Evening star., 1898-06-22
Interest in the Tenth District Demo
cratic Convention.
IN SESSION TODAY At COVIEGfON
Contest Between Friends of Gen.
Lee and Senator Martin.
THE PUBLICAN SIDE

CONVICTION, Allegheny county, Va,
June 22-The democratic congressional
convention to nominate candidate to sue
ceed Representative Jacob Yost of the
tenth district of this state assembled here
today at noon.
The convention was called to order by
Chairman Button of the district committee,
one of the principal Ieutenants of Senator
Flood, leading asplrant for the nomlna-
tion. After the transaction of some rou-
tine business the convention took a recess
until p.m in order to enable the commit
tee on credentials to prepare its report
1t is expected that this report will precip-
itate a very lively discussion and that
there will be a decidedly hot time" before
the report is disposed of. As the temporary
roll is made up Flood of Appomattox has
56 delegates; Frank F. Glasgow of Rock
bridge 80; Judge ]. NJ. Quarles of Augusta,
81: Representative Petit of Fluvanna, .;
and Is are in doubt. upon the report OF
the committee on credentials depends
whether they will be cast for Flood or one
of his opponents. The eighteen votes re-
ferred to are the fifteen from Nelson county
and three from Botetourt each county
sending up two sets of claimants. The con-
vention is composed of 159 delegates, and
the votes of 80 Will be required to nominate.
Prolonged Contest Probable.
1t is considered certain that many ballots
will be required before any one is named
as the candidate of the party. The 56 votes
that MIR. Flood now has will, it is believed
stick to him through thick and thin, but
there is no probability that the friends of
either of the others named will compliment
their man by continued support beyond the
first few ballots. Many of the friends of
Judge Quar.es have about concluded that
If he cannot secure the prize they will
take Glasgow as second choice: but even
should the delegates for Quaries and Glas-
gov unite in a solid body they can muster
but I6 votes, less than the required num-
Der. Some of the Quarles men are inclin-
ed. if their favorite cannot get the honor,
to vote for Flood, it being urged by friends
of the latter that he fought the cam
paign two years ago against Yost he is en-
titled TO try his chances again.
Still others of the delegates express the
belief that neither of those named will be
nominated.
Among the dark horses spoken of in con-
nectfon with the nomination are Lieutenant
Governor Echols, son of General Echols,
and captain John Opie, both of Augusta.
1t is claimed that the former is perched
very high on the fence and is hoping that
the lightning may strike him. 1t is intimat-
ed that II Mr.. Echols gets the nomination
ne Will have the active and hearty support
OF C. T. Huntington. the great railway
magnate, warm friend of Mr. EchoIs'
father. Mr. Huntington is interested in
Virginia politics, although resident of
ne has nearly or quite S10,OU0,OOO in
vested in property of various kinds
at Newport News. So far as is known
captain Opie has not been assured
very rich man. but if the convention shall
offer the nomination it is understood he
Will accept 1t.
Lee Versus Martin.
This convention is regarded as of espe-
cial Importance, as it is agreed on all sides
that ii IS the opening battle in the cam
paign to be fought this year between
the friends of Major General Fitz-
hugh Lee and those of United States
Senator Thomas s. Martin of this
state. and which is expected to eventuate
either in the assurance that Gen. Lee will
De chosen TO succeed Senator Martin at the
expiration of the. present senatorial term
or to defeat the aspirations of that gallant
soldier. now at the front.
As the case stands, il is the field against
Flood. the latter representing Senator Mar
tin and the democratic machine in
control of the state organization. The in
terests OF Gen. Lee are in the hands of
State Senator Hunton Letcher of Rock
bridge, son of the late John Letcher tine
war governor of Virginia. He is said to
have Inherited the sturdy fighting qualities
with which his paternal ancestor was so
Heutenants a number of devoted friends of
Lee, who are determined to see that the
proceedings of the convention are conduct
ed In proper manner. and that the candi-
date nominated must get the honor through
d fair and honorable contest
Counter CIaims
The friends of Gen. Lee further claim
that they have majority of the delegates
to the convention and they intend to con-
troll it.
On the other hand, the friends of Flood,
it is stated. openly assert their ability
to control the convention and to give
the nomination to their favorite-which
they propose to do by fair means, If pos
sible, but If not in that way, to give il to
him any way The Lee men say if their op-
ponents attempt TO ride rough shod
them, as has been threatened, there will
be serious trouble.
As forerunner of what is expected to
occur in the convention, the action of the
friends of Flood at a mass meeting in Bath
county. Tuesday of last week, to select
delegates 10 the congressional convention.
was related to The Star reporter.
The district is composed of Rockbridge
Allegheny, Highland, Augusta, Fluvanna,
Bath, Appomattox, Buckingham, Amherst
Botetourt, Nelson and Goochland. Bath
was the last to select, above stated,
Tuesday of last week. In most OF the coun-
SeS named the friends of Gen. Lee had Sc
cured a Gear majority of the delegates and
IL became matter of the greatest impor-
tence for the friends of Mr. Flood TO
secure the five delegates from Bath
Purchase of Votes.
The state organization, it is alleged, was
SO fully alive to the Importance OF the
event that it is claimed their agents
were on hand, supplied in the most liberal
manner with the sinews of war and it is
openly declared by prominent men that
votes were purchased at any price demand
ed, the figures ranging from the cost of a
supply of whisky to IS, SO, S15, and even
SO each. according TO the amount each
citizen demaI ied.
One of the most reliable men in this
section or the country, who is a leading
officer in many public enterprises and in
no way interested in the squabbles of any
party, told The Star reporter that there
was hardly a democrat who attended the
Bath county mass meeting who did not
Tuesday night, either have his head fun
of whisky or his pockets full of money"
One result of this course of the state or
ganization has been to inspire the disgust
of hundreds of decent democrats, and they
do not hesitate to say that IL Flood Is
nominated at Coyington they will either
stay at home on election day, or vote for
the republican nominee, provided the re-