Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-06-19

fight for Rhea as is well known, and in
upholding Gov. Swanson in that mat
ter, whilst Mr.. Stuart is credited with
opposing him. This draws the line
sharply between Judge Mann and Mr..
Stuart, especially in the Southwest.
Mr.. Tucker, the only other candidate
for Governor is not in that fight, but
with the wisdom which always
abounds in "Our Harry" sits like
"Brer Rabbit" and says nothing.
The Hon. Harry St. Geo. Tucker, the
third and only other candidate for
Governor, after loud and lung bursting
calls, appeared and made most hap
py speech. Judge r. T. w. Duke who
has been considered candidate, res
ponded to loud calls and told the con-
vention he was not candidate for any
office. He, however, made most cap
tivating speech and made thereby
many friends.
OTHER SPEECHES.
Outside of the gubernatorial candi-
dates and the speeches of the respective
carmen, Gov. Swanson, Senator Mar
tin, Senator Daniel, Congressman
Flood and Gov. ]. Hoge Tyler, all
responded to calls, such calls be-
ing in the cases of Swanson and
Daniel, what may be termed ovations.
The speeches of Swanson and Daniel
were especially opportune, and well re-
ceived, and tended to put the conven-
ton in the best possible humor with
itself. The convention wanted Senator
Daniel to place himself just where he
did, and of course was merry over it..
Senator Martins speech was Senator
Martins speech. If anything Senator
Martin is practical. He never chases
rainbows, nor deals in pyrotechnics.
He saw the handwriting he said. He
knew that VIM. J. Bryan would be the
nominee at Denver Nothing could
stand in the way of this save death, and
he saw no use in placing Virginia in
the hostile column-even if it could be
done-a thing he was frank to say was
impossible. He hoped, therefore, that
the convention would adopt the reso-
luton of instruction without dissent
ing voice.
BRINE AND ANTI-BNYAN.
This did not deter or change the
course of the I'd district. Those bival-
vular, salt sea wave products, those
wise, patriotic, consistent and loyal
statesmen leaped into the arena pre-
ferring death to surrender. And they
died. 1t was rather a hard death. The
majority was not so eXacting and cruel
as in the days of Nero, when they who
become obnoxious to the crown, on re-
ceiving notes, as did Petronius, and the
good old Seneca, retired to their baths
opened their veins and gave up their
ghosts. The minority opened their
mouths instead, and stormed and ges-
ticulated. However, after due time in
which to repent, or cease their disloy-
atty and neither occurring, they were
promptly executed. Had the fight
been madein Norfolk there might have
been ballot box stuf1ing, and the like, or
there might have been boiling and
some seeming advantage thereby gain
ed, but they were up against it good
good and hard this time, and the re-
suit was large and lusty funeral. The
voice of Col. Dick Marshall which has
few equals this side of Bashan helped
matters for long time, but at last it
changed. He began in the first gallery,
but at last his form was seen lowering
near the speaker on the stage, and
whilst that voice enabled him to read
clearly and well the minority report,
and to apprise the convention of the
Importance thereof, by Justify pro-
claiming the names appended to this
declaration of Independence, his voice
at last became a still small voice, and
then died away in the distance and
was no more There was hubbub over
the effort of that I'd district-a portion
of what is known as the Black Belt,
where political hubbubs often occur
to get a recorded vote, growing out of a
mistake of the chair in putting a mo-
ton, but it came not from any lack in
the heavy Bryan majority, of at all
times being thoroughly in control.
There never was moment when they
were not in the saddle, and the effort
of the Black Belt representatives to
unhorse them was as purile, and as fu-
tile, and as ill advised, as are many of
the political movements so often credit
ed to the 'Norfolk District"
MINORITY CONTROL.
The trouble in Virginia and in the
Nation with the Democratic party as
evidenced at Roanoke, is and has been,
the effort of the Minority to control.
When that is attempted it can succeed
1Or only snort llme at best, and when
it does succeed at all, it must do so by
secret meetings, conclaves, short turns,
doubtful schemes, and often by force,
trickery and actual fraud. The action
at Roanoke should apprise the minori-
ty that it has lost its grip, and unless
it admits defeat and gracefully gets
into the traces it will get hard, if not
a fatal fall. No faction in Virginia can
run about as it pleases, going hither
and thither and not be called down,
and this was never better shown than
at Roanoke.
THE PRIMARY.
The poor old primary plan once so
distasteful to the present organization.