Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-24

meeting, and who received the Republican
vote without objection till after he was beater
as delegate, attempted TO explain how the
thing was done in Bellaire-but didn't sue
ceed in making it clear why he should refuse
to certify an election of which he was the
Judge.
Here, Jerry Williams of the WoOdsfeld
Spirit, who had been held in reserve, ventured
on the scenes and held that a5-initi0, the ere
dentials of both sides of Bellaire were incom
plete, and asked an investigation pledging the
solid vote of Monroe in favor of those who
were shown to be the proper delegates.
About this time the idea struck DR.. Camp
bell. of Wheeling township, that the conven
ton was OF premature birth, and that the dis
gusting and shameful proceedings wa
''making bread and butter for the opposition
and moved that they take a rest for half al
hour, which was agreed to
After recess chairman Eaton stated that al
caucus of Belmont county it had been de
cided to adhere to the list of delegates as re-
ported in the Gazette, and wanted to know il
Monroe conceded that to Belmont. Spriggs
thought the young man a little fast, and said
the question was, who should be chairman OF
the convention.
Jerry Williams said he was authorized tc
speak for Monroe, and if Belmont county
asks US to say that we will turn away without
hearing either before a committee or before
the convention, delegation who are present,
claiming that they are entitled to seats as del
egates, our answer is ready and prompt, no
we will not concede that right. Upon this
answer being made, the large majority of the
Belmont delegates left the hall amid the wild
est excitement and confusion, and the yells,
cheers, and jeers of those remaining.
After order was restored the remaining del
egates organized by electing Mr.. Morris chair
man, and Michael Hoeffler, of Monroe, and
MIR. Lupton, of Belmont, Secretaries.
The roll of townships was called and full
delegation (SD from Monroe was reported,
and Belmont was represented as follows
Goshen 2, Pease 2, Pultney 8, Wayne 2,
Warren 1, Union total 16. Spriggs moved
that the convention proceed to ballot for
Judge, and said they were driven into this
vortex from which they could not extricate
themselves in any other way, for to reconcile
| Belmont county was impossible-there is bnt
one thing TO do, we must nominate. By this
time the Bellaire statesman, George Criswell,
who was sitting in all his beauty on the plat.
| form naively remarked that they were in an
awkward position, and asked ''who was to
blame for this here thing"
Bob Hazlett knew how to get out of the
scrape, and that was by the nomination Of
Sweeney. On this announcement some Cham
bers chap from Morristown who had been
''smiling too much, yelled out, ''go to HI
will you? ?"
81. NJ. B. Clayland, of Bridgeport, who had
bubbled over several times on the same sub
ject, here tried to carry out the instructions
of his chief and slip Ross Alexander in by ac-
clamation, but it wouldn't win.
The following announcements were made :
X. j. Alexander, o. j. Swaney and G. II.
Umstead, of Belmont, and VIM. Okey, of
Monroe, and on motion it was determined that
it should take 80 votes to nominate. An in
formal ballot resulted as follows: Okey 81,
Swaney 5, Umstead 8, Alexander 9. The first
regular ballot resulted the same as the in
formal one, excepting that the one vote from
Warren was cast for Okey, giving him 30
votes Second Ballot-Okey 40, Sweeney 1,
Umstead 4, Alexander 2. On this ballot the
entire Bellaire delegation went for Okey.
On motion the nomination was made unani-
nous, and a committee was appointed to re.
quest the presence of the nominee. During
the absence of the committee the following
resolutions were offered by Mr.. Williams and
unanimously adopted:
ResOlped, That the action of minority Of
those appearing at this Convention as dele
gates, in demanding that before even tenn
porary organization should be effected, the
other delegates should agree to join them in
driving out of the convention, without hear
ing either before a committee or before tht
convention, certain claimants to seats, was
asking us to do an act which we regarded al
in violation of all precedent, and wholly un
| justifable.
ResOlced, That we regret and disapprovt
of the action of said minority in with
drawing from the convention, and feel war
ranted in characterizing such action as un
democratic and disorganiZing in its tendency
Here Mr.. Okey made his appearance in th'
hall and was greeted with applause. UpoI
being presented to the convention by the com
mittee, he spoke as follows 81 am called be
fore you under rather peculiar circumstances
| had hoped that the proceedings of this larg
and respectable body of Democrats would bt
marked by harmony and good feeling.
thank you for this expression of confidence
| feel bound to accept the nomination; coult
not for moment, in justice to the friends whit
seen fit to remain here and tender me thi
nomination, think of rejecting it. Thankin.
you again for this mark of consideration,
take my leave.
| The business Of the convention being com
pleted, it adjourned.
To an uninterested observer it seemed a.
though Belmont county, headed by Generals
Voorhies and Charlesworth, were fanked and
out-generaled and compelled to resort to the
somewhat doubtful expedient of seeding from
the convention before an organization was eff
fected, and before anv just cause arose.
In our humble judgment the better plar
would have been to have agreed on commit
tee On credentials, and submitted the question
of who were entitled to seats, to the investi-
cation and decision of the convention, and un
less it is conceded that all the delegates vert
unfair and corrupt, the probability is that jus
tice would have prevailed.