Allan Beaten

Allan, a politician, made efforts to block the voters and allies of opponent, Lamb.

There were stormy scenes at the Third Congressional District Convention at Wilkinson's Hall, 9th St.
The District Committee, consisting of Messrs. J. W. Southward (chairman) Jos. Walker, Wray T. Knight, Otis H. Russell, proxy for Edmund Waddill, Jr., Esq., and John Mitchell, Jr., met at 10 o'clock to consider the making up the roll of the Convention. Mr. Knight moved to leave the regular delegates from Richmond and insert in lieu thereof the contesting Allan delegation.
Mitchell opposed this and finally after Messrs. Walker and Russell had spoken in its favor it was carried.
It was agreed that both sides should be admitted to the door of the Convention.
Although John Mitchell, Jr., was secretary of the committee, Chairman Southward withheld from him the roll of the convention.
When the time for the calling of the Convention to order arrived, there was a prolonged waiting. Many became impatient and Lawyer Scott proceeded to demand that they proceed to business. It was a long while before this was done.
Chairman Southward had slips of paper written upon which was the name of J. A. McLaughlin and this was used to admit delegates only, the Allan people being provided with them.
It was not long before Mr. Mitchell discovered that the agreement to admit the regular delegates and the contestants to the hall was being broken and there the fun began.
Squire H. F. Jonathan demanded that he be accorded admission and proceeded to enter by force. Mr. R. E. Garnett (white) and the two police-officers were unable to prevent him from trying out his designs and there was signs of a serious row.
Dr. Mitchell came to his rescue and demanded that he be allowed free access to the hall in accordance with the action of the district committee. He declared that the door-keepers had no right to debar any of the delegates from entering.
The police-officer's jurisdiction ceased on the inside of the door-step and the men could be arrested only on a warrant. Mr. Jonathan was admitted.
Mr. Southward then held a consultation with Mr. Mitchell with a view of establishing harmony. He wanted the convention adjourned until Saturday morning at 11 o'clock.
Finally the doors were thrown open and all went in. In the meantime Mr. Allan had secured another hall, and was endeavoring to admit his delegates and exclude the others. He claimed that the hall was private, and Mr. Mitchell, Squire Jonathan and Alderman Bahen immediately declared that they would not submit and barred he entrance of any other delegates to the hall unless they were also permitted to enter.
Mr. Allan telephoned for another squad of police and detachments swelling the number to fifteen were sent. They attempted to remove the Lamb forces, but Mitchell urged them to stand their ground. He declared that they could not be removed without a warrant, and if an attempt was being made to hold a convention in the private hall, it became a public place and none of the delegates could be debarred. The police officials agreed to this and the Allan forces were helpless.
Mitchell's forces had the regular hall in which the convention was called and had also the entrance to the other hall barred.
Finally, Mr. Southward said he would call the convention to order and proceeded to the rostrum of the hall where the convention had been called. He proceeded to call the meeting to order, after which he said that there seemed to be such a disagreement and as they had to go on the 5:30 P. M. train he thought it best to have the convention adjourn until after they came back from Staunton. He would therefore take the responsibility of adjourning the convention until Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. Despite the protests of the delegates he coolly walked from the stand. There was a storm of protests from Messrs. Ben Scott, James Patterson, Alexander Gaines and others.
Mitchell was called for, and after waiting for the commotion to subside he put the motion which had been made and seconded that Captain D. H. Alley (white) be made temporary chairman, and that Benjamin P. Vandervall be made temporary secretary. This was carried.
A committee on credentials was appointed. During its absence speeches were made by Messrs. J. R. Robinson of Hanover; Lewis Linsey, Alexander Gaines, Rev. David Robinson, Mr. J. L. Stratton and others. The committee finally reported and the temporary organization was made permanent.
A committee on resolutions was appointed and reported in favor of endorsing Col. Lamb and urging his reelection as state chairman. It also reiterated its allegiance to Republican principles.
The election of delegates to the National Republican Convention was preceded with and Messrs. John Mitchell of Richmond and J. L. Stratton (white) of Goochland were elected with S. C. Scott and W. G. Singleton as alternates. The following members of the district committee were elected; James Bahen (white) and John Mitchell, Jr., of Richmond, Wm. H. Brisby of New Kent, J. J. Hall (white) of Goochland and J. P. Coates (white) of Hanover.
Alderman James Bahen was elected presidential elector, after which the convention adjourned.

“Allan Beaten,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed June 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1674.