The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-10-20
An Interesting Letter.
marion Demoerat.)


the Ninth District, to the Mari,
Ne'oS for publication. The Ne,cs {,
reasons unknown to us declined
publish the letter, and it has bee
sent to us for publication. We Civ
1t place in our columns and invit
careful reading Of its contents:
HARRISBURG, Va, Sept -, 1885,
EDITOR MARION News,
DEAR SIR
When the convention was a
Marion in July, last, | was sick wit
pneumonia and recently, since m
partial convalescence. my attention
has been called to its published pro
ceedings in the Marion News, ant
which in self defense, | ask permits
sion to correct and comment Thereon
through the same medium.
The Republican plan of organiza.
ton, Art. ~, adopted at Stanton
requires the Congressional Committee
ITO fix the times and places for hold
ing Congressional Conventions" and
although the "call" stated it was
done "by order Of the Congressional
Committee" it was well known there
was no meeting Of that committee for
any such purpose and it is equally
true that all the signatures to that
"call" were not genuine or authorized
for | have it direct and the notice was
not sufficient in some counties for
general knowledge of such call nor
for full meetings on Court days after
converting the County Committees, if
the latter was done Nor was there
any ratio of representation fixed regu-
lating that of each county. All of
which goes to the validity of the So
called convention, gives it the appear
ance of "rut-up,job," entities one
to question its fairness and the right
to refuse to acknowledge any obliga-
ton to its action.
If the usual apportionment of zone
delegate to every one hundred votes,
or fractional part thereof over fifty"
had have prevailed, full delegation
would have consisted of two hundred
delegates, but | am informed the at
tendance Of "bona-fde" delegates was
(sixty being the estimate given me
by one person that gentlemen not
delegates were begged to act as such.
but their sense of honor forbade. Il
am told further that three (3) OF the
counties in the District had no repre-
sentation at all. Though one claim
ed to have been proxy given by
delegate, yet no one has right to {
delegate his authority to another nor
to assume the duties of delegate t
upon his own volition or by request t
of another. ,
The public report has the names {
OF gentlemen as members of commit
tees, who were neither delegates nor
In the Town of Marion at the time, t
myself among the number member of C
the committee on Resolution and s
Platform. reporting the platform, vot |
ing for or submitting to the resolu- e
ton endorsing General Walkers S
Congressional record of 55th Con-
gress and his nomination by acclama- u
tion--none of which upon my know Il
ledge or information would | have Y
done, nor do l believe the regular a
appointed delegates from Giles would, IL
Tor they were selected because of their is
opposition to him. | know some of
'hem would not. a,
why this unwarranted and un-
authorized use OF gentlemen's names? re
why this imposition on the Secretary III
'y the person or persons who gave Is
ilm such names, thus making mis- ST.
representation Of the facts unless to tn
leceive the party in the District re- a,
pecting the character of such con- "
IGNITION, and to give it the appearance rs
i regularity, legality and numbers tn
which it did not possess and hoping be
he usual party saibboleth would dit
ause recognition of its authority. alb
submission TO its acts and unani.
lity among those who have lust no
ause Of complaint. Ii so, it is likely fig
} TAIL for, the mask being withdrawn. sp,
Is binding upon no one. alb,
The platform in nay opinion bears SOL
'ident marks Of its paternity and go,
% last four resolutions therein- ]
hile right in the abstract and the the
Ills Justly denounced should be pre-. bar
nied--are Of no force and become a il n
rec ia connection with the nominee era
d the endorsement of Fitz Lee and 1
~. Oates to high positions whom don
republicans have heretofore held |
ed their election as Governor toI and
udnlent elections and dishonest r
elton laws. 4 n
The last resolution endorsing Gen. The
Walker ''unanimously'' az took
orted sounds like the sepulchral the
&c OF that Founderism when read. than
tment was "dishonorable' and The