Jackson Ward Republican Rally!
April 2, 1898
Summary
The Planet gives an overview of a meeting of the Jackson Ward Republican Association of which Planet editor John Mitchell, Jr. is president.
Transcription
An enthusiastic mass-meeting.
Many leaders speak.
The report of the committee.
Stirring scenes—the voters unanimous.
Convention called—another rally next Wednesday night.
Despite the steady down-pour of rain, a large and enthusiastic body of Republicans assembled at Hayes’ Hall, 2d street, under the call of the Jackson Ward Republican Organization.
The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and bunting and presented a cheering scene in striking contrast to the dreary condition of affairs on the outside.
John Mitchell, Jr., the president called the meeting to order, after which B. P. Vandervall, the secretary called the roll of officers. The following responded to their names: Benjamin Scott, William Winston, Charles Young, R. J. Christian, Edward Black, W. S. Selden, B. P. Vanderwall.
The president then stated the object of the meeting which was to explain the issue confronting the Republicans of the ward, and the necessity of placing a Republican ticket in the field. He reviewed the situation at length. He announced the following committee to confer with the one from a meeting held the night before with the purpose of securing harmony: B. P. Vandervall, Benjamin Scott, Edward Black, Charles Young, Benjamin Jackson.
The committee retired. Speeches were then indulged in by Rev. David Robinson, Messrs. Solon Johnson, R. H. Glover, R. G. Richardson, Re. Robert Watkins, Messrs. Harrison Smith, Willis Wines, William B. Smith, Richard Brown, Alderman James Bahen.
Mr. Brown moved that the patriotic efforts of the head of the Republican organization be endorsed. This was unanimously carried.
In the meantime, the house became impatient over the delay of the conference committee, being anxious to adopt or reject the report. On motion of W. S. Selden, it was decided to appoint a committee to instruct the conference committee to report at once. The following were appointed: W. S. Selden, Harrison Smith and Thaddeus Robinson. They returned with the information that a report would be made in a few minutes.
After other speeches, the committee came in with the following report:
“That we shall hold a delegated convention.
“That we have precinct meetings and elective delegates to the convention.
“That the chairman of the conference calls the precincts to meet and designate someone to call the same for the purpose of electing delegates to the convention; to elect the president and nominate a ticket, and the same meeting elect precinct officers, and the chairman of the conference call the convention to order.”
The motion to receive was carried. On the motion to adopt, Mr. Holmes of the First Precinct moved that it be adopted by sections. The lateness of the hour caused this to be lost by a close vote.
John Mitchell, Jr., had vacated the chair previously and William Winston wielded and gavel with ability. Mr. Mitchell showed that to adopt that report would be to vacate the position of president of Jackson Ward Republican Organization as far as such a thing was possible, and to operate similarly up on the advisory committeemen and the precinct chairmen. A change of a sentence had produced this effect and he demanded the production of the original document which he had decided to stand by. There was much excitement at the conclusions of his remarks, and it was evident that the report of the committee on conferences was doomed.
Mr. John Oliver, the chairman, explained that he had not viewed it in the light and others of the committee shared in that opinion. In the heat of excitement, Benjamin Scott arose and grasped the original resolutions which had had offered in the committee and presented them as a minority report. They read as follows:
“We beg leave to submit the following: We recommend that the present Republican organization of this ward through its official head, call a meeting of the ward to assemble in their several precincts on the—day,—month, 1898, for the purpose of electing delegates to a ward convention to be held on the evening or night of the day following the said ward convention and will have submitted to it the question of ward president, the electing of the aforesaid officer, and to nominate a ticket consisting of one member for the board of Aldermen and five for the Common Council, and three Justices of the Peace. The action of this body is to be final, and we pledge ourselves to abide by the decisions of these regularly elected representatives of the people.”
Then it was that the members of the committee arose and explained their position namely that they favored the resolutions as embraced in minority report, but what other gentlemen of the committee would not agree with them. Benjamin Scott, Charles Young, John Oliver, B. P. Vandervall, Benjamin Jackson and Edward Black spoke. The call for the pending question was put and carried, and the minority report offered by Capt. Scott unanimously adopted.
In the midst of the discussion Lawyer P. B. Shorts secured the floor. He made a telling appeal, concluding with the demand that the members of the Conference Committee come forward and sign the report. All that remained came to the front and did so.
President Mitchell declared that the ward would be thoroughly canvassed and a campaign fund raised. The meeting adjourned.
