The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-26
THE FRANKLIN MEETING.
Citizens Unite in Sweeping De
inial Of Mr.. Hollands Allegations.
Pine Sts.
(Communicatcd.)

Communicated
We. the undersigned, Democratic voters
OF Franklin District, Southampton county,
Va hereby certify that we ATTENDED, tnc
mass meeting held in said town on sat
urday afternoon. May 2lst for me pur-
nose of electing delegates to the state
convention from said town, ana we con-
slider 1t our duty and privilege 70 make
q full statement concerning SAID meeting
and concerning the report OF sald t1eet.
ms, published in The Times Dispatch. Q.
Richmond Va, OH Sunday. May "a.
signed by ",The Graphic, j. r. Holland,
Wo havo read said report carefully ana
we hereby pronounce every statement
contained therein that is essential to the
conflict that is pending as untrue ~
We note tho following statements IN
said report:
First. Pursuant to n call by IL Peter
Holland, chairman OF the ,Detnocratic
Executive Committee of southampton
county, the Democrats assembled In their
cespective magisterial districts" etc.
This statement is erroneous The call
was made by, the County Executive com
mittee, and not by ]. Peter Holland.
chairman; but on the contrary. against
his earnest opposition, and the published
notice Of the cali states that 1t was
done by order Of the committee and IS
signed Dy. j.. fetel Ii'IAe'i", S' .''''
and J. Il. Barham, secretary. the officers
OF the committee.
Second. He says: This being the home
of j. Peter Holland, the county chairman
no called tho mass meeting to order as
county chairman
Ho should have said that no attempted
to call 1t to order. AS matter or fact
he had no right whatever to call 1t to
order, and his right to do so was never
recognized by the meeting, and large
and overwhelming majority of the meet
Ing most vociferously protested against
his attempt to preside or put any motion
before tho meeting.
Third. He further says: MIR. T. Q.
barrett was unanimously elected tenn
porary secretary. both sides participant
Ing"
This statement is untrue.
Fourth He further says: "a motion
was made to mako the temporary officers
permanent, and was carried. both sides
participating"
This statement Is also untrue, and sew
eral warm supporters of Mr. Holland,
who were standing within few feetsof
him tho whole time, stated that they
never heard any such motion put or
carried
fifth. He further says: "At this stage
at the proceedings r. r. l.. Watkins
questioned the authority Of the county
chairman to call the meeting to order,
though, after lie attempted to take charge
Of the meeting for a&few seconds. he be-
came quiet. and the meeting proceeded
to transact business
This statement Is also untrue. Tho
fact is that as soon as Mr.. Holland at
tempted to organize the meeting Mr..
Watkins, who was secretary OF the Dis
tr!ct Committee and, in the absence OF
It's chairman, Colonel Edwards. was the
proper person to call the, meeting to
order, protested at once against the as
sumption Of authority by MI. Holland.
and himself. standing within ono or two
feet Of Mr., Holland, proceeded to call the
meeting to order and call for nominal
tlons OF chairman Of the meeting. Or,
Bryant was placed In nomination. the
vote OF the meeting was taken by Mr..
Watkins. and DR., Bryant was declared
elected chairman; took the chair and
called Mr. Holland and the rest of those
present to order, though Mr.. Holland
continued to refuse to yacate the floor.
Sixth. He further says: ~ Peter Hol-
land. J. i. Gillette, sheriff OF the county.
and T. b. Vaughan were elected dele"
gates to tho State convention, both sides
voting, and no division was called for"
We believe this statement isnlso untrue.
Mono OF us heard any such motion or
vote, and most Of us were very close to
Mr.. Holland. and would have been al
most obliged to have heard It had such
vote been put, and we have the state
mcnts Of number OF Mr.. Hollands
warm supporters. who we're standing
very close to him, and of several dis
Interested persons.f who werc at tho meet
Ing, not as voters. but as spectators to
the effect that no such motion was eyer
mado or put If any such motion was
over put by Mr.. Holland 1t must have
been after he left the hall and to those
who followed him out,
Before DR. Bryant could secure order
or compel Mr.. Holland to 1u't talking
somebody started fight, and FOR few
moments nobody was in tho chair and
there was no senblance OF any SORT or
Meeting, except a mass Of fighting and
seventh, He says: "Finally quiet was
restored. delegates were instructed 10
choose their own alternates' ana mo
meeting, by motion. adjourned,
This statement Is untrue. liter the
fighting vas oyer Nj. Holland was Ger,
tainly not in the position 'nat ne had
assumed TO take as chairman nor any,
where near II, and VIC doubt u ne was