The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-02
Senator Martin and Several Congress-
men Were in Attendance.
"WATERMELONS" GIVE TROUBLE
Much Time Taken Up in Discussing
the situation in Washington Coun-
ty-Tho News from Each Dis
trict was of n Very satisiac'
tory Character - Head
quarters to he Opened.

The state Democratic Executive anu
Central Committees met at Murphys
Hotel last night. II was nearly midnight
before they adjourned. Reports from al
the districts were received. The situation
I'm each was represented as being encouF-
aging to the Democrats.
There was quite a gathering OF Demo-
cratic leaders. Senator Daniel did NOT
come. but Senator Martin was on hand
lie arrived here Wednesday night ana
stopped at the Westmoreland Ciub' Yes
terdav he had informal conferences with
soma of his friends, who called to see
him. Congressman Lamb, Swanson nay
and Rixey were in attendance. as were
also Nominees Young, Epes and Quarles'
II was the first session OF the committee
! Congressman Jones had missed IN a long
time. He was detained I'm washington
/ bv his work on the Democratic Campaign
/ Book. being published by the Cohstts-
sional Committee Congressman o,ey
| could not come, and Nominee Rhea was
| out IN the Ninth District filling appoint
ments to speak.
THOSE PRESENT
Chairman Ellyson and Secretary But-
ton were both present. The following
members of the committees were IN at
/ tendance:
Executive Committee-R. Il. Boykin,
Second District: H. NJ. Smith Jr, Third
District: Thomas :. Martin, Seventh Dis
trict; Edward Echols Tenth District.
First Dlstrict-Lloyd n. Smith, X. L.
Ailsworth j. Boyd Sears
Second District-C. l.. Day, +. 1homp-
I a 4
Doy). j. IL. CranOrd proNy Tor ID. q.
SMITH.
Third District-Isaac Diggs proxy for
| T. L. O. ScotO. Simon Solomon +. '.
Coghli, II. l.. Carter, g. W. saunders.
Fourth Dstrlct-F. II. Lasster s T.
! Epes, A. King.
Firth Distrlct-R. \. James
Sixth District-R. W. Watkins.
Seventh District-J. Taylor Ellys0n,
proxy for w Iiggett; James Hay proxy
for a. G. Carson; George w. Morris.
Eighth District-George S. shackle-
ford
Ninth District-T. A. Lynch, r. T. Ir-
vine
Tenth DIstrlct-Joseph Button, a. w.
! Finch J. Taylor Ellys0n, proxy for w, A..
Rinehart.
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
For the first time in many years the
session was an executive one. Persons
not members OF the committee, including
| the newspaper reporters, were excluded.
| Some OF those on the outside were State
! Senator'S w =. Barksdale OF Halifax;
| and j. l.. Jenrles of Cupeper. Delegates
! James Lewis Anderson. OF Richmond; f..
T. Montague, of Hampton; T.. @. Folkes
and Thomas Il. Murphy. Of Richmond;
! Col. John Bell Bigger, Col. B. o. James,
Mr.. Frank i. Brent, Col. VI. l.. Spots
wood, Mr.. Jefferson Wallace. Delegate
Addison Maupn OF Henrico. Secretary OF
the Commonwealth Lawless, Mr.. Frank
y. Watkins. Mr.. James McKenney, .and
| Mr. II. l.. Mcleod.
Quite a number or local politicians
were in the hotel Hobbies and chatted
with the members Of the committee
about politics I'm this State.
The committee accepted the reslgna-
tion OF General George J. Hundley of the
fourth district. who has been made cir
cult Judge and elected Captain g. Shirley
Harrison, Of Prince George. 10 succeed
him.
THE WATERMELON FACTION.
The districts were not called for reports
I'm the usual order. Work was begun
upon the Ninth and a snag was struck
I al the start. Mr.. Irvine gave a very en-
couraging report Of Judge Rheas can
| vass and told the committee he thought
the Democratic nominee would win with
/ proper support.
The Watermelon faction In Washing
ton county. that Is always giving trouble
was the snag. This frction has lately
| been severely Sat down upon. IL lost the
members OF the Electoral Board AZ tho
last session OF the legislature and at
the convention that nominated Judge
Rhea the "WaJermelons' were left out
out in the cold These people were rep
resented as being dissatisfied with their
treatment and for nearly two hours the
! committee discussed ways ahd means 10
pacify them. The upshot of II was that
really nothing was done in this matter,
and the "Watermelons' WIFI have TO
fight their battle without the aid Of the
State Committee.
THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
Th. ,eoorts from the other districts
were all highly encouraging. or course,
there is no doubt OF the election OF
Messrs. Jones. Lamb. Otey Hay ard
Rixey. Mr. Young said he was perfectly
satisfied with the situation in the Sec
ond Re expects TO win Dy the largest
majority ever given a Democrat In thar
district The Republicans are badly
sulit up and il looks as II they VIII have
two or more candidates in the field. BUT.
Mr. Young does not fear the result even
II the Republicans should unite upon one
man. -.
DR.. Cranord. in his remarks, manifested
some disappointment in the personnel or
The new Electoral Board OF Warwick
| county.
Mr.. Epes expects to win by safe ma
| ioritv In the Fourth. He Is hard al work,
and has the party splendidly organized-
The same may be said OF Mr.. swanson
In The Fifth. He has a fight on his hands.
but thinks he will win by larger ma
! iority than that he received two years
ago.
Judge Quarles gave good account OF
his work IN the Tenth District. lie Is
not permitting the grass 10 grow under
his feet. and has already been into four
or five counties.
Practically nothing was done but TO
receive the reports from the several dis
tricts. Those members who expressed
themselves on the subject were unalter-
ably opposed to the Republican policy OF
territorial expansion.
HAPPY MR.. HAY
] Nr. Hay, who has made u proud rec