The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-05-31
Lei "The Office Seek the Man and
Not the Man the Office"

1t is altogether appropriate that
we should, upon the eve Of another
political campaign, re.publish the
following resolutions adopted at the
last Democratic State Convention,
and re.affirmed and amended in a
most important particular by the
Congressional Convention held at
Hinton Immediately thereafter. The
resolutions show in unmistakable
terms full knowledge of the polit-
ical evils so prevalentin this State,
and SO much to be condemned
Methods are employed at the present
day TO procure office, which in days
past would have been absolutely
shocking to the sensibilities Of men
at all qualified for high positions Of
public trust. Let "the Office seek
the man, and not the man the office:''
"The Committee on resolutions
made the following report:
"ResoErsd, That we hereby adopt
and reaffirm the platform adopted by
the State Convention, held at Mar
tinsburg on the 18th day of July,
1880, and we recommend that the
resolutions adopted by the State Con-
vention in reference to the instruc-
tion Of delegates to cast the vote Of
any county for a particular candi-
didate, be especially commended to
the favorable consideration of the
Democracy of the Third Congress
ional District Of West Virginia"
Which, after amendment by G. P.
Snyder, was adopted.
The resolutions Of the State Con-
vention referred to are as follows:
"Resolrea That we regard the prac.
tice of accrediting any Democrats
who may be present at Conventions,
as delegates, as heretofore; as open.
ing the door to fraud and unfairness
and method which is corrupting,
and recommend the State Executive
Committee to take steps to prevent
the same in future"
"ReSoleed, That in the opinion Of
this Convention, the practice, so com.
mon in the State, whereby county
delegates to State and District Con.
ventions are instructed to cast the
votes of the county for particular
candidates, is open to many, serious
objections, in that it gives rise to
fraud and Unfair dealing; to conyen-
tons packed in the interest of partic-
ular parties; gdeprives opposing can
didates of the representation to which
they would be otherwise entitfetE
produces complaints and dissatisfact-
}. ion; disorganizes the party and tends
to the defeat Of its candidates; that
We condemn this practice as being
at war with the usuages, principles
and best interests of the Democratic
party and should be discontinued by
all who have its success at heart"
"RF. Dennis, Of Greenbrier, offer.
ed the.following resolution"
''Resolued, II is the sense Of this
Convention, that it is u fundamental
principle of the Democratic party,
that the Office, in every case, should
seek the man, and not the man the
office; that in all conventions, wheth.
er, County, District or State, the
rights Of minority representation
should be respected and Preserved,
and that the use Of money by candi.
dates to intlunce the delegates by
paying their expenses to conven lions
or otherwise, improperly, or any kind
of personal manipulation Of voters, is
earnestly and emphatically discoun.
tenanced and condemned"
"The resolution was warmly SUP.
ported by R. F. Dennis, of Greenbrier
and Eustace Gibson, of Cabell, and
opposed by c. P. Snyder, Of Kanawha,
and ]. E, Chiffon, Of Lincoln" =
Sd. c. Gallaher moved to lay the
resolution on the table, which was
rejected: A division by counties was
called, but afterwards Withdrawn,
and all opposition to said resolution
being Withdrawn, it was unanimous.
~ adopted"
The Republicans of Vast Virninin