Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-05-22
DEMOCRATIC MSS MEETING.
A Little Trick Nipped In the Bud.
and Its Author Sat Down Upon.
SHARPNESS THArWAS yOT SMART.
"He Sprung His Rattle too Soon"
a GRAPHIC REPORT OF The AFFAIR.

A GRAPHIC REPORT OF THE AFFAIR.
"There is an inside history to
everything and everybody" says an
old writer.
One would suppose this was not
true of public meeting, where mo-
tions are openly made, seconded,
voted on and recorded by faithful
secretaries, and yet how incomplete
is the published record of the recent
Democratic meeting held in the
courthouse; how little idea does it
convey of the sayings and doings of
those assembled. 1t is mere sum-
mary Of the results, and gives no
hint of the exciting scene wherein
the carefully laid plans of few de-
signing tricksters met crushing
defeat at the hands Of an indignant
people. Mine be the task of telling
the history, and if in the narration
any should appear in an unenviable
light to their fellow-citizens, let
them blame not the historian but
their own folly.
The meeting, as every one knows,
was called for the simple purpose OF
sending delegates to Grafton to rep
resent our county in the selection Of
delegates to the Cincinnati conven-
ton. Ordinarily this would have
been done in quiet and harmony, but
the reader will see how needlessly a
FIRE brand was thrown in to disturb
the quiet and turn the harmony into
indignant protest. 4sf sa
The "editor of the Statesman +"
must have .'laid awake o. nights"
planning how to capture the meet
ing, divert it from its legitimate
channel, and turn it to his own adj
vantage. Or he may, possibly, and
indeed very probably, have been in
structed by higher authority. At
any rate, he had carefully prepared
. a committee in the morning, orna-
| menting the head with his own
name. This is generally done by
the chairman, but for fear this duty
might be too onerous for that gentle
man, and in order to have things
handy and save time, he had written
!, them out plainly and legibly; besides,
when a man undertakes to run a
meeting, programme is useful and
saves confusion.
| However wise a man may be he
will blunder at times. and just before
the meeting it was discovered that
Mr.. Sam. Lafevre's name was on the
list. AS Mr.. Lafever was a Green
hacker, and as that organization had
rather turned things upside down at
the last election, it was deemed
proper to remove his name and be-
stow the honor on some simon pure
Democrat. This change being made
lit only remained to secure the ser
vices Of a proper chairman. For many
reasons Mr.. NJ. s. Grantham was
l a suitable person, and so, on the
nomination Of the the "editor of the
Statesman" he was seated without
opposition, and as far as your cor
respondent knows, without it occur
ring to him, that as chairman OF the
Executive Committee, It was not
the proper place for him. At the
request OF the editor of the Stakes
man, q gentleman kindly consented
Ito nominate Mr.. r.. s. Eicnelberger
as secretary, and be very, promptly
took his seat. Mr.. w. s., Henshaw
was not so prompt, as the chairman
somehow overlooked that gentle
Imam 3 nomination, perhaps because
his name was not on the programme.
4 q yIA7natpred people say that Mr.. Il.
r. III. Staub WON'T keep quiet at a
public meeting. and is always blum,
deripg around and Oyertufning some
| ROdy,s Tat In the fire. The editor Of
the Statesman moved the appoint
lment Of a. committee to select dele
gates TO GRAFTON, which was carried,
and Just as the secretary handed the
chairman the list, which the editor
had prepared, Mr. sStaHb. for reasons
of his own, moved that the commit
tee beA doubled, which was Yiso
carlied.Al To AOAOh
So determined, however, was the
chairman to follow the programme
and appoint the prepared list, that
he directed the deputy sheriff to call
hEt 4ah