Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-24
The Democratic Judicial Conven.
vention.
A FIRST-CLASS ROW!
BELMONT COUNTY sEcEDEs!
THE FIRST "REFORM- GUN!

6ELmONI COuhTr SECEDES!
THE FIRST ssREFORM'' GUN!
The Democracy of this division of the
Eighth Judicial District, composed of the
counties of Belmont and Monroe, met in
Barnesville last Thursday for the purpose of
placing in nomination Democratic candidate
for Common Pleas Judge. On the previous
evening the delegates from Monroe occupied
the ground, and the opposing candidates Of
both counties, with their aids, were on hand,
arranging and drilling their forces and laying
their plans for the morrow's battle The
morning train from the East was laden with
Belmont delegates, which arrived in season to
take active part in the preliminary skirmishes.
To one on the ground the movements of the
contending factions indicated struggle,
which would only end by the complete rout
of one or other of the parties to the fray.
The delegates from each county held their re-
spective caucuses in the forenoon, appointed
their leaders, settled on the tactics to be pur-
sued, and prepared generally for the conflict.
The Belmont delegates, forty-six in number.
by large majority were in favor of Cham
bers, as was shown by their proceedings in
caucus. DIR. Luke Voorhies, of Flushing
township, known as a cautious, prudent,
shrewo, temperate and clear headed man, was
selected as chairman of the Belmont delega.
tion, and the calculating Spriggs was chosen
to lead the Monroe men, who by the way
evinced drill somewhat remarkable for a sci
of men, chosen hap-hazard from the honest
yeoman of the "Black Hills" The chairmer
of the two delegations fixed upon 1:3O O'Clock
for the opening of the District Convention
Near that hour Hunts Hall became pretty
well filed with the unterrifed, and witt
those who were curious to see the fun ahead
A few minutes ahead of time Spriggs, Of
Monroe, called the convention to order, anC
moved that the Hon. Jas. r. Morris, of Mon
roe. be made the temporary chairman of the
convention, when the ready-to-fiy-off- at s
tangent VOORHEES, bounced up and wished tc
know If he intended to stand by the arrange
ments before made, of meeting at 1:30 o'clock
Mr.. Spriggs replied certainly, that he thought
the time was up. Mr.. Spriggs had hardly be.
come seated when Voorhies, with 'ubedam
air took the platform-shoved up his coat.
sleeves in usual style, and said that by direc-
tion of the Belmont delegation he moved that
r. NJ. Eaton be made chairman of this con.
vention. Spriggs, of Monroe, moved that the
name of Jas. r. Morris be substituted in the
place OF Eaton, and put the motion and de.
clared it carried; here the widest confusion
ensued amid huzzas for Morris by the Monroe
delegation, and both Eaton and Morris stalked
upon the platform, at the same moment shook
hands, seemingly willing to bridge the yawn
ing chasm and was seated. At this juncture
some of the sturdy, lifelong iron-clad Bour.
bons began to take in the situation and lament
muchly. Squire Massie, of York, with more
discretion than others of the fidgety and bois.
ferrous clan, attempted to pour oil on the
troubled waters; said he had grown gray in
the service of the Democracy and had never
seen so disgraceful fight over the pitiful of.
flee of chairman of a convention, and moved
to lay aside the action of the convention.
Spriggs appealed to the convention and said
all that Monroe wanted was justice and har.
mony, and moved again that Morris be chair
man. Chairman Morris explained here the
ridiculous fix the committee was in-how
neither side could put motion Here gen.
eral melee took place, and charges of ''setting
up" things and unfairness was freely handed
around. Voorhies in a violent and ill
tempered harangue, waded into the oppo.
nents of Chambers, when he was Missed by
some one in the house. At this expression OF
approval the Doctor folded his arms serenely
and defiantly exclaimed, eff there is a goose
to hiss in this house let him hiss now. This
was settler and until a similar demonstra.
ton on the part of the speaker was INDUCED
in he was respected. The Doctor said il
noses were counted Belmont could out-count
When Bob Hazlett, interjected, "yes, by
stufing the ballot box with Republican votes
Voorhies yelled out and asked if Hazlett wa.
delegate, and upon being answered in tht
negative, with lordly mein and graceles
swagger, he exclaimed, "Shut your heat
then"-but Hazlett didn't shut. On the sug-
gestion of Morris it was decided to call tn,
townships for their vote on chairman. Sprigg
mounted the rostrum and called the township
of Monroe, and it went solid for Morris. Col
Charlesworth called Belmont and Wayne
Goshen and Pease gave two each for Morris
one set of Bellaire delegates voted for Eaton
and the other for Morris, and balance o
townships of Belmont for Eaton. Spriggs
: who by this time was recognized as the grea
1 proclaimer, declared that throwing out tn
5 contesting delegates from Bellaire that Morri
was elected by vote of 81 to 49, Col
: Charlesworth objected to the decision, an,
7 read the report of the Belmont county caucus
e allowing the Chambers delegates from Bellair
representation, and argued thst Belmon
D county had as much right to determine he
, own delegation as Monroe had to delegation
s (which the -peopleFof that. county had no voic
tin electing. Wihans, Of Bellaire, (auti