Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-06-21
NOTES ON HEATHSVILLE
MASS-NIEErING.
(BY GEO. II. sMITH.l

Ine attendance or democrats al
the mass-meeting held on court day
was very large, especially when it is
considered that June court came at
time when everybody is apt to be
busy. Fair6elds appeared to have less
representation than any other district,
the people engaged in the fisheries
being conspicuous by their absence.
Reedville proper sent its entire crowd
OF Montague men, who numbered
two. The rest of the town was said
to be for Swanson, but only three
turned out, which shows that Reed
Vile does not worry itself much
over politics. Lillian and Burgess
Store sent out a fair number, mostly
the usual crowd, with some additions,
The "usual crowd" was mostly Mon
tague men, the ones who always at
tend the county mass-meetings, and
who direct district affairs at local
meetings. Hacks Neck rarely sends
any of its people out to political
meetings, but this time sent large
portion of its voters, who were nearly
all for Swanson.
The people began to come in early,
and of course the main topic was
politics. 1t appeared TO be a good
natured crowd, aud but little whiskey
was in evidence, although there was
apparently supply near the stables
of the Rice Hotel, judging from the
number of visitors to that locality
and the loving caressiug of the lips
Of small hotties. There was quite
Il number of visitors from other
counties, among whom was recog-
nized Hon. w. A. Jones and J. w.
Chinn, jr., of Richmond county. and
DIR. Frank Lewis, "Bunny" Webb,
Tom Downing and Warner Ball from
Lancaster.
1t was interesting and amusing to
listen to the arguments advanced by
the sovereigns in behalf of their ia
vorite candidate. Each voter seemed
to think that his candidate was the
"only pebble on the beach," and as
only Swanson aud Montague were
mentioned there were only two
pebbles anyway. 1t was confidently
asserted that Lloyd Smith had said
that he intended to carry the county
for Montague, and judging from re-
suits he knew what he was talking
about vixen he said it. Lots of the
sovereigns knew nothing of the con-
test, further than that they had been
told to be on hand and vote and yell as
directed. Many were quite frank in
their opinions, and the methods used
to get out large Montague vote
could be easily inferred.
When the mass-meeting was called
the visiting contingent, excepting
Mr.. Jones, marched to the front and
occupied many of the arm chairs.
When it was found that the voters
could not get in, a resolution was
passed to exclude all who were not
qualified voters of the county. The
visitors then marched out again.
Then the door was ordered closed
and then ordered opened again so
the outsiders could see inside. Mo-
tions flew thick and fast. The chair
man was powerless to preserve order,
and chaos reigned. John A. Palmer,
who was expected to lead the Swan
son forces, was prevented by sud-
den indisposition from 80 doing, and
the work of moving Swanson reso-
luton fell on j. Ed. Chambers.
Usually Lloyd Smith takes the in
itiative, but, for possibly good and
sufficient reason, he played a waiting
game. After waiting some time Mr..
Chambers offered a resolution in
structing for Swanson, and Rev. A..
f. Rice offered a substitute instruct
ing for Montague and LeCato.
When the first resolution was offered
the Swansonites let loose a moderate
amount of yelling, but when Monta-
gue's name came out pandemonium
seemed to have broken loose. The
Montague men yelled and whooped,
and howled and screamed, keeping
it up for minute or more. There
was a marked absence of speeches.
The Swanson men had no orators,
but the other side had number of
men who rarely fail to work off some
of their oratorical pyrotechnics at
every opportunity. Perhaps they
feared to have the people listen to
any speeches, lest they should be-
come enlightened in understanding,
and fail to do what was required of
them. There must have been some
reason, for it is very rare to have no
speech-making. One young man
did attempt to cover the point at
issue by what he may have intended
as an anecdote, but he went lame in
its application. However, it tickled
him so he could hardly get through
and it pleased his side, who plainly
showed that they were grateful for