Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1920-05-28
LURAy, VA, May q, 1920.

pNi PSSN VI ooiHs i1JutJ ~ my
cause out side OF this county, to
the effect that failed of indorse-
ment IN my own county, and that
SIX out Of eight Of the delegates !
to the Roanoke Convention were
against me; additional to what |
have already said in the Public,
Press On this subject, I feel that
| should fully explain the situa-
ton here as it exists. There is
road fight here in.Page County,
in which I have alienated great
many friends in two upper dis
tricts, by holding with those who
wish to adopt the Thorntons Gap
instead OF the Milams Gap Route,
the two lower districts favoring
the former route, with a few
holding the same way in the
upper districts. The upper dis
trlcts are in the majority hostile
to me, while the lower, or north
ern ones, are friendly in a great |
majority.
Certainly could haye had no
control over the four delegates
selected from the upper districts. |
even if these selections were per-
tlnent to my Candidacy for Con-
gress. The upper districts we're
bent on an instruction for Judge
Harrison, as I learned on Thurs
day evening before the Mass
Meeting on Saturday.
I had already told many init
mates in the county, as | told
them in other counties, that |
did not deem it proper to be in
dorsed by Mass Meetings as they
were not called for that purpose,
} and it would be unfair; but as
soon as | heard of the move of
the upper districts then on foot,
set about to inform my friends,
and urged them to be present to
prevent such a frisco. They
came, and because they came,
there was no attempt to indorse
my opponent, but | made one
grave-mistake. 1t became known
to me that Mr.. William F. Key
ser wanted to be delegate, from
our district, (Luray). 1t is
proper to state here that each
, district recommends it's own dele
gates and alternates. In fact
, Mr.. keyser told me that lie would
like to 60 to the convention as a
. delegate on account OF the fact
that there was to be a family re-
z union at Bristol the next day,
+, after the convention, or the day
!. after that he could attend the
convention on the same trip. |
knew that he was against me IN
this fight, but there were many
{ reasons why | felt that it would
! appear a little selfish to object
= simply because he was not for
me, and especially was this true
. as laid no stress on the seleC-
y ton of delegates who had no re-
! lation to the August Primary, IN
which | am running.
SO when the Luray District
II Democrats went into conference
| suggested to them that l wish
led to go, as | thought it proper
Il that | should, and that it was
i convenient for Mr.. Keyser to 60,
= and that there was no objection
: to him on my part, so we were
d both selected. In Springfield
= District l gave no intimation of
b, any choice, and Mr.. w. E. Bat
d man, and Mr.. John Pom were
a chosen as delegates. They were
both my friends, but Mr.. Samuel
, Batm, II, the father of w. ~,
was chosen as an alternate. Mr..
samuel Batman is strong and
Iclose friend of Mr.. keyser, ana a
s lsupporter Of Judge Harrison. AS
it turned out, W. E. Batman re-
, manned at home and his father
went to the convention. This is
exactly how six delegates and
alternates were against me. |
r was not slaughtered in the house
Of my friends, but must charge
1t all to myself, by not placing
any stress OIL the matter until |
saw In the papers that capital
, was being made of it, all growing
out OF my own generosity, for
the two districts represented by
those opponents of mine we're
composed overwhelmingly of my
friends, who would have taken
care OF the situation had l so re-
quested. But the delegates were
hardly named until the matter
was reported to the papers as
defeat for me. AS said above
the four delegates in the upper
districts would have been against |
me any way, for they were vexed |