Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-08-21
CONVENTION HIS COM
PLETED ITS YORK

SON MONTAGUE.
For L eutenant Governor--JOSEPH
E. WILLARD.
For Attorney General-MAJOR
WILLIAM A. ANDERSON.
The State convention of the Demo
cratic party of Virginia has adjourned.
1t was in session two days, during
which time there were matters disposed
of which are of more than usual interest
to the party. Radical changes were
proposed, and yet there was not dis
senting voice to any of them; young
men were at the wheel, and these
steered the old party perfectly salts
factorlly to the older piolets. 1t re-
quired only ten minutes to read tie re-
port CT the commi tee on resolutions,
the preparation of which consumed
forty-eight hours in elaboration.
The only real, old struggle during
the two days WIS that over the position
of Attorney General. The leaders 10
this race were Major William A. Ander-
SOD, OF Rockbridge, and State Senator
John l.. Jeffries, of Culpeper. 1t was
thought week ago that the latter
would win, but this did not deter
Colonel Robert Catlett, of Lexington,
who managed the campaign of the
latter; from putting in his best llcks
upon his arrival in Norfolk. He was
successful. Major Anderson won and
his many friends were proud. Some
of the friends of Senator Jeffries
claimed that the victory was wrested
from their favorite tecause..o of the active
support given the Major by Montague,
whether this is true or not will never
be known to the uninitiated, but it is
certain that the fight was most
earnest one while it lasted on tie floor
of the convention.
1t was during the third roll call Of
delegates that victory came to Major
Anderson. At one time it looked as if
Judge S. W. Williams held the balance
of power and would cause deadlock,
this did not happen, for on the third
ballot, seeing that their case was hope
less. Williams supporters shifted to
Anderson and Jeffries gave up the
fight. When the Hon. Joseph Il.
Lawless, Secretary of the Common
wealth, who had done his best in be-
half OF Senator Jeffries, realized during
the third roll call that Major Auder-
son would win, he moved to make the
nomination OF the Major unanimous,
and this was done.
The scene which followed this beg
gars description; the stately conven-
ton appeared to be converted into a
hand of bowling Commanches, it re-
minded those who remembered of the
scene at Roanoke four years ago when
Montague won the Attorney General
ship, e--~--ss-tA-1N.-se.- E.ssS5isoI, In
point of duration it was lengthy,
unusually lengthy, and in point of |
it was intense. When it |
had ended, the convention resumed |
work in sort of desultory way, and
at $50 o'clock in the after
room.
BRAxToN's SPEECH NAMING ANDERSON.
Mr.. Chairman; Once more has the
Democratic clans gathered to choose
heir champion for the impending con-
lict. No more important political bat
lie has been fought OF the soil of Vir
yinia in the lifetime of this generation
han the one upon which we are about .
o enter. Never before since the days
Relying upon this commonj law of
ur country, this unbroken custom of
ur ancestors, this rule which IN the
asst has proven itself so acceptable,
D Unjust, so reasonable and 80 wise, l ="
)me now to ask of this cow ention
lat IN the ticket which it shall nomi- {
ate, one place be given to the great :,
ection for which I speak. In select
lg the three great leaders, who this !.
ii are to carry our triumphant ban y
ers over the enemy's walls, l appeal "
, you, gentlemen of the convention,
nat one of them be taken from ocr
reat and beautiful Valley, whose very {
tmosphere is an inspiration Of all that that O
lQy:aal and and t true. where the echoes of
lr mighty dead are still perpetuated ST
the reverberations of her everlast. c.
6 mountains; where Stonewal Jack u
n gained immortality; where is CT
This critical emergency is no time Oh
: experiments; two much is at stake pc
justify us in taking any risks by co
loring or departing from old and well lis
ablished customs. I. has ever been
unwritten law OF all parties that Ca
great officers Of State should be nu
ected from the various grand diyis- pr
s of the commonwealth so that 10
ny section might be fairly, well and tt'
lily represented. h1
What greater calamity could befall
all than that a Republics govern 20
Mt should come into power in Vir- WI
ia before our new constitu ton shall Ia
7e been safely launched? This, there IN
2, is the time of all others, when it Gu
looves us to stand up stoutly in the
tense Of our dear old State, and t. stt
that during che throes of parturi- IL
n neither is the mother injured nor IN
Z offspring devonred nv thesa hunmv