The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-08
THE CONVENTION this WEEK
A Large Gathering Of Delegates and
Visitors Going to Roanoke,
NUMEROUS PLANS HAVE BEEN UPSET.
Through the Death of Major Scott Combi"
nations TO Nominations for Lieutenant
Governor and Attorney General
Have Been Destroyed.

10 lnO lptIlOCiietN t'ttNNo CN'N'
begin to arrive at Roanoke and by We'd
nesday. when the big gathering opens
at noon, the city will be filled to over
flowing with delegates as well as visi-
tors who like to catch glimpse at the
exhibition OF Democratic statesmen OF
all shades. The counties OF the Southwest
will be especially largely represented, for
the reason that TO them convention has
so far been rather rare Spectacle
ONLY ONE BALLOT
Usually the interest is centered in the
result Of the contest for the gubernatorial
nomination This time. however. the
fight has been rather one sided, and
Major J. Hoge Tyler will go before the
| convention backed by 1850 delegates out
of 154S. who have been directly instructed
for him. and with the delegations of Alex
andria county, Lee county, Westmoreland
county and the city OF Williamsburg still
10 be heard from
Major Tylers nomination for Governor
will therefore be made on the first ballot.
or the last three gubernatorial conven-
tions only one required a second ballot for
the nomination
In the convention held on July 30. 1855.
the first ballot had the following result
trtzhugh Lee. $50 votes; Il. w. Mckinney,
227 votes: Baker T. Lee, 80 votes; John l..
Massey. % votes.
At that time Il required 1865 votes 70
make a nomination. but after the usual
changes had been made. General Lee
| had obtained over 400 delegates and
changes were still going on, when Mr..
| FITZGERALD moved that the nomination DE
| made unanimous.
TWO BALLOTS REQUIRED.
Four years later. when the Democratic
| State Convention met on August 10. 1859.
seven names were placed in nomination
! for Governor. and 1t required two ballots
| to dispose Of the contest, the second bal
lot being taken only the next day. The
| following was the result OF the two bal
| lots:
Candidates first ballot-McKinney. 5s6;
| Beirne. Sol. O'Ferrall, SO7; Tyler, 1888:
| Venabe. 70. Harris. 81; second ballot
Mckinney, IA; Beirne, $50; O'Ferrall, 300;
| Tyler. 100; Venable. 81: Harris. 0.
During the last convention held on
| August 13. 1893. the question was settled
| by the first ballot with the following re-
| suit
O'Ferran, 1146 votes; Tyler, $50 votes;
| Buford, l5g.
A STIR IN POLITICS.
Owing to the death Of Major r. Taylor
Scott, a radical change has been brought
| about with reference TO the nominations
! for Lieutenant-Goyernor and Attorney
| General and ii is more than likely that
| for both offices a hard fight will be
! made. The selection of a candidate for
| Lieutenant-Goyernor will, OF course. have
more or less bearing on the nomination
| for third place, inasmuch as IL has al
ways been the rule in making the nomi-
| nations TO see that the various sections
| of the State are as equally represented
| as possible.
There can be no doubt that Major
| IoI 10
| into the Roanoke Convention with the
largest number Of votes, although he
would not have had a majority. Out Of
the LIS votes in the convention. it is
| estimated that he would have received
about 400 votes, while only 19S were
| pledged to him. Where this strength will
| 90 now, is more or less predetermined.
NO SECOND CHOICE.
The Scott delegates, owing TO the char
| acter Of the fight that has been made
| held no second choice, but IT is expected
| that these delegates who are now re-
leased from their pledges. VIII 30 to the
candidates geographically nearest TO
| their own sections. At the present time
| there is no doubt that Mr.. A. ]. Mon
| tague, Of Danville, has the greatest num-
Der Of delegates to his credit. but as
only about 200 delegates are pledged TO
| him. his entire strength cannot be more
| than 300, and such lead would not be
| sufficient 10 give him a commanding po-
sition. The other candidates are Major
| L. r. Lassiter, Of Petersburg; w. r.
| Alexander. of Winchester: Lloyd r.
Smith, of Northumberland: Judge Will
| liam II. Mann, Of Nottoway and Hon
| Henry Il. Pollard, of Richmond.
1t is quite likely that Messrs. Alexan-
der and Smith will get most Of the Scott
TrTr IL,
come from the portion Of the State where
the late Attorney-General had the largest
| proportion OF his following. Mr.. Smith
| has now the First Congressional Dis
| trict practically solid, while Mr.. Alexan-
| der is certain of the Seventh District
| Judge Mann is generally conceded 10 be
one Of the ablest lawyers in the State
and his strength lies in this fact, as
well as in the hope Of his followers, that
when the fight comes to a deadlock,
which is not impossible the delegates
will nominate man OF eminent ability,
without regard TO other considerations.
NO DARK HORSE.
The fight for the nomination promises
to he exceedingly interesting. but it IS
hardly possible that the person selected
viii be dark horse The selection OF
the Attorney-Ge will depend. 10
some extent. upon the choice which the
convention makes for Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor This place on the ticket Is as
much In doubt as the Attorney-General-
ship.
1t is conceded an all sides that Mr.. Ely
son. whose campaign for the Governor
ship has not been successful, can be
nominated for Leutenant-Governor, II he
so desires II he decides TO accept the
second place on the ticket, the candi-
dates for the position Of Attorney-Gen-
eral from the southern section OF the
State may be seriously interfered with.
and the same may be said. II either Col
onel A. s. Bufcrd Of this city. or Hon.
Merritt T. Cooke. Of Norfolk, is selected.
HOW THEY STAND.
The following IS the result Of the cleo
ton of delegates for Governor and the
manner I'm which they have been instruct
ed to vote up TO last evening, as far as re-
Ely Not in
Counties. son. Tyler. Lee. str q.
A AISemarle ,','''''',''''' 12ii, 1914 q
Allegheny ..-...
Amelia .......
Amherst ....... 10
Ane,,eta 8 20 :.