Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-06-29
A Word with RenubIicans.


The CHRONICLE desires to suggest
few thoughts to the Republicans of Bel
mont county, which occur in connection
with the action of the convention of last
week, and for which we ask careful con-
sideration at the hands of every Repub-
lican of the county.
1. The present Representative in Con-
gress from this district is acknowledged
by his political opponents as well as his
party friends to be one of the most act
i've and enlightened and useful members
this district has ever sent to Congress.
That be is more emphatically a repre-
sentative of the masses Of the people
those who till the fields and work in
shops and factories-th any other
man who has ever represented the dis
trict, cannot be successfully gainsayed.
He has been especially conspicuous and
able as an advocate and defender of the
great agricultural and manufacturing
interests of the country, and is recog-
nized throughout the country as one of
the ablest champions of those interests
on the floor of the House of Represent
atives. This member has served the
district but two terms, and yet in those
two terms he has taken a position on the
floor second but to few members, and
has achieved distinction which is cred
liable to the district.
IL The primary meetings which chose
the delegates to the convention Of last
week attracted more attention and were
much more largely attended than any
primary meetings of the Republican
party ever held in the county. At those
meetings, although Messrs. Poorman,
Taylor and Hollingsworth made deter
mined and desperate efforts to carry the
county, themselves visiting many of the
townships and marshaling and organ
iziug all men whom they could persuade
to oppose Updegraff, Dr.. Updegraff had
very decided majority Of the votes
cast over all the others, and had in con-
NO4lAOA a hloJOAlSg vi WIZ NEoSSo
elected over all his opponents.
III. The convention spent three days
in fruitless attempts to make nomina-
tion. The friends of the candidates ar
rayed against Updegraff were unable to
arrange their differences and unite upon
one or the other, and hour after hour
and day after day the humiliating specta-
Gle was witnessed of factious minOrities
trying to wear out and worry out the
larger party, and finally defeat the pur-
pose for which the body had assembled.
Finally this was accomplished, Mr.
Hollingsworth's friends and Mr.. Tay-
lor's friends voting solidly to adjourn
and go home to their constituents, like
lot of babies, with the repoft that they
could not nominate their man, and hence
had concluded to break up the conven-
tion and prevent the nomination of any
one else.
Under such circumstances, what is the
duty of Republicans of this county who
opposed Updegraff at the last primaries
Clearly, to submit to the expressed will
of the people, and stop further factious
opposition. They have been fairly beat
en-, when the people were aroused as
they never were before in this county
Have they not done all that men could
be expected to do to promote the inter-
ests of their fayorites, and will not a
persistence in such course be foolish as
well as unpatriotic? Men are nothing
the party is everything. Shall it suf-
fer because the minority is unwilling to
submit to the majority?
There is no pretense upon the part of
the friends of any candidate that he is
the superior in intellect and capacity
for usefulness of the present incumbent.
The only claim set up for Mr. Taylor, on
the one hand is that it is his turn, and
for Mr.. Hollingsworth, on the other,
that he is young man who has made
no enemies. Shall an able and useful
member be beaten, and great party i'm
POAAAOO, III OlOCA W give 6OllC luQlN III
Hal his "turn," or to reward good fel
low in district that is full of good fel-
lowsP This, too, after the friends of
the man who wants his turn and of the
good fellow for three days stubbornIy
refused to unite upon one or the other
and broke up the convention rather than
permit any other individual to be nom
mated.
We repeat:
DR.. Updegraff had a decided majority
of the votes cast at the primary meetings
in this county.
The meetings were more largely at
tended than any ever held in the county.
He had majority Of the delegates
chosen in the county
The factions arrayed against him
were unable to agree, and thereupon
broke up the convention.
-
Mr.. JOHN c. JAMESON, one of the most
patriotic of the Harrison county Repub-