Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-08-20
SECOND DISTRICT CONGRESS
SIGNAL CONVENTION.


correspondence of the Wheeling Register.l
KEYsER CITY, August l3.-Quite goods
" number of Democrats from the various
counties forming the Second Congressional
District assembled here day, for the pur-
pose of nominating candidate to represent
the district in Congress for the next two
years. / speak positively about representing
the district, because a Democratic nomina-
ton is considered almost equal to an election.
The various delegations from the several
counties were quite large, Preston sending
as many as twenty-five delegates. There
were from ninety to one hundred in all, and
probably fifty gentlemen present not ac-
credited as delegates. The Convention was
made up of many of the most influential and
prominent men in the district.
Early in the morning, before business
began, | took buZ among the different del
egations to inquire how matters stood. The
situation proved to be about this way All
the western representatives, who were present
in force, were nearly unanimous for Martin.
A few from the eastern counties had Judge
Hoge in their minds eye, and were ready to
advance his interests if any opportunity
offered. Both Mr.. Faulkner and MIR. Lucas
had latent strength, the latter particularly.
But Mr.. Lucas very promptly forbid the use
of his name in any manner whatever. 1t
did not take long to ascertain that Col. Ben.
Martin, the present representative to Con-
gress from the Second District had more
strength than even his own friends autic-
ipated, as the result will show, so that what
little opposition there might have been to
him early in the morning, was smothered
long ere the convention assembled.
NJ Toe Gprinu Fsn Chair.
man of the Congressional Executive Commits
tee, called the meeting to order, and tenn
porary organization was effected by placing
Hon. VIM. @. Clayton, of Mineral, in the
chair, and making Geo. p. Sargent, of Bar
bour, Secretary. All Democratic editors
present were made Assistant Secretaries.
Mr. Clayton then assumed tho duties of
temporary Chairman, which he preceded by
few graceful remarks in the way of thanks
for the honor conferred.
The business on hand was reached at once
by Mr.. Payne, of Preston, moving that each
county appoint committee of one to act on
the different committees. The motion was
adopted.
TIE COMMITTEES.
Permanent OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NJ. D. Ne
will; Marion; L: B. Haymond: Tucker E: Har-
Jefferson. G. + Cross; Hardy, J. w. Gilkins0n
lonongalia. R, s. Lantz; Up hur, o. $. Nc
TOM rover ciayt"n webster g. F. ser S
barbour, ). H.. woodford, Jr. Preston. J. II.
MsGn in aamp CHI Fl f eGa fSane Hard
=, Basis of Representati0n.- Tucker, John NJ
Ham Ber htGy Il s Jefferson j.
b M Geo Ksxn"d5, srn@ te:+ fena is
Barbour. W. s. Woodford; Preston c E. Browr;
Mineral, :: T. Pearce; Randolph. 3. l.. BUTCHER,
w. wla%s malSH G M Malls
!ay ior, A. j, .Nnzum; Berkeley, co. !; silver;
Monongalia, J. e. Fleming: Upshur, c. G. Nc
Whorter; Pocahontas, Geo. Reynolds; Webster.
ton, DR.. VIM. NJ. Dent Randolph. II. G. Powell;
Mineral, ": Hutton; Pendleton, q. Shay; Nor
ker; Marion. T. Smith; Tucker L. Harper; lay
Tor, J. T. McGraw; Berkelcv, a. Oden JrTer-
gala. Jos: Moreland; Upshur. J. X. Kidd; Pen
dleton, W: G; CLAYTON ; Webster B. l.. Butcher;
s. H. EsF1 i,nson ri y
Trimhel, Mineral. Col. J. J. Johns.
All The counties in the district were rep
resented, either BY regularly appointed dele
gates or a!ternatc<, Except " organ.
Mr.. Raymond moved that recess be taken
until one o'clock. p. NJ. Adopted.
Tho Convention was called TO order on
time, ana the reports of Committees called
for.
The Committee On Permanent Organiza-
tioE reported for President, Archibald Oden,
of Berkeley Vice President, Jonathan Poe,
of Taylor; Secretary, George =. Sergeant,
of Barbour; Assistant Secretaries, S. J..
Flournoy of Hampshire. G. H. Vandiver of
Mineral, and II. Clay Hyde of Preston.
The report was ADMITTED, and MesSrs. J. T.
Pcarce and Leroy CUtfran were appointed to
conduct the permanent chairman to his seat,
who, in assuming that grave responsibility,
essaycd to express his thanks to the Conven>
tion for the honor, hut his difEidence got the
better of him altogether.
The handsome chairman's features indi-
Gated plainly how overwhelmed he was, but
he very gracefully extricated himself by cut.
ting short further effort to address the as.
sembly. I note this episode at length, be-
cause Mr.. Oden is both ready and able to ex-
press himself we'll under ordinary circum-
stances, and because it is refreshing to see,
once in n while, instances of such dif1idence.
Vice President Poe was invited to OCCUPY
and escorted to the rostrum-. Mr.. Brown, of
Barbour, took occasion to call attention to
Mr.. Poe as being tho oldest Democrat in the
Con vention, he having been born in July,
1900, and be Ind voted the Democratic
ticket fifty seven years. AS specimen of
genuine Democracy, it would do the younger
members of the Convention no harm to look
upon him and follow his example.
The report OF the Committee on Creden-
tials was next called and adopted. The
reading of names of delegates was dispensed
with.
The Committee on Basis of Representation
next reported. The representation was based
upon the vote cast for the Democratic Pres
idential Electors in 1876. Every 100 votes
cast and fraction thereof exceeding So was