Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-08-19
REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE.

AS has been generally expected, the
committee by large majority decided
against the holding of convention,
the vote on the question being practi-
cally unanimous.
Col. William Lamb. the State chair
man, was removed, aud Park Agnew,
of Alexandris, named in his place.
Col. Lamb, chairman of the commit
tee, would not attend the meeting.
Asa Rogers, secretary, called the com.
mittee to order and J. F. Gleaves, of
Wytheville, was elected chairman.
Colonel Lamb sent the following let
ter:
LYNcHBURG, Va, Aug. Is.
"In response 10 your invitation to
appear before you, desire to state
that I regard your meeting as illegal.
The meeting that called it was illegal,
and all of your proceedings will be IL
legal. Four persons, all of whom l un-
der5tand are seeking Office throug ID
your influence, residing in Richmond,
nave sent the chairman OF the repuoli-
can party of Virginia, chosen without
opposition by the party at the last con-
vention, assembled at Staunton, to be
their leader, certain charges upon
which they say they will move the re-
publican State committee to remove me
MS chairman. The plan OF the organ
iZaton does not contemplate or allow
outsiders to prefer charges against
members of the republican committee
in writing, and after ten days notice
to show cause why such removal
should not be made. Any action on
these charges on your part will, there
fore, be illegal and revolutionary.
"Respectfully,
CIVILIAN LAME"
A motion to appoint committee OF
two to notify Colonel Lamb that the
State committee was in session, was,
after some discussion, Withdrawn. a
paper containing numerous charges
against Colonel Lamb was offered. A
substitute resolution was offered by
Gen. James A. Walker, who spoke
earnestly for the holding of q conven
lion and for submitting to that body
the question as to whether or not
Colonel Lamb should be removed.
Colonel Allan spoke at some length in
support of the charges against Colonel
Lamb and was loud in his denouncia-
ton of the conduct of the chairman.
He contended that the State committee
nad the authority to act. A number OF
other speeches were made, after which
General Walkers substitute was put to
II vote and was rejected by an over
whelming majority.
The charges were next taken up and
were voted on seriatim. Each one was
carried and the committee went into q
consideration of the charges as whole.
The charges are very numerous. They
state that experience has demonstrated
Lambs inefiiciency; that his chairman
snip has promoted antagonism to the
State organization;t that his actions in the
campaign of 1896 tended TO promote
discord; that be had uDjustly assailed
with accusations of Encouragement n.
B. Scott, who was designated by the re-
publican national committee as its rep
reseutative in Virginia; that he had
usurped powers belonging to the COM
mittee in appointing his brother secre-
tary of the State committee; that over
his brothers. name as secretary he had
sent letters through the State assailing
the policy of the Mckinley admiDistra-
ton in regard to the management of
the campaign and that he had declared
he would call convention regardless
of the action of the committee.
OF the thirty-two members of the
committee, twenty -four were present In
person and seven by proxy. The only
member who did not report was Yard
ley T. Brown, of the Eighth district.
Among the prominent republicans
present were Col. James D. Brady, of
Petersburg; Morgan Treat, Of West
Point; G. E. Bowden, of Norfolk; Judge
Waddlll and Gen. Edgar Allan, Of
Richmond; Gen. James A. Walker, OF
Wytheville; W. M. Flanagan, OF Pow.
halau; J. F. Gleaves and F. 8. Blair, of
Wythevtlle; Col. G. Slemp, of Big
stone Gap; P. w. Strother, of Giles;
Henry Bowen, of Tazewell; Col. Will
liam Lamb, of Norfolk; W. G. Frank.
lin, OF Appomat,ox; J. Henry Rives, of
Charlottesville; Jacob Yost, of Staun-
ton; Asa Rogers, of Petersburg; Park
Aguew, of Alexandria, and ]. M. Nc
Laughlin, of Lynchburg.
An address was adopted by the com.
mittee giving the reasons why 90 gu
bernatorial ticket will be named.
Among other things it says; The
committee remember with pride and
satisfaction the loyal devotion of the
republicans all over the State during
the campaign of 1896, which resulted
in triumph of our principals and the
election of our national republican
ticket. Had the ballots actually de.
posted for that ticket in Virginia been
counted, the victorious column of re-
publican States would have found the
electoral vote of our own State side by
side with those who gave an emphatic
of the principles of sound
money and protection of American
labor. The facts and figures are in the
hands of the COMMITTEE, demonstrat
lug that the ballots fraudulently de.
stroyed after they had been cast, OK.
ceeded by thousands the majority re-
turned for the democratic electoral
ticket. The present election law OF
the State, known as the Parker act,
like its predecessor, the Walton act,
was born in sin, conceived in iniqulty,
fostered in fraud, and is being made
the medium of educating in ways that
are dark thousands of our citizens who
wnnld look with abhorrence ON the