The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-20
Mr.. Gordon VIII Resign; Capt. Hal /,
May Succeed Him.
SOME CONVENTION GOSSIP,
Prospects Of Lively Fight for Place
From Ilichmond-Mr. Wi'hers Will
Probably be the Presiding Off
Ger Preachers TO be
In the Conyen-
ycntios..

Every ward in Richmond was repre-
sented at a meeting of the advocates OIL
Lieutenant Governor Echols for the Gov
ernorship at Murphy s last night.
About forty persons were present me
number included many of the active party
leaders of the city There were also pres
ent several prominent citizens who have
not uniformly taken an active part IN
notifies. hut who are ardent supporters
of Mr.. EcholS.
The meeting last night, following a less
jmpcrtant one of the same character last
week is regarded by the politicians as
wuli of significance. 1t means that MI
lIchols will make a determined effort TO
capture some Richmond delegates. 1t
may mean considerably more freil1ni-
nary plans were laid
II am convinced since this meeting,
said one of those who attended last
nights conference, that |;chols VIII
have portion of the Richmond deiesa-
1ion. and il would not in the ieast sur
prise me If he gave Montague close race
for a majority of the delegates from this
city"
The better opinion seems to be that Mt
l.chols will have Il very respectable sup
port from Richmond, but that air. Monta-
snle Will have majority OF the delesa-
ton from this city. 1t is true, though,
that Sir. Echols' strength is growing. He
has been strong in Richmond ever since
his speech at the big meeting at the Au-
ditorium here in the fall Of 1881
1t may be set down as an assured fact
that there will be a warm fight between
The fchols a.iG Montague forces for the
Richmond delegation. Six weeks ago the
Acknowledgement was conceded Rich
mond.
Mr. James ". Gordon. having become
candidate for delegate to the Consttu-
1ional Convention. Will resign as chair
man and as a member OF the City Demo-
cratic Committee. Mr. r. Carter Scott.
another candidate for delegate will re-
sign as a member of the committee. Both
OF these, gentlemen are from Monroe
Ward.
II is understood that there will be
meeting of the committee within the next
week or ten days. at which the resiSna-
tions will be submitted and accepted Ac-
cording TO an existing rule. any member
who becomes a candidate for an Office FOR
which II nomination is 10 be made under
:, plan adopted by the committee has 10
resign his membership in the committee.
Mr.. James y. Doherty. the Labor Com
missioner Of Virginia, is the Vice-chair-
man of the committee. He may be Il
candidate for the Craftsmanship. but in
view of the fact that he now occupies the
sibie that he will not offer to succeed Mr..
Gordon. There is a strong sentiment
among the members of the committee in
favor of Captain Cunningham Hall for
the chairrnanship, and it is more than
likely he VIII be chosen. He is a young
man, which renders the term somewhat
inapplicable. but Captain Hall well de-
serves the title of '.wheel-horse'' when
applied to faithful Democratic workers.
1t is understood thut Mr.. Samuel P.
Waddil1, clerk OF the County Court OF
EIenrico, will be Henrico's delegate to the
Constitutional Convention. AT present 1t
Cooks as if Mr.. Waddill would be chosen
without opposition.
Ii seems probable that there will be a
number oa Christian ministers III the Con-
stitutional Convention. This has been
The case in al the Con-
yeutlons called TO frame the organic law
of the Stutc. In the great convention of
1929 Rev. Alexander Campbell was a no
cable figure.
The people of Louisa county are talking
of sending TO the convention Key. L. j.
Haley, u distinguished Baptist divine.
This will be a Convention which it will
be regarded proper for preachers to at
tend as representatives of the people, for
among the great questions that will have
10 bo dealt With is that Of religious free
dom. Of course, there is not the remotest
probability that the Convention will med
die with this subject.
1t is generally believed that Hon. Eugene
Withers. df Danville, Will be the president
of the Constitutional Convention. Speaker
Saunders in the debate OH the
convention bill in the House last week
declared that AIR. Withers had done more
10 bring about q convention than any one
man in the State, not excluding Major
Daniel, and that he was the ablest leader
of the cause. There are many, however,
who believe that Mr.. Withers services
would be more valuable on the floor than
in the chair. and for that reason he may
not stand for the presidency.
Many of the assistant clerks Of the Sen
ate aud House will ask like positions in
The convention, while all of the House
pages have secured signatures from the
members of that body, asking that they
lie given their old places.
It seems probable that the country dis
tricts of the State will make early nom
inations for the constitutional ConNen-
ton and that some OF the counties VIII
name their candidates within the next
few weeks. II is urged that this course is
made necessary because Of the opposition TO
the convention movement in many sec
tons and the Importance of giving am.
PIE time for thorough canvass by the
Democratic nominees. 1t was the vote
of the cities and not that OF the counties
that made the convention possible. and
,aucl, hard work IS to be done to get the
rural districts in line and have them re-
turn the Democratic nominees.
Indications point to the sending of an
exceptionally strong delegation to the
Constitutional Convention from the
southwestern section OF the State.
II seems conceded that ex-senator s. f.
buchanan will come from SsnSta and
Bland. while x-Attorney-General Rufus
A. Ayers will .mcst like,3 represent