The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-13
Much Excitement Over
Mode of EIeCting
Delegates.
A MONTAGUE DELEGATION CHOSEN
Mr.. Montague Present and Made a Speech
Tho Delegates. Etc.

T.. G.. Ninde, W. h. Lang, ". \. Bell, j.
T. Jones, f. W. Stcarns, II. Il. GOuldman
Maurice lIirsh IT, Imam, j. y. Ray, j.
f.. Timbcrake. J. W. Stone, W. II. Mer
chant. j. Conway Chichester, oi the Star
aud Tn I'REE LANcE representative. On
the train with the party was Mr.. Lynch
Montague, brother Of the candidate for
Governor. and he was soon surrounded
by the members OF the party aud asked
for information IA 10 the fight now in
PROGRESS. On our arrival il was soon
whispered by the Montague people that
Chairman d. B. Powers, who IL strong
swanson supporter, had prevailed upon
certain members OF the committee To
support a precinct plan to elect Delegates
instead Of n mass meeting ~ had been
ordered and there was "a decided ilutter
among the Montague people. II was
given out that the committee had been
pollcd and they stood rs to 10 for the
precinct plan. Then the Montague peO-
pie he'd by Nlessrs 4. y. Chandler T.. d.
Coghill &. b. Conway, j. ". Lafoe, Maj
K. . Pcatross. Judge T. e. Moncure and
Others, went to work with a will and
when the committee met on all sides
could bc heard the questions. How do
they stand ?" and Nv i'll it be- II primary
or mass-meeting Beneath the front
window Of the jury room, where the
committee met. stood n large crowd
who could only hear snatchcH OF the hot
debate that was going on inside This
contest lnsted for an hour, when loud
shout from the inside indicated that a
4 L.. a .l...l H.
through the window proclaimed the fact
that the mass-meeting people had won
by a vote of II to :, several members
not voting.
In the meantime the Montague people
had been busy circulating among the
crowd and buttons bearing his name and
picture were eagerly taken. and put upon
the lappels ofcoats until nearly every man
wore one. Then n carriage rolled up to
, the Lawn Hotel, and from il stepped At
tOrney. General Montague. Into the hotel
he went, and "A stream OF visitors paid
their respects 10 him until the convention
met. lie was in fine spirits, and said To
THE FmE Lance representative, Il am
going 10 win on the first ballot.
When the committee finished its bust
ness the mass meeting was called. The
throng poured into the Court-house and
il was packed in five minutes. Chair
man Powers was attending 10 some
legal business and did not have time 10
reside ~ ON motion. +. -. Coghill was
called 20 the chair. and the representa-
tiyes Of the Caroline News. IHE FREE
LANE and Star, wereeected secretaries.
Mr. Coghll made brief speech in
which he thanked the meeting for the
honor conferred and announced that it
was ready for business.
Mr.. 4. 4. Chandler arose and said in
view Of theunanimity of sentiment in the
county for Attorney General Montague
he would offer the following resolution
Resolve. That Al Montague, Esq Is
the choice Of the people for the next GOV
ernor Of Virginia, and we do hereby in
struct our delegates this day elected 10
| the Norfolk convention 10 east the vote
of this county as unit for him 50 long
as his name shall be before the cOnyen-
ton and we further instruct our SAID
delegates for all other nominations to be-
made or persons to be- voted Tor
aud ON all Others matters coming
| before said convention, To east the vote
| of this county as a unit, majority ol
our said delegates who may be present
AT said convention controlling and de
terminng for whom and for what meas
urers our said vote shall be east.
With n shout the resolution was TN
animously adopted.
Then Treasurer G.. +. Smith, brother oil
Mr.. Smith. superintendent Oi schools, "a
cended the platform in front OF the chair
man. He said ! have longed TO see a
Baptist Governor for the State OF Nir
GINA but ! want 10 see him elected 10y
the people and not by the willy tricks ID
politicians. The action Of the cOmmitte,
today il not in accordance with my ideas
OF fair play to all the candidates. II You
want to give each fair play, call precinct
meetings and let the people OF each pre-
cinct say who is their choice and let them
elect their delegates. and there can be no
claim of snap judgment, or short cuts.
Cant Smith was called to order. there be
inc no motion, and the subject referred q
had already been settled. Mr.. H. q
Moncure moved that Capt Smith be al
| lowed the floor which was unanimously
carried Proceeding, Capt. Smith said
il had been the general custom to decide
all questions of this character III pre-
| cinct meetings, and he saw no reason foI
the sake Of harmony that il should not
| be done now. lie closed with an earnest
appeal to allow the gentlemen from each
precinct to retire and elect delegates
Major X. q. PeatrOss made "A strong
speech reviewing the action OF the call
J issued by Chairman Powers in the news
paper for meeting of the committee to
| decide upon the plans for electing dele
gates at June court. That this commit
| tee was the representative of the people,
aud il had decided to elect by mass meet
ing, and there was no appeal. \ voice,
"You had n majority OF the committee
this morning for precinct meetings, why
didn't you'll hold it and prevent the other
| fellows from taking it away from you
This caused much laughter. Running
questions which caused much amusement
ensued between Mr. Chandler and Capt.
Smith. in which Mr. Chandler said that
the names of Capt. Smith and Chairman
Powers. had been put down asdelegates,
but it was thought advisable tOput none
but Montague men guard and they had
been stricken off the list.
Thefollowing delegates were then elect
ed Judge +. G. Moncure, i. W. Chandler,
r. Coghill j. W. Lafoe, c. b. Conway,
J. b. Washington, John Washington, W.
L. Cobb, d. J. Waller, Wesley Wright,
W. s. Bowers
Mr. r. q. Moncure announced that Mr..
Montague was in the village and moved
that committee Of three be appointed by
the chair toescort him to the meeting and
invite him to speak. This was unani-
mously adopted and Chairman Coghill
appointed Nlessrs A. b. Chandler, Geo.
II. Boulware and X. o. PeatrOss "a the
committee.
When Mr.. Montague arrived his recep-
ton was most enthusiastic and he spoke
for more than an hour and hall to an
attentive audience
NOTES.
1t was truly refreshing to witness the
zeal with which the Chandler and Mon