Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-17
THE DEM. co. CONVENTION.
The Rock-waters i'm Council.

The influx of about twenty candidates
the evening before the Convention, forebode
that there was to be terrible scramble fC
the nominations. 1t was amusing to see til
anxious, lank, visaged candidate, approac
the stranger from another section of the cour
ty, and picture his fealty to the ''party," no,
he had labored-how much whisky he ha
furnished on election days-how he had bee
abused-how many sleepless nights he ha
passed overflow well qualified he was fo
the particular position he desired-how man
Republican votes he would get, and how larg
majority he would have, when to his dis
lcomfture his auditor would remark, ''we ar
in the same boat-all that can say for mysel
my friends are pressing me for that office
In vain did the voracious office seeker
search for delegates to whom they could re
veal their plaintive stories, so at late hour
tired with expectation, they were stoves
away in their little beds in the hotels to dream
of riding the whirlwind and directing tn
STERN in the Sheriffs Office. Morning cam
and with it tle delegates and the friends O
thirty candidates for sheriff, so that when tn,
Convention was called to order by r. S
Clark, at IL o'clock, the Court room was wei
filed
That pink of Reformers, Ross Alexander
was called to preside. Upon taking the chai
he made one of his characteristic speeches
full of venom and bitterness, misrepresenta
ton, falsehood and blackguardism Knowing
the character of the speaker, as most of his
audience had heard it analyzed in Court by
the present Democratic Judge, his disgraceful
harangue fell like q wet blanket upon the re-
spectacle portion of it.
X. NJ. Eaton was made Secretary, and Dr.
John Campbell, r. C. Parker, Josiah Watson.
James Kelsey and Henry Frasher were chosen
Vice-Presidents. A call of the townships
showed that the delegations were full, and
that Somerset was running over-there being
two Sets. To plaster over the irregularity in
that precinct a committee on credentials was
appointed.
At the request of somebody from Pultney
Mr.. T. NJ. Thompson stated that it was
charged that Republicans voted and that
there was fraud and corruption at the primary
meeting in Bellaire, and moved that the COM
mittee on credentials Investigate" r. s.
Clark was of the opinion that it was no crime
for Republicans to vote at their primary, and
said we expect Republicans to vote with us
everywhere. As the Democratic party was
never known to investigate itself the motion
was withdrawn.
MIR. Bolon, OF Pult1s, offered a resolution
that hereafter the basis of representation at
the Democratic Convention in Belmont coun-
ty shall be as follows: That each township
Shall be entitled to two delegates, and for
each one hundred votes and fraction thereof
over fifty, be entitled to one additional dele
grte, and moved its reference to the commit
tee on credentials, pending which the conven-
tion adjourned for dinner.
Upon re-assemEling at lao p. NJ, several
violent speeches were made against the reso-
luton, and it was declared that it was an at
tempt by river rats to control the Democracy
of the county and should not be submitted to.
On motion of DR.. Cook the resolution was
laid on the table, but subsequently, it was
taken from the table, and a motion prevailed
to refer to the county Genital committee,
which virtually leaves the populuO3 town
ships in the same position they were before.
On motion, about an hour of precious time
was spent in announcing candidates, and
twenty-five embryonic sheriffs were launched
upon the convention, and commissioners, in
firmary directors and coroners in like propor-
tion.
Here the question of admitting representa-
tives of the press to the delegate convention
arose, and Mr.. Thomas Pyle of Colerain, who
probably knows something of star chamber
performances, moved that they be not admit
ted. The irrepressible DIR. Voorhies, after
rolling up his sleeves and making few gyra-
tions with his arms, waded in on the press
gang, saying, he preferred seeing things him
self to taking the word of these editors
Voorhees, always was averse to having his
proceedings published. W. S. Barton said it
would be disgrace to the people of Belmont
county to exclude the press. Geo. II. Um-
stead said 1T was matter of honor required
at their hands to admit. DR.. Cook, who has
good reasons for being the enemy of free
press, thought its representatives no purer
than he was, and opposed their admission.
The matter was referred to the delegates by
the ruling of the chair.
The delegate convention was organized by
selecting the chronic chairman, R. s. Clark,
as chairman, with j. w. Shannon and Thos
Cochran Secretaries.
The members of the press were admitted
and the balloting for Sheriff began.
rIpor pIJInr
Meek /, Patterson 4, Talbert 8, Lane /,
Rankin 2, Crew 2, Watt 4, Vancuren Q, Davis
4, Rice 2, Hobensack 2, Helpbringer 2, Nc
Grew g.
Delegates stuck close to their men, and very
little change o-curred until the 10Th ballot, |
when amotion by Mr.. Baron of Bellaire, pre-
vailed, to drop the candidate having the least |
number of votes at each succeeding ballot. On |
he 18th ballot, Meek, Rankin, Vancuren and
Hobensack, had two votes each, and the chair |
1ecided that under the resolution they should |
Ill be dropped. Here wrangle ensued; the |
chair, who was Davis delegate, and cum
hing manipulation of conventions, saw in this
he killing off of at least one of the formidable
from Bellaire, and adhered stub
)Ornly to his ruling. Mr.. Baron contended
hat his motion was in the singular, and when
here were several low candidates with an
'qual number of votes, another ballot should
,e taken. On motion, the rule was suspend
d for one ballot, after which the chairs unfair
of it was enforced, and on the
list ballot, the candidate in whose interest
dr. Clark was ruling, was nominated. The
,allot was as follows: Rankin 6, Patterson 5,
Watt 2, Davis II, Collins l. The nomination
# ID. r. Davis was made unanimous.
A. W. Anderson, of Pultney, was nomina-
ed for Commissioner; Archibald Gifin, of
for Infirmary Director, ard E. B.