The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-03-14
REPUBLICANS DIVIDE
Two Meetings HsId-o Opposing DsIsEstIOns to
State and District Conventions chosen-lssb
Proceedings

The days OF the Fish House Club"
were, In a measure, recalled ~ Il nesting
OF the Republican party ct the court
house here Thursday night for the pur-
pose OF sending delegates to the district
and State conventions.
On entering the building at D. m, IL
was evident that there was going to be
music in the afr" FOR the two factions
OF the party were lined up distinctly, one
seated within the inner rallied circle OF
the building, led by Councilman Henry
Warden; the other on the benches on the
left, among whom were Nessrs. James
Turner, Geo. NJ. Hunt, Sr, Dun Green.
John c. Melville, John NJ. Griffin and
others.
Chairman Melville announced the pur-
pose of the meeting was TO select three
delegates each to the district convention
at Cape Charles, March 18th, and State
convention, at Lynchburg, April Sth.
lie asked the permanent secretary, Mr.
William Sullinger, to act for the meeting.
Mr.. Warden rising, asked II Il was not
customary TO select n chairman and that
the chairman Of tue executive committee
preside over the meeting. Chairman
Melville said, "Oh, yes. DO SO a. chair.
man OF the executive committee
Mr.. Warden then placed In nomination
Tor district convention delegates Messrs
) r. Foster, J. W Thomas and Geo. l..
Hunter. Chairman Melville quickly said,
Mr.. Hunter is not voter" This
brought Mr.. Hunter to his feet, who,
waving tax receipt, said, Il will he a
voter at the election in November, as |
paid my taxes IN March" This settled
that
At this iuncture Mr.. n. b. KInsey. who
L WAS leaning FkUntnaf fh. ii. . ~
Inner circle, made some remarks. which
caused Mr. Griffin to ask him IL he Was a
Republican voter, to which Mr.. K. said
no. MIR. Geo. N. Hunt, Sr., went out
alter an officer To preserve order.
The question next arose as to who
should vote. Mr. Griffin said there were
voters present who claimed to be Re
pubiicans who voted the Republican or
Democratic tickets at pleasure, and asked
that they b. excluded from voting
This brought Mr. Larkin J, fferson TO
bis feet, who explained vote he had
cast, but said he was true blue" Mr.
a. said he did not know Larkin Jefferson
was one Of the number
Mr.. James Mcdonnell said the nrst
business was to decide on manner Of
electing delegates.
Mr.. Warden moved that they be elected
by ballot, two tellers to be selected by
the chair, and all voters pass through
the bar and cast their ballots.
At this Mr.. W. W. Butzner moved TO
elect six delegates to each convention
with hal vote each. This was carried
by a vote OF 80 to 30.
MIR. Warden insisted on his motion ns
20 manner OF voting. and said n this W as
not done. he and his friends would with.
draw rom the meeting and hold another
one afterwards
At this iuncture Mr.. Kinsey made some
audible remarks, and Chairman Melville
asked him u stop his noise, and also
asked him II he was Republican, to
which he replied very emphstically, Il
was born O Republican"
Chairman Melville said "All right. but
please keep quiet"
At this Geo NJ. Hunt. Jr., crossed over
to where kinsey was standing "A I'D plant.
ed a stunning blow on his cheek There
was excitement sure enough then. aud
every body arose Cries Of put them ont
We're heard. Officer Tansil restored
quiet.
Col. James A. Turner made a speech In
which he accused Mr. Warden u coming
here from the North and debating how
Virginia Republicans should conduct
their affairs. Said he. I'VE had none Of
this before you came" de said he had
! =
/ lore you were in Virginia
Chairman Melville refused to put the
motion TO elect according 20 Mr. Ward
ems plan. because, said he. | consider IL
an insult to march we'll known Repabh-
cans before the nesting for Identification
Then. said Mr.. W we will not partici-
pate further, and he and his friends took
no further part In the meeting
Six delegates were then elected to the
State aud district conventions, as fol
lows: +. l. W. Green, VIM. Sullinger. j.
NJ Gnnn, Dun Green, W. &. Shepherd
and W. w. Butzusr.
lie was proposed to elect Mr.. Geo. N.
Hunt, Sr., To the State convention, but
he declined to be candidate
Mr. W. ". Butzner offered a set OF res
olutions endorsing President 2ooseveIt's
administration, State Chairman Slemp
and Secretary Taft for Presidential nom-
inetion.
The meeting then adjourned.
Mr.. wARDES's MEETING.
When the frat meeting ended. Mr.. |
Warden arose and said: IAN Republicans |
who did not participate in the meeting
just held are invited to join US in this |
meeting" He nominated Mr. James W. |
Thomas as chairman and Mr.. Charles !
Wissner as secretary. Both were elected |
Mr.. Warden moved that three delegates
be elected to State and three to district |
conventions. and that the voting be, nrst
by ballot; second. two telers be ap-
pointed by chair; third, that all voters
shall pass through the bar to cast ballot. /
Carried.
The following delegates were elected
to district convention by 81 votes-S. E.
Foster, Geo.L. Hunter and J. W Thomas;
aud to the State conventiop-Henry
Warden, J. W. Thomas and s. Z. Foster,
by 50 votes.
Resolutions. offered by C. d. Foster,
were passed endorsing the administra-
ton OF Roosevelt, . cabinet appointment
for c. B. slsmp and memorials to the
late Campbell Slemp.
The mover OF the resolutions made a
short, but defiant speech, aimed at those
not In sympathy with the LAST meeting.
number OF colorsd voters were pres
ent and voted on different propositions,
bat they were not represented in the APP
No lint Of At