Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-09-01
AS lT HAPPENED.
Chairman Steele Tells How He Was
Turned Down at Pulaski.

The regular Democratic organization
met at Abingdon on the 25th day Of June,
1898, and appointed delegates to the Pu-
laski convention to be held on the 9Th Of
July, to nominate a candidate for Con-
gress. Delegates appointed were as fol-
lows
Abingdon district-T. K. Berry, L. w.
Rush, d. T. Ryan, j, A. Rodefer, Thos.
q. Mullens.
North Fork district-John c. Casteel,
j. l., Scott, Floyd Boyd,
Saltville district-A. w, Meadows, G..
w. Steel, s. G. Anderson.
Glade Spring district--Geo. E. Greear,
c. w. Anderson, John w. Edmondson.
Holston dlstrict-I. H. Ingram, Arthur
McCue, T. j. Robinson.
Goodson district-Thos. j. Campbell,
D. a. 2. Campbell, r. L. Miller, V. L.
Bowman.
Kinderhook district-R. c. Hamilton,
r. E. Todd, John w. Gardner,
This delegation is composed Of represen-
tative men whose democracy cannot be
successfully asssiled. They were present
in person and by proxy at Pulaski on the
5th of July. As soon as possible after
their arrival, addressed note as chair
man of the county and of delegation to I.
A. Lynch, chairman of the district COM
mittee, informing him Of our presence
and offering our credentials properly and
regularly signed. He informed the bearer
of this note that his committee would not
have anything to 90 with it and cast the
note aside. lie must have known better,
for his committee had passed on the seat
}'YAg temporarily of the independent dele
CATION of Washington county the night be-
fore the convention.
We then addressed him note to the
effect that the independents had no right
in the convention, especially had they no
right to pass on the selection of commit
tee on credentials that was to pass on their
right to seat in the convention.
We were never able to receive written
reply from amy note. We were finally IN
formed that the committee on credentials
would meet at certain time, We had
never had an opportunity to appear with
our credentials before the district commit
tee but our case was tried in our absence.
That being the case and the independ-
ent delegation having aided in the selec-
ton of the committee on credentials, we
informed the committee that unless we
could have fair court, fair jury and a
fair hearing we would decline further com
munication with them and would not par
ticipate in the convention. Following
that information a resolution was adopted
inviting our delegation to seat in the
convention hall but this was most respect
fully and positively declined by the dele
cation. Thus in brief, you have a plain
and unvarnished statement of what oc'
cured between us and the convention and
SRmmittees at Pulaski.
No hearing of our case was obtained nor
did a fair one seem to be possible. Why
the independents were in advance Of the
convention day, we cannot well afford tol
the interest of the party to now answer
The convent ion and committees were alb
solutelv under the control of Mr.. Rhea
the nominee, and perhaps he is in bet
ter position to explain why this all occurr
ed. Let him explain why the recognized
organization of Washington county should
be turned down by his convention and a
kicking delegation seated.
Very respectfully,
c. w. STEELE, Chairman.