Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-03

thsit the incumbent was II SOiuftf III hhc
| Confederate army. This was also IN OPP
} position 20 statements made by the cam
paign liar Major Lynn was a Confede-
rate soldier, and returned from the war
poor man.
The gentleman from Franklin, he said
had called attention to the fact that the
administration OF Mr.. Moses had been
successful one. II was far from his In
tention TO say aught against Mr.. Moses.
He did not intend TO weary the caucus
with any reference TO the report as to
the condition OF the penitentiary, as he
supposed every member had examined IT,
Every man, and / may add. woman
and child. In this Commonwealth, who
takes the newspapers knows what Mr..
Lynn's record is" the Speaker declared.
THE FIGURES COMPARED.
| Mr.. Ryan drew a contrast between the
figures of Mr.. Moses's administration
and those Of Major Lynn's. The Speaker
declared that every member knew that
the establishment of the State peniten-
tiary farm was due to a suggestion made
by Major Lynn, and that Governor Nc
Kinney had simply incorporated it In
his message. The idea was Major
Lynn's. Every man was familiar with
the fact that charges had been made
against Mr. Lynn. The fight commenced
by the opposition in this State known
as the "sheriffs opposition He had
right to speak on this subject. as he had
been opposed to the bill taking from the
sheriffs the duty OF delivering convcts
to the penitentiary. Major Lynn had,
however, by making the change in this
| system saved the State 5000 or S,Wo
| year. The members had come TO the
| Legislature for the purpose Of trying 10
reduce the expenses OF the government,
and TO add, as far possible, to the
| revenue of the State, and yet the gentle
man who was responsible for large
| increase in the revenue from one source,
! was to be turned down.
| Could the members give any good rea-
son to their constituents for putting aside
| Major Lynn?
| LANNS CLAIMS STRONGLY URGED.
When Mr.. Ryan's time expired, Senator
| Mushbach arose for the purpose OF Sc
| condng the nomination of Major Lynn
| He could not go as fully as he desired
| into what he regarded as Major Lynn's
| superb qualifications for the office that
| gentleman now filed. 1t was peculiarly
| business office. and an office which
| should be occupied by a businessman. 1t
| should be occupied by a man who was
| businessman in the sense Of one who
! knew how to buy goods, sell goods,
| make goods etc. He made the point that
! the ccnvicts had not increased in the
| same ratio as the net receipts had, as
| Mr.. Saunders had urged as one of the
reasons for the increased revenue de-
rived from the institution. The net re-
| ceipts said Senator Mushbach, had in
| creased five times as much under Lynn's
| administration as they had under that
| of Moses No one will attempt 10 claim,
| he said that the convicts have been five
times as many during Lynn's administra-
| tion.
Every one knew that Lynn was
| gallant Confederate soldier. Senator
| Mushbach said ne believed in rotation
| in office" sometimes, but If he was at the
head Of q large manufacturing estabilsh-
! ment and had foreman who had
| thoroueh knowledge of that business
and the penitentiary was business-and
he was asked to rotate" that man out,
| he would not do so.
Senator Fairfax also seconded the nomi-
| nation of Major Lynn. He spoke from
| "the business end Of the proposition
| The members had been sent TO reduce
| the expenses of the State. In voting
against Major Lynn they were voting
against the only man who had been doing
| this
KEEZEIL SPEAKS FOR HELMS.
Mr.. Keezell followed Mr.. Fairfax ana
seconded the nomination Of Mr.. Helms
Lynn had attempted to influence the
politics of I'enrico. He declared that IL
was nonsense to say Mr.. Lynn's place
could not be filed; the man was never
born whose place could not be supplied.
Mr. KeeZell made one of the most catchy
speeches of the evening, and was ire
quently interrupted by storms or ap-
plause.
Mr.. Diggs, in seconding the nomination
of Major Lynn, reviewed the reasons ad-
vanced for voting against him, and dWeit
upon their fiimsiness. He declared he mad
heard Mr.. Saunders on the stump COM
mend in warmest terms the administra-
ton of Major Lynn. and said he had
heard Senator John w. Daniel declare in |
a public speech that one of the greatest |
reasons for returning the Democratic |
party to power in the State was Major |
Lynn's splendid management of the peni- |
tentiary.
Mr.. Hobbs, in few words, seconded |
Mr.. Lynn's nomination, urging that IL |
was unjust 10 retain in Office other Off |
cials because of their faithful discharge |
OF duty and oust Major Lynn, against |
whom no charge had been preferred.
PITCHER AND POLITICIANS.
Mr. Pitcher began a reply to the charge
of Mr.. Keezell that Major Lynn had
made himself obnoxious by his inter-
ference in local politics, saying it ILL
became the Senator or any other mem
Der Of the caucus TO condemn a politi-
clan, especially a Democratic politician.
He commended the administration or
Major Lynn at length, assuring the eau
Gus that If Mr.. Lynn was abusing the
power of his office it was honestly done |
and fairly done for the good of his party.
Mir. Saunders again spoke in advocacy
of Mr.. Helms's nomination, anayZing the
report Of Superintendent Lynn, and claim
ing that 1t did not show that the saving
to the State was as sreat as claimed.
He concluded by dwelling upon the fact
that the most bitter opponents of Mr..
Lynn were the people who came IN
closest contact with him-the senators
and delegates from Richmond. 1
Mr.. Boykin, in an impassioned speech,
pleaded with the caucus to renominate
Major Lynn, declaring that the people or
his section demanded, in the interest OF
economy, that he be retained at the head
Of the penitentiary.
HELMS WINS ON FIRST BALLOT.
The caucus proceeded to vote and
several minutes were consumed in taking
the ballot, there being such large num-
Der of votes, compared TO that usually
cast in the House or Senate. The vote
was finally announced as follows:
1clHS ........ ......... .........6
Lynn ............4o |
The recorded vote was as follows:
For Helms-Messrs. Allen, II. c. An
dprgOn I l.. Anderson Rornaq Rarkc- |