The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-02
Seventh District Politics.

Seventh District Politics.
Editor Of The Times Dispatch:
sir--,rhe chairmen or the Democratic
party for the Seventh Senatorial Dis
trict, comprising the counties Of Ale
shany, Bath Botetourt and Craig, met
at Gladys Inn. Clifton Forge on March
9th.
Allegheny was represented by w. Z.
Tlnslcy as proxy for r. 7. staley; Bath
BY Chairman Hardy; Botetourt by Chair
man Or w. G. Barker, and Craig by
Chairman N. u. Spessard.
When the meeting was called to order,
Mr.. Hardy, Of Bath. was made chairman.
and the question was raised whether tl''s
was d meeting OF the chairmcn OF salu
county committees, or a meeting OF fuil
committees from tho four counties, II
was commended by the chairmen OF Batll
and Botctourt that this was q called meet
Ing of the chairmcn to decide on the
relative merits OF primary or con-
vention plan for nominating andl-
date for tho Senate. On tho other hand,
1t was contended by Allegheny and Craig
that this was q meeting of the fuil COM
mittces OF all the counties
Tho chairmen OF Bath and sBotetourt Id
yore1 the primary plan, while the proxy
Of Allegheny and the chairman OF Craig
advocated the convention plan. In con-
sequence OF! this anomalous position, tie
was the result, and no action would De
taken by Chairman Harper on the mo-
ton made by w. E. Allen. OF Alleghany,g
to appoint a committee OF three iafro
the delegation present. for The purpose
OF proceeding to business
Mr.. Harper resigned the chairmanship,
4, ~, r3obnr 1nft the ROOM not.
however, until quite wrangle over the
admission Of proxies and members was
| INDUCED In. l5I6
Tho chairman Of Bath did not bring
proxies from his committee, neither did
the chairman OF Botetourt. Yet 1t de-
veioped In the discussion that p. Bur =
| ley, secretary Of the Botctourt County
| Committee, held seven proxies and wish
cd to vote them for the convention plan.
Dr. Barker commended that two OF the,
names held by Barley were In favor Of
tho primary plan as he was phoned 10
that effect Saturday night Mr. L. 4.
Deisher Of Botetourt. was In favor Or
the primary plan and was present.
The meeting assembled after lunch and
Mr.. W. r. Allen, of Craig, who seemed
to5"yield the big stick and cock Of the
walk, pushed his cut-and-dried schemes
i through by calling q convention to as
semble at Clifton Forge May 81, prox.
| the representation to be on the basis i9f
one delegate to every fifty voter in the
Irrespective counties at last election. s
1 Dr.Barker at the morning session slg-
| gcsted that as three OF the candidates
were then in Clifton Forge they be In
vited before the meeting to heal r. their
views. But Mr.. Allen again welded his
g.'big stick" and sternly said 'candl-
dates have no business here.
to- co
| at the afternoon session when they were
4 ostcnsiblySin possession OF the field the
j candidates were invited In Whether the
4 flavor can be attributed to the cavalier
1 after thought of the said master OF the
4 "big stick,rs1 am unable to say. 5g AS s
4 Mr.. Haden Penn accepted the invita-
4 tion and poured hot shot into the conyen-
ton plan advocates. But one might as
4 we'll have tried to kill duck by pour
ling water on his back.
Mr.. Phil. f. Brown took tho ground that
/ Having been refused at the morning ses-
4 sion,t he was in no humor to discuss an
Tissue with the star chamber Sanhedrim
A Of political saints. .{ 81.
Mr.. OBJ. Harvey, the youthful sena-
|torial aspirant, with sporty manners. who
2l'deemcd It beneath his dignity to come
4 forward and meet a competitor. who has
been voting the Democratic ticket since
matter Of fact, the said sporty aspl-
y rant has not been living in Allegheny
county barely long enough 10 entitle him
Ito vote. If such political ethics obtain
lin Arkansas, from whence he halls. they
should not be introduced Into Virginia.
4 The fourth and last candidate to enter
7 the race. Hon.. w. NJ. McAllster, could
not be present on account Of legal en-
i gagcments at his county court. but in a
courtly manner sent his regrets. All four
OF the candidates announced their intcn-
4 ton to submit their chances to tho pri-
mary of the Democratic party. and I still
claim that 1t is the fair and honorable
way Of ascertaining the will Of the peo-
pie. s$2 f tl
4 AS such am willing to test the rela-
tive strength Of the competitors in the
( race. But in the convention plan. rs
4 now mapped out, II am unwilling.
i In conclusion the action Of the opposing
Interest at Clifton Forge have been sub
mittcd to the chairman OF our party,
Hon Taylor Bllyson,5 and to whose good
q Judgment all loyal and true Democrats
Z will yield implicitly.
PHILIP II. BROWN. &
4 Blue Ridge Springs, March %, 1906. rs