Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-07-06
Belmont County Convention.

Belmont County Convention.
The Republican Convention to nominate
candidates for county offices, assembled at II
O'Clock on Thursday, in Hunts Hall, Barnes
vile, which had been handsomely decorated
with American flags by the Republican Com.
mittee of Gainesville, especially for the occa
sion. The Convention was large one, made
up for the most part of representative Repub'
licans from all parts of the counly.
The Convention was called to order by w.
S. KennOn, Chairman of the Central and Ex.
ecutive Committees, who nominated DR.. j.
NJ. Todd, of Bridgeport, Temporary Chair.
man of the Convention. The Doctor, on ia
king the chair made a neat little speech, in
which he thanked the convention for the pre-
ferment, and endeavored to impress upon the
convention the importance of harmony, -and of
placing the best men in nomination.
W. A. Hunt, j. B. Longley, and Samuel
Price, were chosen as Temporary Secretaries.
On motion, the editor of the St. Clairsville
Gazette, and others of the press gang, were in
vited to the Reporters table on the platform.
The temporary organization of the conven-
ton was concluded by the appointment of the
following committees:
On Permanent Organization III. Cape
hart, VIM. Smith, DR.. Junkins, o. S. Hollo-
way, J. B. Hoge.
Credentials-Dr. I. G. Cope, Nathan Hol-
loway, VIM. Day, VIM. Wilkinson, W. H.
Tallman.
RuIes-F. W. Shackelford, C. II. Arick,
NJ. Nj. Scott, j. Z. Shotwell, A w. Lee
On behalf of the Pultney delegation w. Fl.
Tallman DnOvad fl,at pu1tpax, to,,n,b.,, l,o ~,
titled to twelve delegates in the convention,
and made speech in support of his motion,
claiming that under the call for the conven-
tiOn, they were entitled to that number. Az
ter considerable discussion the further con
sIderation of the subject was postponed until
the afternoon session. The chairmen of the
several committees designated their respective
places of meeting, and the convention took a
recess until O'Clock.
Promptly at the hour specified the delegates
were in their seats, and the work of the con-
vention proceeded. DR.. II. Capehart report
ed the following permanent officers:
President-W. S. Kennon.
Vice Presidents-W. w. Holloway, A. G..
Ramage and j. l.. Rivers (colored).
Secretaries Holloway, Matthew
Mitchell.
The permanent officers Of the convention
were invited to the platform Mai. Kennon,
the Permanent President, thanked the conven-
ton for the honor conferred, and reminded the
convention that it would be necessary to expe-
dite business in order that delegates might
leave on evening trains.
The committee on credentials. through DIR.
l. q. Cope, its chairman, presented its report
as follows:
l. Each township shall be entitled to four
votes in the convention, and if the delegates
or alternates ar not all present, those present
shall cast the whole vote of the townships.
2. That the central committee of Belmont
county be recommended to make such regu-
lations in regard to future representation in
county conventions, that will secure harmony
in the Republican party.
3. The delegates from Pultney township
shall be allowed to select four from their num-
Der to represent them in this convention
III. Tallman, ESQ.,, made a mi
nority report from the committee, recon-
mending the admission of twelve delegates
from Pultney township, and that in future
conventions the delegates he appointed by the
various townships in the ratio of one delegate
to each seventy-tive Republican votes cast at
the next preceding election, and one for each
fraction thereof
Mr.. j. K. ShOtwell, of Somerset, moved to
lay both reports on the table, but afterwards
withdrew his motion.
The question being on the adoption of the
minority report, DR.. Capehart, of Martins
Ferry, offered the following substitute for the
report-whch was rejected:
Res0tred, That the Central Executive Com
mittee be and they are hereby instructed to
apportion the basis of representation at the
rate of one to every 100 Republican votes,
and one additional for ever 80 or more votes
~ or Of
election.
Considerable discussion ensued in which
M .ssrs. Wise, Clohan and Tallman, of Bel
laire, Holloway, of Flushing, and others par
tlcipated, and finally upon call of townships
the demand of Bellaire was rejected by vote
OF 90 to II, Pease, Pultney, and Warren
townships, only, voting in the affirmative,
whereupOn all the delegates from Pultney ex
cept DIR. Nj. w. Junkins who declared he was
no secessionist, headed by Wise and Tallman,
bolted the convention and marched out of the
Hall with high head and solemn air, to the ut
ter disgust of every Republican in that large
who believed in the princi-
pies upon which eur system of gov
eminent is founded that the majority
should govern however much injus-
tice there was in this refusal of the conven |
ton to permit one township to fix the ratio of |
without authority from any one, |
save from the few who were in attendance at
the Pultney primary, there can be no excuse
for this copying after secession and attempting
to inaugurate ''rule or ruin" policy.
The majority report of the committee on
credentials was then adopted and the conven-
tion continued their business as though no in
terruption had occurred.
Capt. A. w. Lee from the committee on |
rules and order, reported rules for the govern
ment of the convention, which were adopted
Announcements of candidates were next
called, when VIM. g. Kinney, Leroy c. Sedg- !
wick, Samuel Hills, VIM. Sharon, l. T. Craft, |
L. j. Woodmansee and j. w. Coffland were
named for Sheriff. c. Ii. Arick and DIR. Cope |
were appointed tellers.
First Ballot-Kinney, 81; Sharon, 4; Hills, |
II; Woodmansee, 4; Sedgwick, 8; Coffland, A;
Craft, /; 80 being necessary to choice
When Pultney was called, DIR. Junkins, |
alone remaining of that delegation, answered,
"The Lone Star"
Second Ballot-Kinney, 81; Sharon, s.;
Coffiand, 4; Sedgwick, 8; Hills, 1G; Wood J
mansee and Craft, none.
The chair stated that the name of !. T. |
Graff -..st--