Another mass-meeting will be held on Wednesday night next, 6th inst, at Hayes’ Hall, 8 o’clock. The Ward convention has been called for May 4th.
Many leaders speak.
The report of the committee.
Stirring scenes—the voters unanimous.
Convention called—another rally next Wednesday night.
Despite the steady down-pour of rain, a large and enthusiastic body of Republicans assembled at Hayes’ Hall, 2d street, under the call of the Jackson Ward Republican Organization.
The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and bunting and presented a cheering scene in striking contrast to the dreary condition of affairs on the outside.
John Mitchell, Jr., the president called the meeting to order, after which B. P. Vandervall, the secretary called the roll of officers. The following responded to their names: Benjamin Scott, William Winston, Charles Young, R. J. Christian, Edward Black, W. S. Selden, B. P. Vanderwall.
The president then stated the object of the meeting which was to explain the issue confronting the Republicans of the ward, and the necessity of placing a Republican ticket in the field. He reviewed the situation at length. He announced the following committee to confer with the one from a meeting held the night before with the purpose of securing harmony: B. P. Vandervall, Benjamin Scott, Edward Black, Charles Young, Benjamin Jackson.
The committee retired. Speeches were then indulged in by Rev. David Robinson, Messrs. Solon Johnson, R. H. Glover, R. G. Richardson, Re. Robert Watkins, Messrs. Harrison Smith, Willis Wines, William B. Smith, Richard Brown, Alderman James Bahen.
Mr. Brown moved that the patriotic efforts of the head of the Republican organization be endorsed. This was unanimously carried.
In the meantime, the house became impatient over the delay of the conference committee, being anxious to adopt or reject the report. On motion of W. S. Selden, it was decided to appoint a committee to instruct the conference committee to report at once. The following were appointed: W. S. Selden, Harrison Smith and Thaddeus Robinson. They returned with the information that a report would be made in a few minutes.
After other speeches, the committee came in with the following report:
“That we shall hold a delegated convention.
“That we have precinct meetings and elective delegates to the convention.
“That the chairman of the conference calls the precincts to meet and designate someone to call the same for the purpose of electing delegates to the convention; to elect the president and nominate a ticket, and the same meeting elect precinct officers, and the chairman of the conference call the convention to order.”
The motion to receive was carried. On the motion to adopt, Mr. Holmes of the First Precinct moved that it be adopted by sections. The lateness of the hour caused this to be lost by a close vote.
John Mitchell, Jr., had vacated the chair previously and William Winston wielded and gavel with ability. Mr. Mitchell showed that to adopt that report would be to vacate the position of president of Jackson Ward Republican Organization as far as such a thing was possible, and to operate similarly up on the advisory committeemen and the precinct chairmen. A change of a sentence had produced this effect and he demanded the production of the original document which he had decided to stand by. There was much excitement at the conclusions of his remarks, and it was evident that the report of the committee on conferences was doomed.
Mr. John Oliver, the chairman, explained that he had not viewed it in the light and others of the committee shared in that opinion. In the heat of excitement, Benjamin Scott arose and grasped the original resolutions which had had offered in the committee and presented them as a minority report. They read as follows:
“We beg leave to submit the following: We recommend that the present Republican organization of this ward through its official head, call a meeting of the ward to assemble in their several precincts on the—day,—month, 1898, for the purpose of electing delegates to a ward convention to be held on the evening or night of the day following the said ward convention and will have submitted to it the question of ward president, the electing of the aforesaid officer, and to nominate a ticket consisting of one member for the board of Aldermen and five for the Common Council, and three Justices of the Peace. The action of this body is to be final, and we pledge ourselves to abide by the decisions of these regularly elected representatives of the people.”
Then it was that the members of the committee arose and explained their position namely that they favored the resolutions as embraced in minority report, but what other gentlemen of the committee would not agree with them. Benjamin Scott, Charles Young, John Oliver, B. P. Vandervall, Benjamin Jackson and Edward Black spoke. The call for the pending question was put and carried, and the minority report offered by Capt. Scott unanimously adopted.
In the midst of the discussion Lawyer P. B. Shorts secured the floor. He made a telling appeal, concluding with the demand that the members of the Conference Committee come forward and sign the report. All that remained came to the front and did so.
President Mitchell declared that the ward would be thoroughly canvassed and a campaign fund raised. The meeting adjourned.
Another mass-meeting will be held on Wednesday night next, 6th inst, at Hayes’ Hall, 8 o’clock. The Ward convention has been called for May 4th.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cali Hughes
Citation
“Jackson Ward Republican Rally!,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1357.