Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-25
READY FOR ROANOKE
DELEGATES BEING NAMED AND
PREPARATIONS MADE.
MANY PERSONS SECURING QUARTERS.
Something About the Candidates
and the Spirit OF the Contests-In-
teresting Legislative Fights TO
Take Place This Fall.


Two weeks from next Wednesday the
State Democratic Convention will assem-
BILE in the Academy of Music OF Roanoke
TO select the man to carry the standard
OF Democracy to victory. and around his
standard will rally every true Democrat
within the borders Of the Old Dominion.
The Academy Of Music. within which
the convention will assemble, has ample
accommodations for the 1.5is delegates
to the convention. together with several
hundred spectators, and it is thought that
during the sessions Of that august body
every available inch of space within the
enclosure will be occupied By those loyal
to this great party.
The convention will be called 10 order
by State-Chairman EEyson, who will then
turn It over to the temporary officers TO be
chosen by the State Central Committee
on the Tuesday night preceding. Ii is
not definitely known just who wiz be
selected for the temporary chairmanshlp.
but number Of gentlemen have been sug-
gested for the office. Among the most
prominent are Congressman Peter J.
Otey. Hon. Greenlea ID. Letcher of Rock
bridge and Hon. Isaac Dlggs, of Etng
William.
Nearly all OF the candidates and most
Of the delegations have already engaged
quarters in Roanoke. The State Com
mitteemen, Messrs. EllysOn and Tyler,
and a number of the most prominent
candidates have engaged headquarters -
the Ponce de Leon Hotel. while others
have decided TO stop at the Hotel Roa-
noke.
MAY LAST BUT ONE DAY.
It is possible that the convention will
get through its work I'm one day. as with
a comparatively small number Of candi-
dates for Governor and Lieutenant-GOv-
crnor, hardly more than one or two bal
lots will be necessary TO decide either
Of these contests. Hon. J. Taylor Ellyson's
name will be presented by Hon. r. T.
Boykin, Of Smithhc.d. and that OF Hon.
J. HoRe Tyler will be placed in nomi-
nation by Hon. A. =. Staples. Of Roanoke.
Both Of these gentlemen are fluent speak
ers. and their speeches will no doubt
prove exceedingly interesting. II IS not
yet known who will present the name Of
Major Baker Il. Lee. the other candidate
for first place on the ticket.
The gentleman most prominently spoken
Of for the ant-governorshlp are
Hon. Merritt r. Cooke of Norfolk, who
was for several sessions one OF the most
influential members of the House of Dele
gates; Joseph Cation, of Alexandria, a
well-known and prominent member of
the bar Of that city; Major r. V. Gaines.
Of Charlotte. long identified in a prom-
nent manner with the agricultural inter-
ests Of the state, and Or. VI. Q. Holt. Of
Surry. who. it viii be remembered. made
10 Tn rrrIf ho
name Of Hon. j. w. Mckinney was pre-
sented to the convention OF 1881
Nearly 200 ont Of ne 1.J4S delegates 20
the convention have already been elected.
\ majority Of these have been instructed
for Governor and a considerable number
for Attorney-Geueral but in neither con-
test has the result been absolutely, deter
mined.
Messrs. Elyson and Tyler. the most
prominent candidates for the guberna-
torial nomination. have until next Satur-
day night TO select their delegates from
Richmond, but it is likely that the lists,
which are now being prepared will be
completed within the next day or two.
1t is probable that the entire Richmond
delegation will elect a general chairman,
who viii announce the vote of this city
In the convention.
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
The contest for Attorney General will |
be one Of the most spirited in the po-
litcal history of Virginia. Since the re-
tirement Of General Hundley and Mr.. |
ClaytOr from the race there are left but |
seven candidates in the feld-Messrs. |
Henry r.. Pollard. of Richmond; Francis |
r.. Lassiter, Of Petersburg; a. j. Mon |
tague, Of Danyille; William X. Alexan-
der, Of Winchester; Lloyd r. Smith, r.. |
Taylor Scott, and Judge William II. |
Mann, OF Nottoway.
All of these gentlemen claim a large
following, and It is difficult to speculate |
as TO who will prove the successful can |
ddate.
The platform to be adopted by the Roa-
noke convention is just now attracting |
q good deal Of attention 1t seems TO be |
a fOregOne conclusion that the national |
platform as adopted by the Chicago con-
yention will be reafiirmed, and that the |
financial plank therein contained will be |
emphasized. II is pretty we'll |
settled, also, that there will be an en-
phatic utterance in favor Of retrenchment |
in State expenditures. y number OF |
as has been reported in the |
have adopted resolutions urg-
ing economy and. reform along these |
lines.
THE LEGISLATIVE CONTESTS.
As the campaign advances interest in
the legislative contests is developing, and |
the chances are that d very considerable |
number of new men will come TO the
legislative halls In both the Senate and
House. Senator Little. who has for seye-
raj sessions been conspicuous member /
Of the Senate from Fredericksburg, Will |
not return, and Senator Buchanan, OF
4 r.-.I.s. I
likewise, by his own choice, stay at
home. Ex-senator Hay, being now a
will. Of course. not return,
and it is understood that Mr.. James Z.
Jefferson will be nominated to succeed
him.
Mr. Charles c. Taliaferro, the member
Of the House from Orange, has. IL is
said withdrawn from the race and Sena-
tor ]. n. Stubs, the Oldest member OF
the Senate, has a fight on hand, Judge
Thomas T. Blakey, OF Essex, being de-
sirous Of succeeding him. DR.. LeCato.
an old member of the Senate. represent
ng Accomac and Northampton counties.
has opposition IN the person OF Dr.
Broaddus, a most formidable candidate.
md Mr.. Charles p. Jones, OF Highland |
has decided not TO run. Mr.. Frank n. |
Glasgow, OF Rockbridge, and Mr.. S.
Houston Letcher are talked of for his |
seat. and the probabilities are that the
contest in the Seventh Senatorial Dis
rlct will be a hot one
In the House Hon. w. w. Berkeley.
" Roanoke, will not be present, he
laving been defeated for the nomina-
ion by Mr. Hicks, fellcw-townsman.
THE RICHMOND DELEGATION.
The Richmond delegation will be some
What changed. In the House, the faces
( Hons. John S. Harwood and ]. Alston |
,abell will be missed, these two gentle
nen having determined not to stand for |
collection. Ihe old members who will