Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-13
VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS
Executive Committee in Session in This
City.
An Address Issued to the Public
May Go to the Presi-
dent.

Lynchburg assembled in Washington this
afternoon and held a meeting at the Eb-
bitt House. The members of the COM
mittee present were Mr.. w. F. Wickham,
chairman; Mr.. J. s. Pattie Mr.. S. B. Car
ney, proxy for A. H. Martin; Mr.. T. K
Hickman and Mr.. r. T. Hubbard.
The meeting was called to discuss the
general features Of the coming campaign
and to take into consideration all matters
relating to the welfare Of the republican
party In Virginia. In this connection it
is said the committee will endeavor to OBJ
tain the Endorsement of the national lead
ers OF the party for the campaign which
II proposes to inaugurate.
Inc meeting was called to order at a late
hour ana was In progress when The Star
went to press.
An Address.
Several members of the executive COM
mlttee OF the other wing of the party were
IN Washington yesterday, and last night
they drew up and signed an address To the
republican voters of the state, as follows:
ITO the Republican Voters of the State of
Virginia:
The state executive committee of the
republican party of Virginia deem it incum-
cent upon them to address the republican
voters upon the peculiar, unusual and some
what embarrassing condition of party af-
1a1rS at the present time.
1t is we'll known that at a regular and
Iull meeting of the state committee, held at
Lyncnburg on August IS last, which meet
ing was held after conference and cores
pondence with the most trusted reliable
and experienced party leaders in every sec
uon OF the state, the committee determnd,
after full and careful consideration, and by
an almost unanimous vote, that it was in
expedient to hold state convention for the
purpose of nominating republican state
ticket.
Ac for
party interests, the committee published
then an address. setting forth some of the
principal reasons which led to the conclu-
sions reached by them as a body. The most
prominent OF these reasons was the oppor-
tunity which seemed to be presented for a
vigorous and effective campaign through
out the state, looking to the election of a
legislature which would secure a repeal of
the present Ubiquitous Parker act and the
enactment In Its stead Of law framed, in
tended and operated to facilitate the right
to vote instead Of obstructing that right,
and to secure count of every vote cast in
lieu of the bonfire of ballots at every pre-
cinct which has heretofore proclaimed the
methods by which democratic victories
have been achieved.
Followed New York's Example.
"The address referred to contained an
urgent appeal for organization and coop
eration where practicable, in order to Sc
cure this desirable end. Similar action was
taken this year by the republican state
committee of New York. That committee,
however. went further, and after declaring
it inexpedient to call convention, as only
one office had to be filled, the committee
itself nominated the republican candidate
for that position. In New York state, with
loyalty to party organization, the action
of the committee was acquiesced in, but
different condition confronts us in Virginia.
1.-The chairman of the republican party of
Virginia at the time the committees ac-
ton was taken was present in the city of
Lynchburg, but did not attend the meeting.
AT later date and when no longer state
chairman he called a state convention, and
conscious that the organization of the par
ty throughout the state was in accord with
the action Of the state committee, he en-
couraged and invited the holding of meet
ings regardless of any republican organiZa-
ton for the purpose of electing, or rather
selecting, delegates to his supposed conven-
ton at Lynchburg on October 5, 1897. AS
was natural under such circumstances, the
gathering, wher assembled, as well as the
work it performed, utterly lacked repreSen-
tative character, and save for the presence
of comparatively few of the supporters of
that movement 1t could not have been rec
ogniZed by any analogy to any republican
convention heretofore held III the state.
Dual Organiza ton Established.
''rhis gathering thus brought together
not only named d state ticket, but estab-
lished a dual organization in the state, coz
trary to party law and to the detriment Of
the party in the state and it's organiza-
ton, thereby seeking to supplant the regu-
lar organization of the state, of which your
committee the official representatives,
and to whose legality no question can
be raised.
This action thus taken, right in the
midst of the campaign, by this body, which
had no local organization and no legislative
ticket in the field, and when it was too late
to name them, operates only to dtshearten
and demoraliZe the republican voters In the
state. Your committee is well aware that
prior 10 the action of the state committee
some of the most prominent, able and in
f1uential party leaders favored the holding
of a convention, but with few exceptions
they yielded to the practically unanimous
vote Of the committee and determined to
abide by its decision.
such a course followed by all would, in
the judgment of your committee, have con-
tributed greatly to the welfare of the re-
publican party. 1t is hardly necessary for
this committee to refer to the irregularity
of the so-called convention at Lynchburg
as each city and county in the state repre-
sented in said committee is thoroughly ac-
quainted both with the men and the meth
DDS used in procuring delegates to that
body. Suffice it to say that one-third of
the counties in the state sent no delegates
at all. while the majority Of the counties
claiming representation there were over
whelmingly against the action taken by the
self-constituted delegates that attended
Defeat Legislative Candidates.
Your committee renew, repeat and re-
iterate that portion of the address of the
state committee which looked to securing
in the next legislature Of the state a ma
jority In favor of such changes in the cleo
ton laws Of Virginia as will remove the
stigma which has SO long attached to her,
and will proclaim to the world that cleo
tons in Virginia are once more free and
fair. No loyal republican will disregard
this injunction, or will let anything inter-
fere with this program.
Had the regular organization of the
party called and held state convention it
would doubtless have nominated a ticket
that we could look upon with pride and
support with pleasure. Under present con-
dltions there will be upon the ballot an in
dependent opposition ticket to the demo-
Gratis nominee, and II Is conceded that
republican either in voting for the NOMINEES
of the Lynchburg meeting or refusing to
vote for them will neither jeopardize nor
forfeit his claims position in the repub-
ican party of the state.
PARK AGNEW, Chairman.
JAS. A. WALKER,
EDMUND WADDILL, ir.,
JAMES d. BRADY,