The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-28
POLITICS. AMONG
THEA0||||v'V|TZE.RS. H ] \
Effort to j Introduce i t, a Res
olution.lIia:tt a Battery
Smoker Fails.
CAPT. MYERS RULES
lTsOUT OF ORDER.
Mr.. S. S. 2. Patteson Proposes to
Thank Others Than. Senator
for New Battery Promised
Howitzers By War De-
partrnent, and Exciting
Episode Follows.
- = = -: -: =: :: ::


II ,rhc reception ana smoker rendered
Senator Thomas S. Martin last night
nv tic Richmond Howitzers was a de-
ligEtfui. informal social gathering until until.
nearly II o'clock, when an incident oc-
3curred that suddenly converted mcrrl-
ment into feeling and threatened to de-
3velop into d sensation, Il indeed, It did
not approximate one.s
The incident in question was the un-
successful effort Of Mr.. S. s. p. Pattc-5
son, a member, Of the Howltzers' Asso-
ciation, to offer a resolution thanking
Governor Montague, Senator Daniel anu,
others as well as Senator Martin. for
their efforts In behalf of the Howitzers,
which, though not read TO the gathering,
served to prccpitate a heated situation,
and to call forth am {impassloned protest
from Captain William NJ Myers who
was presiding. The episode served to
show what a white heat of passion Is
smouldcrlng beneath the placid surface
in the heated political, campaign for the
primary nomination for United States
senator. Mr.. Patteson's resolution was
carefully drawn and extending the
thanks OF the Howitzers to "ex-Govcrnor
Tyler Senators John w. Daniel ana
Thomas S.. Martin, Governor A.. j. Mon
taguc. Hon. II. st. George Tucker. Hon.
John Lamb, Hon. William A. Jones and
Leigh Robinson, ESQ but as 1t never.
got before the gathering this fact was
not genera1y known.
Purely Social Occasion.
d Captain Myers explained that this was
purely social occasion and not a busl-
ness meeting OF the battery. and SIG
gested that srcsolutitf,s were not I In order
n Mr. William Il. White an old war time
HowItzer endorsed Captain Myers IN his
view of the mat tier, and In doing so gave
the first public intimation of the nature
of the resolution, when he declared that
1t was worse than an Intrusion to foist
upon this meeting any such resolution
s"As chairman of this meeting, 7 do
not care;for this thing to goany further y
said Captain Myers. He explained that
If any. gentleman had any business to
bring before the battery he might do so
at a regular business meeting and 1t
would be considered and acted upon.
AT this point Mr. Charles r.. Wingo, a
gallant war member of the Howitzcrs,
al LcpIcCStltu lIlG lluT1l dlltlTS llttt
taken. Il do not want this to go out as
political meeting or one boosting any
candidate" said he. FIe then explained
that the resolution was merely one In
Guiding in an expression of thanks SEN
ator Daniel Governor Montague and
others. who had. like Senator Martini,
aided in securing for the Howitzers the
assurance OF a new battery Of modern
guns. and expressed the hope that in the
Interest of fairness the resolution would
be heard and considered.
The Captain Warns Up.
Captain Myers was aroused by the ref
erence to politics, and retorted in words
tho enlnclatlon of which showed that lie
was making Il great effort at self con-
troll. "At any meeting OF this battery"
he said, "the resolution will be ,consid-
cred. but this Is purely n social affair,
at which there are many visitors, and !
consider 1t out of place here. II the
word politics was mentioned In this meet
jig. it was mentioned but once, and then
by the brother on my right" gesturng
In the direction of Mr.. Wingo Continu-
ing, Mr.. Myers grew more impassioned MS
he spoke, and in tones almost tremulols
with feeling he denied that he had In
ttoduced politics into the meeting and
defended himself with great vgor and
Are against any such imputatioh.
- am responsible for my actions" he
to my God, to my fellow
citizens, to the Governor and my slne-
rlur officers. called this meeting to OK
press our appreciation Of a service rcn-
dercd this battery, a man without graf
ltude is not lt to associate with gentle
men, Flo spoke Of the efforts to secure
y, MS for the battery but his exlct Ian
euage could not be caught. Continuing
Ills assurance of the innocence Of his
motives in calling this meeting. he said
In part;
'"ro you men who have ccen ut to
bring this smell into this organization, ]
would say that before calling this meet
Ing I consulted ex-members Of tho bat
tory. and they thought we should present
to senator Martin this expression, IN
my opinion. the time to thank u man for
n favor is the iirst time you got q chance
nftcr the service is rendered. am sorry
that any man, oven though he be n
friend of nine should como hero to a
social gathering and exercise such bad
.tns sto and so violate the etiquette Of the
Continued on Second Pngeo