Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-10
BEFORE CONVENTION.
GATHERING OF THE DEMOCRATIC
DELEGATES AT ROANOKE.
THE PRELIMINARY WORK.
Receiving Visitors at Democratic
Headquarters Some Early Ar
Many Conferences Making Plans.

ROANOKE, VA. August s.-(spe-
cial.) al.)-Roanoke IS alive with people to-
day, and there is a feeling Of suppressed
excitement in all parts Of the city The
long-expected and much-talked-of State
Democratic Convention is only thirty-six
hours off. and already candidates and
delegates are gathering upon the ground
preparatory for the preliminary work,
which is to decide upon whom the choice
OF the convention will fail. The City
Reception Committee has done its work
with a thoroughness deserving all
praise, and are at the depot on the ar
rival Of every train. taking the names
Of delegates and assigning such as de-
sire them TO quarters with private fami-
lies about the city. Already over 200
delegates have arrived, and most Of
these have taken rooms at the hotels.
DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS
The Democratic headquarters, at No.
203 Jefferson street. is well fixed for the
dispatch OF business, and besides the
efficient clerk, V. r. Fant, always one
or more members Of the Reception Com
mittee can be found there ready TO
register the names OF visitors and as
sign them to boardlng-places. The
scenes at the depot on the arrivals Of
trains and about the hotels are lively
and interesting. Thousands of people
throng the platforms. some with badges,
others with satchcls and bundles. and
all apparently filed with expectancy and
pleasure. While comparatively few have
yet arrived, at least 1900 people are ex-
pected, and tomorrow is looked forward
to as n day Of rush and excitement.
SOME EARLY ARRIVALS.
Among the early arrivals to-day were
Congressman Sidney y. Epes, Of the
Fourth District; Judge w. II. Mann, Of
Nottoway. candidate for Attorney-Gene-
raj, and Frank r. Crump, Of Richmond
on the 4:9O train arrived Senators John
w. Daniel and Thomas S. Martin, Con-
gressmen Otey, of the sixth District,
Hay. of the Seventh; w. a. Jones. Of the
First, and Claude Swanson. Of the Fifth
District. State-Senator Edward Echols,
Of Staunton. candidate for Lieutenant
Governor; Or. Newton Wayt, Of Staun-
ton; State-Senator George p. Keezell, Of
Rockingham, and w. r. Alexander. Of
Winchester. candidate for Attorney-Gene-
raj. Nearly all Of the above-named gen
tIemen are stopping at the Ponce de Leon
Hotel, which, being headquarters Of so
many Of the candidates for State offices,
is the centre Of political interest
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
A talk with delegates and other lead
ing politicians seemed to show consider
able division Of sentiment on the ques-
ton Of who viii be nominated for Lieu
tenant-Governor. Some were in favor
OF nominating Major Cooke, OF Cumber-
land. the Populist candidate for that po-
sltion, while others wanted VI. T. Cooke,
Of Norfolk. or Senator Echols. of Staun-
ton. There were others who believed
that Colonel Buford would be the winner
in the race for the nomination for Lieu
tenant-Governor. As to the attorney
eeneraiship. candidates for that posi-
ton seemed almost as thick as huclle-
berries in Hanover, those in the lead ap-
parently being f. r. Lassiter, of Peters
burg: A. j. Montague, of Danville: Judge
W. II. Mann, of Nottoway, and w. r.
Alexander, of Winchester, in the order
named.
SENATORS BY PRIMARY.
In the matter OF putting before the
convention the passage OF a resolution
recommending the selection Of candidates
for the United States Senate by primary
election, the delegates now gathered here
did not seem to have formed any decided
opinion.
As to cooperation with the Populsts.
it. too, was a subject which seems not to
have been largely discussed, the general
opinion being. however, that a straight
Democratic ticket would be nominated.
A meeting Of the friends of w. r. Alex
ander was called tonight at Hotel Lee
TO organize for the fight before the con-
vention, but owing TO the small number
of delegates present but little was ac-
complished. Conferences Of leading
Democrats are held in various places and
work for them mapped out. but the con-
ferences are more or less of private
nature, and the results are, of course
unknown.
Hon. Henry r. Pollard. Of Richmond
candidate for Attorney arrived
in the city at p. NJ. He is stopping at
the Merchants Hotel. His headquarters
will be in the building adjoining the
Ponce de Leon. His friends arrived here
early this morning and have put in some
good work for their candidate