The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-29
SLEMP OR KENT
TO HEAD TICKET
Continued from Page One.

| n feature OF 0lr. McHarg s address was
when he turned to a picture Of Gen. Lee
and said that he has as much respect
for that man as he has for Gen. Grant
whose picture stood opposite that of Lee
on the stage. This was greeted with wild
/ cheers. He said he would despise Lee II
/ he did not believe Lee had fought hon
estly, likewise Grant
] Representative McKinlay spoke on the
/ yellow peril He asked the South to come
/ 10 Californla's aid In settling the great
race problem Of that State He said he
knew California had the South's sym
/ PATTY. for the South itself had almost a
similar problem.
Slate as Drawn.
The slate as originally drawn after
many conferences to-day was as follows
Alfred +. Gillespie, Of Tazewen, de-
! scribed as a very dry upon a local
option platform for governor, with prob
ably George A. Revercomb. Of Coving-
ton, for lieutenant governor; W. 2.
Poque. OF Wythe. a nephew Of the late
Gen. Waller. for attorney general; J. L.
Crupper. Of Alexandria, for treasurer.
and Prof. Frank P. Brent, OF Richmond,
for State superintendent Of education.
The selection OF Gillespie 10 head the
ticket was not finally agreed upon until
the wee sma' hours this morning and
behind Il lay story OF a tight between
the old-time Republicanism and the Wig
liant Republcanism OF to-day.
National Committeeman Alvah II. Mar
tin. Col S. Brown Allen. R. A. Ander-
son. and Representative Bascom Slemp
yesterday evening and until early this
morning held conferences over the guber-
Material nominee. Martin and Allen stood
for w p Kent, OF stanton. at present
I'm the consular service. Anderson and
Slemp, representing the stalwart and pro-
gressive Republicans Of the Southwest.
held out for Gillespie.
Negroes Eliminated.
When Chairman Slemp called the con-
vention together this morning. he faced
something new IN Virginia Republican
ism. Below him were one thousand dele
gates OF which only six were negroes.
Such a small representation of negroes
IS new In Virginia Repubhcanism. But
there was something else. For one who
attended Republican conventions ten or
twelve years ago. still another surprise
awaited The sea Of faces before him
was not like that found In such gather
lngs ten years ago. II was a represent
alive crowd. a crowd Of sturdy, vigorous
looking citizens. and a more determined
crowd.
NJ. Slemp raped the convention to-
gether at 1879 lie was greeted by an
outburst OF applause. Following invoca-
ton. by Rev. Lloyd T. Wilson. Of the
Newport News Baptist Church. Mr.. Slemp
began his keynote speech. which a dozen
times swept the convention of its feet
His mention OF Taft and Roosevelt
brought forth applause after applause.
His thrusts al senator Daniel. al Democ-
racy. az Tucker and Mann. were signals
for great outbursts OF cheers.
COPELAND Welcomes Convention.
w. s. Coupland. editor OF the Newport
News TImes-Herald and president Of the
chamber Of commerce, made the speech
Of welcome in behalf OF the chamber.
He. with a bit Of humor, advised the
convention 10 postpone It's adoption OF a
prohibition plank until after the boat
ride this evening. With a shout OF
laughter. the convention promised II
would
Mayor Jones made the speech OF well
come I'm behalf Of the city. He spoke OF
the hospitality OF Newport News and her
beautiful women, and then turned a neat
joke on Chairman Bascom Slemp. the
young Republican Representative from
Virginia. who has resisted the charms
OF all the fair sex. He said that he be-
ueved some OF them were charming
enough to even charm the distinguished
State chairman. The convention hOwled
with delight. and Slemp's face took on a
very rudy hue.
Patrick Henry McCaul. OF Lynchburg
In responding 20 the addresses of well
come first heraIded 20 the convention
that Gillespie would be the choice.
when we gather here tomorrow" he
said. I'VE viii name a man who, IN point
Of character. ability, and love OF home
and country. Will equal any Democrat IN
Virginia. That man will be. so I am in
formed, Alfred F. Gillespie"
Cheers stop Speech.
Mr.. McCaul got no further; a great
outburst OF cheers stopped him. and for
fully minute the cheering continued.
d. Lawrence Grouer was made tempo
rary chairman. and In his speech OF ac-
ceptance he scored the Democratic state
machine Perhaps no more vigorous as
sault upon the State machine has ever
been made In a Republican convention as
that delivered by Mr.. Groner.
lie said II fastened upon the State the
poll tax provision in the organic law.
which. he declared, has DISTINGUISHED one
hundred thousand citizens. He said il
had given the State a double book sys-
TEN. He said special interests. backed
by the Democratic machine. had gone 10
Richmond and had the legislature bestow
upon Il certain grants of oyster lands
which had made the oyster a luxury.
He then declared the Virginia Republican
had as much love for the Confederate
soldier as the Democrat.
Pleads for Option Plank.
Upon the liquor question. Mr.. Groner
pleaded for option plank. lie said in part
on this issue. taking a shot at the State
wide prohibition:
II can but feel, therefore, that the
good people who believe as I believe.
that the unresrained sale OF liquor is
an evil. would do their cause more good
and their State more good by abandon
ing an effort to force upon an unwilling
community a law to which they are
opposed. and by concentrating their
efforts in forming a sentiment in their
several communities. so that such laws
may be enacted in each community.
which. while regulating the sale OF
liquor win receive the assent of the
people Of that community, whether those
laws be total prohibition. or reasonable
restraint and higher license"
Following Mr.. Groner. S. Brown Allen.
Of Staunton. moved that after recess the
order Of business be as follows;
Tomorrow morning Reports Of COM
mittees on credentials. on permanent
organization, on platform, and then the
nominations.