The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-31
Richmond-Lancaster Democratic Mud
die.

The convention which assembled at
Downing's on Monday Of this week
was composed OF delegates chosen In
the two counties ~ meetings regularly
called and regularly constituted There
never was, and there never could nave
been any question rs to the regularity
and representative character ~ me del
egation chosen In this county, and the
same is equally true Of the hye dele
gates from LitwaltOn precinct IN Ian
caster county. In one precinct Ia Ian
caster. that Of Ourrotoman, there WAS
a contest over the delegation IL was
claimed that the vote IN the mass
meeting was tie-that 81 persons
voted for one set Of delegates and 81
voted for another set-and this conteh-
ton resulted In contest Leaving
out this precinct the voting strength
Of which was 1913 votes, and when was
entitled to four delegates, the conven-
ton which met on the 10Th OF Septem-
Der would have stood % delegates Tor
Wexford and q for Pinckard could "A
vote have been taken It was not
proper, however, 10 vote upon any
question, other than one Affecting
temporary organization. without having
first settled the OurrOtJmln contest Dy
determining which of the two contest
log delegations was entitled 10 seats III
the convention The Wexford dele
gates. having clear mag lrlty OF one,
undertook 10 exercise their right u elect
temporary chairman. The friends ~
Mr.. PIuckArd, although IN minorlty'ie-
fused To recognize this right ana per
sisted in au effort 70 cast the four votes
to which OurrOtomAn was entitled
They also insisted upon their right 70
cast the entire vote of Lancaster coun'
~. including that OF the protesting
delegates from Litwalt0n. IL was this
indefensible action on the part OF the
Pinckard following which resulted In
the failure II any nomination ana
which caused the matter TO be referred
for settlement 20 the State Centrai
Committee There can be no contro-
yersy as TO the facts as here stated IL
il be conceded that the friends Il Mr..
Plnckard were entirely conscientious
in maintaining their claim that the
Pluckard delegation from CurrotOman
should be seated before their CLAIMS
mad been duly passed upon by the IN
contested delegates. and that the ma
iority Of the delegates. from Lanca
ter could cast the entire lie oi the
county as unit, the committees I'D
which the questions were referred nav
ing decided otherwise, those conten'
ti0ns must now be abandoned. The
Piuckard delegates cOnteuded that the
contest from CurrotOman was spu-
rious " contest aud refused 10 consider
II The Ellyson committee held that n
was a bona. fide contest and that the
delegates from that precinct had no
right to participate IN the proceeding
of the convention until the contest hhd
been regularly determined. Inc Finc.
kard delegates held that they had
a right 70 east the Whole vote OF
Lancaster as a unit Their rtpre-
sentative abandoned this eStraordlnhrN
and untenable claim before the c0mlt-
tee. II must be as clear as noon DAY
then 10 every fair-minded and unpie-
indeed man that In the light Of the
decision Of the State Committee me
Pinckard following. Intentionally or
otherwise. DISTRACTED the proceedings Oh
the first convention at Downing +. ana
that upon them rests the Odium OF nav
ing broken up that convention. They
refused to attend when this convention
reassembled on Monday although the
opportunity to do 50 was given time.
aud we sre Informed that they ques-
ton its regularity. In other words
by the interposition Of methods ard
tactics which have been held BY the
highest party authority % have oetn
unjustifable. (and which under the
decision Of the State Committee they
cannot repeat they prevented a con
vention. regularly assembled, from do
ing the work for which It was APP mt
ed and when it reassembles to DO that
which they prevented 1t from dong
they seek 10 take advantage Of Their
own wrong by crying irregular aud
remaining away. This Is plain aud
unvArnished history Of the facts snd
circumstances leading mp to- the n'u mi
nation on Monday last Of Mr.. X T.
/ ~ ffr-.l y NntVa