Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-08
WON'T LET BUFORD In
THE CAUCUS DECLINES TO ADMIT
THE BRUNSWICK MEMBER.
HE is GIVEN A COURTEOUS HEARING.
senator TurnbulI Opposes His Adj
mission, ma the Vote Is Unani-
mous-Some Figures Touching
Criminal Expenses.

| The Democratic caucus last night re-
nominated some fifty-five county Judges.
who had no opposition, and decided to
meet again tonight TO consider the con-
tested cases, OF which there are quite a
number.
The feature Of the session was the re-
fusal OF the body 10 admit Mr. f.. p.
Buford, elected to the House from Bruins
wick as an Independent Democrat, to it's
deliberations He filed a letter asking to
be admitted. and was given hearing
through courtesy, but the vote against
taking into the body was unanimous.
Senator Turnbull, in whose district
Brunswick Is located vigorously opposed
the admission OF Mr.. Buford.
ALL CONTESTS PASSED BY.
The caucus was called to order q few
minutes after s o'clock by Chairman
Cooke, who stated that in pursuance to
a call, the body had convened TO nomi-
nate judges for counties Mn which there
were no contests, and Mr. Keezel then
offered the following. which was adopted:
| Resolved. That I'm nominating the can
| didateS for judges the roll Of counties be
called alphabetically, and that all coun-
ties where there are contests be passed
| by. AS the counties are reached i'm which
| there are no contests, one minute be al
| lowed to present to the caucus the name
! of the candidate. When the roll-call is
| completed the secretary of the caucus
| shall call the names of the candidates put
| i'm nomination, and their respective dis
| tricts when motion TO nominate all the
candidates put I'm nomination by acclama-
! ton shall be i'm order.
| Resolved, further, That the caucus meet
! tomorrow evening at o'clock TO take
up nominations for county judges where
! there are contests.
BUFORD APPLIES FOR tD'rs1rNN.
| The clerk then readsthe following privi-
! legged communication:
| To the Honorable Members of the Demo
cratic Legislative Caucus:
| Having ascertained that my name is
| not on the list of the members of your
| honorable body, / respectfully request
| that my name be placed upon your list.
| Having been a Democrat from my boy
hood, and believing that the principles Of
| free government declared by Jefferson
constitute the essential principles Of our
| government, from which we can never
! depart with safety, / claim TO be eligible
| to a seat in your body. In view of the
| important measures, affecting the local
| interests Of the counties and corporations
of this Commonwealth, which are hnally
| disposed OF by your body. II will be i'm
possible for me to discharge my duties
as representative of my county unless 1
am accorded the privilege of presenting
|
Respectfully yours. f. p. BUFORD.
IS GIVEN A HEARING.
Mr.. Morris, when the above commune
cation had been read, offered the follow
| ing:
"Resolved. That no member of the
| General Assembly who defeated the nomi-
nee of the Democratic convention is en-
| titled to seat I'm this conference"
Senator Opie asked If the adoption OF
that resolution would dispose OF the
matter. Upon being informed that 1t
would. he said he thought MIR. Buford
| should be given hearing.
| A motion was made to the effect that
a committee be appointed to enquire into
the ACCESSIBILITY of admitting Mr.. Buford
| to the caucus, but as this was evidently
| not the sense OF the body, Senator Opie
moved that Mr.. Buford be given hear
| ing. The Senator said he would be the
| last man TO favor the admission into the
caucus Of any one who opposed the Demo-
cratic nominee, but he simply thought
the gentleman should be heard before the
| body took action as to the communica-
| ton.
His motion was adopted, and Senator
| Opie and Mr.. willard were appointed to
| inform Mr.. Buford that the body was
ready to hear him.
EACH SIDE FIFTEEN MINUTES.
In a few minutes the Brunswick dele
| gate entered the hall, and was introduced
| by Senator Opie. Senator Wickham was
| then I'm the chair, Mr. Cooke having va
| Gated It. 1t had been agreed that each
| side should have Is minutes in which TO
| address the body. Mr.. Charles Wallace
thought as Mr. Buford might be con-
| sidered the plaintiff, the Brunswick dele
gate should be given the right TO open
! and close the debate. Mr.. Boykin ala
not think this should be conceded him.
He should simply state his case, and
the caucus would then decide upon II.
| Senator Ople agreed with Mr.. Wallace,
saving that as charges might be made
against the Brunswick delegate, the lat
ter should be given the right 10 refute
them. After some little discussion II was
decided, upon motion of Mr.. Anderson.
that Mr.. Buford might divide his time, so
as 10 speak for 10 minutes in opening and
| be allowed 5 minutes 10 answer any
| charges made against him.
WHAT MR.. BUFORD SAID.
Mr.. Buford then addressed the body.
| He stated that, as he understood II. the
| duties of the body he was addressing
| were legislative and not political. There
| fore the rights Of all counties should be
| considered He came from county
| that occupied a peculiar position, politi-
| cally. His father he said, when sent to
| the Legislature by his county, had not
been allowed admission in the Demo
| cratic caucus, although he was a good
| Democrat, and so considered. This SEES
sion he Oir Buford), contrary to his ex-
| pectations had been sent TO represent MS
| county, the people of which asked that
they be allowed hearing when the body
| was dealing with questions which anec'ed
| them. Mr.. Buford stated that II was
highly important for the welfare OF his
county. and for the welfare OF the Demo
cratic party therein, that he be allowed
IN represent his constituents, both in the
omen sessions of the Legislature and the
caucus Questions would come up when
the name OF his county was reached on
the roll, and important facts should be
brought to the attention OF the body.
THE COUNTY REPUBLICAN.
Mr.. Buford said his county had, in for
mer years. been largely Republican; that
II was conceded that II straight ticket
was now voted by each party, Demo-
crat would never be sent to the Legisla-
ture. He wanted TO know. then, how
II was possible for his people TO get
delegate TO the House elected on the
straight Democratic ticket. They had
been told to right their grievances within
the marty organization. This was an
impossibility under the existing circum-
stances. The people were opposed 10
electing a delegate TO represent them py
(..I ~