The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-26


houses has not only been successfully
inaugurated in Essex. but in many
counties of the lst District. and espe-
oially in Judge Wright's circuit. 1t is
growing In Howerton's Baptist
Ohur,h. Of which Rev Frank b. Beale
is pastor, there will be placed at an
early day the portraits Of Rev III. W..
Montague, father Of Prof A. p Mont
sgue, of Furman University at Green
vile. s. @, and Rev Isaac Digs,
father of Hon. Isaac DiRgs, of Rich
mond These sainted men were pastors
Of the church.
ESSEX POLITICS.
There has been great upheaval in
Democratic politics in Essex which
commenced with the icy blasts Of last
winter and eliminated at the primary
election for candidate for the House
Of Delegates last Saturday. This up
heavsl had its origin in the unfortunate
personal difficulty between Capt A. f.
Bsgby and Mr.. George Il Scott, when
Scott was shot by Bagby. AS is well
known. the difficulty between these two
gentlemen was in no wise connected
with politics, but it created distinct
line between the friends of each gen
tlemsn from the beginning to the end
ing Of the trial, and caused harsh words
aud bitterness of feeling which will
take the healing effects Of time to err.
radicAte. Men who had been friends
for years took sides with one or the
other participants, and these friend
ships were severed. The feeling became
so intense that the secret orders were
charged with taking part in the
trouble. Capt Bagby was a prominent
Mason, and Arlington Lodge. Of which
he was a member, was a subject Of crit
icism, while the Junior Order Of Amer
lean Mechanics, Of which Mr. George
Scott WAS a member, had TO bear its
part in the trouble. The members OF
both orders protested against their
lodges being brought into the contest,
but without avail Hon. Booker Gar
nett. who was the representative in the
last Legislature, was prominent Ma
son, and, it was charged. was the
candidate Of Bagby's friends He dis.
claimed that he was the candidate OF
any set Of men. but it did not avail >,
and on last Saturday at the primaries
he was defeated by vote OF $50 to 100
and lost every precinct in the county.
The scenes at the primaries were Of a
very exciting character. The winners
were flushed with victory and called a
meeting to reorganize the county COM
mittee. Judge Blakey. who presided.
claimed that it was not the time and
place for a reorganization, and it could
only be done by atwo-thirds vote. This
ruling created a greater determination
TO reorganize, and vote was demand
ed, which obtained more than the re-
quired vote. The following committee
was named:
Occupacia District-J. NJ. Terrell.
w. A. Gresham, j. +. TaliAferro.
Central District-Dr Warner Lewis,
]. @. Phillips. d. p Motley.
Rappahannock District-H l. New
bill. II W. Dunn. James NJ. Lewis.
Messrs j. Z. Taiaferro, DIR. Warner
Lewis and Phillip Motley are the new
members A majority Of the commit
tee are with the winning faction. and
they will elect a chairman in accord
with them.
The men who were the head and
front Of the Democratic party in the past
have been or will be relegated b the
rear, and be compelled to take a back
seat, for the present at least, unless
something unforeseen happens to bring
them forward again. II is safe to say
that if the May elections had taken
place in August instead of May there
would be some now drawing salaries
that would be leading the life Of
quiet, retired citizen, without the
Of Office. Such is politics.
COURT DAY.
The rising of the sun brought with it
intense heat, and the crowd which be-
gan to gather continued to swell until
there was nearly one thousand people
present. At about II o'clock the
steamer Chesapeake, Of the Oyster
Navy, steamed to the wharf with the |
Tyler delegation Of Middlesex, which |
it brought from Urbanna. In the party |
were some OF the most prominent Dem
ocrats from Middlesex. Among the |
first we met was that courtly, Chris |
tian, Virginia gentleman, Judge A. b. |
Evans, who never fails to compliment |
what he views as the good work of The |
Free Lance and condemns what he |
thinks wrong in it. He says it is
among the first papers he reads. Next
there was jolly bob" McOandlish, as
he is called by his friends, whose heart
Is as big as his body then Mr.. Lewis
Jones, with his 225 avoirdupois, dress
ID in a neat linen suit. making every
body envious of his cool appearance.
With hearty greeting for every one
hen the dignified Hon. j. r. Segar,
who was one the best representatives. in
he Legislature Essex and Middlesex
,ver sent TO Richmond, and DR.. W. s.
the scholarly gentleman
yhom Middlesex may well feel proud
10 call her son. All Of these gentle.
men were strong adherents Of Gov Ty-
er because he represented a principle
or which they are fghting-"a cleo
ron Of Senator by the voice of the peo-