Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-06-01
DEMOCRATIC
HOSTS GATHER
State Officials, Delegates and
Others Rush to
!: Roanoke >.
DOVE OF PEACE THERE
Indications Point to Election of Harry
R. Houston. of Hampton, Perman-
ent Chairman

Inc gathering OIL Cne DeInocfatlc
hosts in Roanoke tomorrow will, 1t
is believed be tranquil. A week ago
there stalked on the State political
horizon the specter of intraparty
strife, and delegates from both fac
tions sharpened their knives for what
promised to be the most spectacular
fight in years, The eve of the conven7
ton, however, finds the dove of peace
on the throne, apparently not to be
unperched.
81 looked forward with great pleas
ure to a harmonious convention
said Lieutenant Governor Ellyson,
last night just before he boarded the
9:25 o'clock train at Richmond for
Roanoke. Everything points to a
splendid meeting of united Demo-
Gratis which will put the party in
the right trim to prosecute vigor-
Gus campaign for President Wilson" !"
The convention machinery will go
into motion tonight, with meeting
of the State Democratic Committee
which will elect a temporary chair
man for tomorrow's meeting. This
officer will have the double duty of
calling the convention to order and
making the keynote speech. 1t is
generally assumed that the commit
tee will elect Representative E. W.
Saunders, Of the Fifth District.
The convention proper will be call
ed to order at noon tomorrow in the
new auditorium. This nall has a
ground f{oor seating capacity of
about 1900 and it is believed from
reports that have reached the State
Committee that the delegates and
their friends will comfortably fill it.
Preceding the convention the ten
congressional districts will hold sep
arate meetings of their own for the
purpose of nominating the five dis
trict members of the State commit
tee. The nominations later will be
confirmed by the convention.
All signs point to the unopposed
election of Harry R. Houston, of
Hampton, as permanent chairman of
the convention. Friends of the Speak
er of the House of Delegates, it is
stated. have thoroughly canvassed
the situation, and have received en-
ough assurances of support to secure
his election.
Once called to order, the conven-
! ton will proceed to the appointment
of committees on credentials, per-
manent organization and resolutions
AS soon as the convention is on a
permanent footing, it will take up
the election of delegates to the St.
Louis national convention-its most
important function in presidential
year. The body will elect member
of the National Democratic Commit
tee, twenty delegates and an equa
number of alternates, four delegates
at large and alternates for each, ter
presidential electors and fifty mem
bers to constitute the State commit
tee five from: each congressional
district.
Representative Carter Glass, o:
Lynchburg, will be elected natlona
committeeman in conformity witt
the program of the peace conference
which secured the retirement o
Rorer A. James from the race. Th'
remainder of the program calls TO
the election of Mr.. James as chair
man of the State Committee, and tn
election of Representative Hal D
Flood as one of the four delegates
at-large.. The other three delegates
at large, following established pre-
cedent, will be Senators Martin an
Swanson and Governor Stuart.
: Acknowledgement Pollard, has j:
5 sued a statement contradicting re
ports from Washington to the effee
that he might yet announce himse.
E as candidate for the Senate in OF
J, position to Senator Swanson. He safe
5 "I never have considered being
. candidate for the United States Ser
ate, nor have l held any conferene