Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-25
THE PRESTON co. CONVEN-
TION.

Another Version Of the Proceed
ings-Character OF the Contest
for Delegates -Three-f0ufths
of the Delegates Claimed TO he
Martin men.
Editor Of the Register.
PREroS CorSrY, W. Va, May q.
In your issue OF the Goth inst. l no.
,ice an article from this county signed
CHARLES" which, while purporting to
be a report Of the recent Democratic
Mass Meeting held at KingwOod, 10 cal
culatsd to place a different face upon
matters from that which actually &C.
cured. Permit me to briefly explain:
The Democratic Executive Committee
for this county announced through the
columns Of the Argus several weeks ago
that a grand Democratic Mass Meeting
would take place at kingwood on the
nth inst, and as good speakers were ex-
pected 20 be present, a cordial invitation
was extended to all Democrats IN the
county to be in attendance; and in a
subsequent issue OF that paper il was
further stated editOrialiy that Il was not
deemed necessary to direct the various
districts TO hold primaries The editor
OF the Argus being, as is generally
known, the Chairman OF the County
Executive Committee such announce
ment as the last mentioned was natural
ly expected as official, and, with one ex-
ception, faithfully observed, Portland
district alone sending authorized dele
gates.
When, therefore, the motion was pre-
scented to tho Conyention,-a mass
meeting,-to direct the delegates OF each
district TO select from among their num-
Der one person for each OF the two CON-
mittees on Resolutions, aud TO name the
delegates TO the various future conven-
tons, the gentlemen who opposed the
resolution did so because they did not
believe except in the case OF Portland
district, that any person had the authori-
ty TO confer upon himself the powers
aud privileges OF a delegate. Ii has
been the custom i'm many conventions,
and at nearly all mass meetings, held in
this county 30 invest such appointing
power in the chair, and to have done
otherwise on this occasion would have
been to usurp the prerogatiyes OF that
official.
II might have been claimed, however,
that the gentleman officiating rs presid-
ing officer was an ardent supporter OF
Hon. h. +. Martin, for Congress, and
being like all Of us, human, would in all
probability, In some districts, appoint
persons having the same kindly senti-
ments towards the gentleman in ques-
ton as himself most direfnl calamity
and sin beyond redemption! Then
why not try a middle course and per-
nit the convention IN DIaSss To choose
the dalegates2 No, such a proceeding
would have resulted in signal victory
for the Martin men and greatly discom-
fitted the friends OF Mr.. Lucas. This lat
ter gentleman appeared on the scene
the day preceding the convention, and
being frequently clOseted with his All
mirers and supporters had every oppro-
tunity To sec with his prophetic eye
that, as they numbered but a corporal's
guard, il would be the perfection OF pru-
denee to heed the nautical maxim: "A
strong pull long pull, and pull to-
ther," in a way that the cohorts OF the
unsuspecting enemy would not get
their optics open till the battle had
been wOnl
The scheme was admirable in con-
ception, and with the assistance OF an
ayOwed Greenbacker, was brilliantly
executed. Guileless, credulOus men al
lowed themselves for the moment tn do
the behests Of one whom they respect
but do not desire as their standard bear
en- in the approaching Congressional
contest.
Vet TO be candid the delegations as
they now stand are composed of nearly
three fouTths Martin men, but this iact
cannot be ascribed to the magnanimity
of the adherents Of l.ucas,-theN wanted
the whole pie, but received only slice!
beg your pardon, MIR. Editor, for
uonopOlizing so much OF your valuable
space, but believing that justice to Mr..
Martin and his friends in this section re-
quires such an explanation, l make
bold TO ask its insertion. Mr.. Martin,
though at Washington, serving the
people in the capacity for which he was
elected, knows that the sturdy yoemen-
nv of Preston will not permit chronic
Office seekers to ALLEVIATE from him their
deserved affections. JUSTICE.