Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1922-07-21
PRE- CONVENTION NOTES.
Especial to the News.)

Nopeclal 10 tne NeWS.)
Norton, Va, July 20.-After spend
ing the afternoon at the listening
post in the lobby of Hotel Norton,
one fact prevails the atmosphere like
fog. The assembly of Slempites
are at sea. No one seems to know
where he has hidden himself away
from All adoring constituency that is
having once again to experience the
self hypnotic hysteria of stampeding
to their idol. The conviction seems to
have struck home that the Congress
man is admant in lis determination
to refuse the nomination and the
more conservative and sensible dele
gates are inclined to accept his re-
fusal as final and look elsewhere for
the candidate but there is present
element with megophonc lungs from
out lying provinces and their votin.
strength is considerable, who insists
That the nomination of Slemp means
certain defeat. These fellows are
taking from the house top, as it
were. Much to the displeasure and
discomfort of the politicians who are
doing their best. The mask of opti
anism looks natural.
The knots of delegates gathered
here and there in the hotel lobbies
and OH the streets, some talking of
subdued voices with frequent over
the shoulder glances to crcumyent
evesdroping, others laying it off with
the loud vehemence of soap box ora
tors of the free silver age of elo-
quence. The varied and contrasting
assemblages do not reflect the radiant
anticipation of seeming assured vic
tory so Enthusiastically in evidence of
pre- convention eve of other cam
.paigns of blessed memory. The dele
gates look sad and determined as
though they were silently grooming
the poets lines, "Swect hope thou
art the bridge which arches ever the
heaves that seem impossible and
Deep
The shadow of impending defeat
have settled on tho personnel of this
convention as definitely as if the bon
fires were blazing on the Tazewell
hills in celebration Of Geo. C. Peery's
election and the redemption of the
Ninth District. With Slemp gone the
scrambled delegations have no Lead
ership. In the twenty years of Slemp's
dominion among his worshippers, his
subjects following him and doing his
biding with out question through two
decades, have lost the sense of ini-
tative, and unless an unexpected bell
wether comes to the rescue tomorrow.
the convention will be such a "pow.
WOW" as has not been heard since
Bedlam was turned loose.
One thing, however, seems certain.
The candidate will be a Tazewell
man. Summers, Chase, .Kegley anu
Anderson have come i'll for a word
of complimentary reference, but they
will be lost in the final round up.
Barnes Gillespie is the name most
frequently heard, or rather over
heard. Since the eloquent tongue of
the brilliant and lovable Thomas
Muncey was stilled. 1t is generally
recognized that Gillespie is the out
atanding intelligence among the Re-
publicans of Virginia, andif the light
ming should strike here, it will be a
race between two bluegrass thorough
breds, but it is generally believed that
he would refuse the nomination. If
religion, high tariff and ship subsidy
can be yoked into a workable trio
John Newton Harman may be nomi-
mated. As the hour of choosing draws
nearer, the name Of C. H. Harman
("Little Henry"), who it is agreed
would run bull snake race in Taze-
well county, is mentioned. Promin.
emily, r. o. Crockett and Crockett
Bowen also are in the running. II
will probably bc one Of the five OF
Slemp.
Crockett Bowen Refues Nomination
]: G. Bowen, of the law firm O.
Graham G. Bowen, who has beer
prominently spoken of as candidat,
for Congress on the Republican tick
ct sent telegram Thursday morn
ing to L. P. Summers at, Norton posi-
lively refusing to accept the nomi
nation for Congress. The copy of tn
telegram follows:
~ appreciate fully the confidenc
reposed in me by the convention a
Norton rendering to me the nomina
tion for Congress. but it is impossibl
for me to accept it. Please do no
allow my name to go before tn
convention. thank you and all O
my friends for your interest in m
behalf"
Barnes Gillespie Declines Nomination
Barnes Gillespie, former u. s. AT
torney for the Western Distric
whose namo has frequently appeare
in the list of possible candidates, wa