The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-04
ADOPTED THE MAJORITY RULE.
THE SENATORIAL CONVENTION
MAKES A NEW PRECEDENT.

Thirds Rule, But the Majority Huie
Was Put ThrOugh-Mr. Angus
Grovenstein Unanimously Nomi-
mated as the Democratic Candi-
date for Senator From This Dis
trict-The New Executive Commit
tee.
The senatorial convention of the First
senatorial district was held yesterday at
Meldrim In the public school house. Mr..
Angus Grovenstein was unanimously nom
mated as the Democratic candidate for
senator from the district, and new exec
utive committee was elected to serve for
the ensuing two years.
The following delegates were in attend
ance:e Chatham county, NJ. A. O'Byrne,
w. b. Stillwen, r. NJ. Hull Waring Rus
sell, C. D. Baldwin by proxy and DR..
William Duncan; Bryan. J. D. Clanton and
F. NJ Goodson, and bingham, L, J. Foy
and ]. T. Wells.
The convention was called to order at
10 o'clock by Mr.. OByne, who acted at
the request of Chairman T. J. Sheftall of
the district executive committee, who
= could not be present, owing to illness. Mr..
man Of the convention, and Mr.. J. T. Wells
was made secretary.
One of the most interesting features was
the question of the rule for voting The
bingham delegates proposed and stuck
10 the two-thrds rule, but Mr.. Stillwell
of the Chatham delegation moved the
adoption of the majority rule, which led to
some discussion. The country counties of
course insisted on the two-thirds rule,
which is their mainstay in the event of
any effort to change the present rotation
system. Mr.. Stillwell, stated, however,
that the majority rule is the policy adopt
ed now by all Democratic assemblages,
and he considered that the present time
was the proper one for the adoption of
the majority rule by the senatorial con-
venton. There was some little discussion
over the matter after which the majority
rule was adopted.
This establishes a. precedent which will
no doubt be followed in subsequent sena-
torial conventions, and which undoubtedly
means that If Chatham desires to change
the rotation system at any time she has
an excellent opportunity TO do so. The rep
resentatIves of the country counties saw
this and voted and talked the other way
Especially was this true of Dillingham;
though IL made no difference to that county
so far as the present convention was con-
cerned, for Efingham's candidate went
through without any argument. But 1t
was the precedent which the delegation |
from bingham objected to, and that is
what led to the discussion.
The discussion over the question of the |
majority rule was about the only interest |
ing feature Aof the convention. Outside of |
that there was very little but routine bust |
ness, and the session did not last more |
than three quarters of an hour.
DR.. Duncan nominated Mr.. Grovenstein |
of bingham. He spoke of Mr.. Groven- |
STEMS ability and his special fitness for |
the position, and warmly complimented |
him as one who will make a good represen- !
tative for the First district Mr.. Groven- |
STEMS selection as the Democratic candi- |
date was unanimous, he receiving the votes |
of all of the delegates present.
DR.. Duncan and Messrs. Goodson and |
Toy were appointed a committee to notify |
Mr.. Grovenstein of his nomination. The |
following executive committee was then |
selected to serve for the ensuing two years |
From Chatham, Messrs. O'Byrne and still |
well, from Bryan, Messrs John Morrison |
and Paul r. Haskell and from Effingham |
Messrs. J. 7. Wells and j. II. Smith. The |
executive committee organized after the |
convention adjourned by the election of |
Mr.. O'Byrne as chairman and Mr.. j. T. |
Wells as secretary
The next senator from the First was |
born in Ef1ngham county on Oct. 2 1852 |
and is now nearing his fortv-siXth birth |
Shadrach GrOVenstein and SuSannah Kief- |
fer, both of his parents being descendants |
of the Salzburgers, well known in history |
as the PuFitans of Georgia. He began |
life upon the old plantation of ante-bellum |
days with the prospect of an easy life |
before him.
The reverses OF war in the emancipation
of the slaves made him at an early age |
the main help of his father on the farm. |
For several years after the cessation of |
hostilities it was necessary for him to |
pillow all the summer. He could only at |
tend school after the crops had been har- |
vested. From the age of 16 to 10 he had |
fair educational advantages al the Guy |
ton Academy, under Prof. ]. Q. Spencer |
and DR.. William Jenkins. For the next |
two years he attended the Greenville |
Academy of Brooks county. then a -four |
tshing institution of learning under the |
noted Prof J. ]. jenkins
After leaving school Mr.. Grovenstein |
taught in a public school of Chatham |
county until the fan of 1874. At that time |
he secured position as freight train con- |
ductor on the Central Railroad. In the |
spring of 1876, he married Miss Matte |
Cubbedge, eldest daughter of Mr. b. j. |
Cubbedge, an officer of the Central Rail |
road we'll known to Savanna hans The |
next year he was promoted to passenger |
conductor, and for ten years ran between |
Savannah and Macon and Macon and At |
lanta. He was one of the most popular |
men in the service of the Central. In 1887 |
he was appointed assistant paymaster and |
pay train conductor for the entire Central |
system, then composed OF four divisions, |
the main stem, Southwestern, Columbus |
and Western, and the South Carolina He |
performed these duties satisfactorily until |
the Richmond and Danville "scooped" the |
Central. when he lost the position. He
then embarked in the general merchandise |
ing business at Guyton, under the firm
name of Cubbedge & Grovenstein. For five |
years he continued i'm this business, but |
finding il Improbable, he sold out and re- |
turned to farming. az which he has since
been engaged, planting truck for the
Northern markets.
In politics, Mr.. Grovenstein has always
been a Democrat He was for ten years
q member of the Democratic executive
committee Of Efhngham county and after
wards was appointed registrar. He was
elecled chaLrman OF thal hnard and Rlled