can
OF tho meeting on the 25th instant. Should
the meetings thus called result in any
thing wrong. or oppressive, or undemo-
cratic. surely we could find some ade-
quate remedy TO meet the case. feel
sure the revolt in this instance has not
only been premature. but IS without
lust cause, and I trust upon sober second
thought It will be 50 found, and that
I'm the end we may have harmony as wei
as success.
am very truly yours. &c.
CONNALLY =. TRlGG.
p. S.-Since writing the above, the
meetings Of the S1st instant have been
held. and I am told were in the main
well attended, and most enthusiastic
and have no doubt the delegates thus
.-t.o.od ,rflI no coated q Roanoke,