Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-08-23


county. who had been ruled out under the
decision, made warm and excited speech,
in which he said he was determined not to
be put out of this convention without a
struggle. He said he wanted to test the
question whether machine politics shall pre-
vail. and whether a set of machine politicians
should saw he was not to be heard. A can
didate for Office, he said, had the impudence
even to oppose him as proxy before the
committee on credentials. Capt. Gibson
said the Democrats of West Virginia in the
coming contest need all the votes they can
get. and this convention ought to be careful
how it proceeded. A voice in the convention
said eve do not need disturbers and kick
ers." Capt. Gibson: eve do not need fools"
Great laughter and shouts followed this sal
". and the excitement began to rise with the
mercury in the thermometer. Capt. Gibson
in the midst of the shouts and the noise said:
'Tappeal to this convention to vote down the
resolution ruling out proxies"
Col. C. c. Watts, chairman of the COM
mittee on credentials, said neither he nor his
committee would make personal issue on
Capt Gibson or a test of his case. The
principle was the thing to be dealt with.
Proxies were not in accordance with Demo.
cratic usage and alternates were.
Capt Gibson tried for fifteen minutes to
make himself heard. When he attempted
to speak the second time the house echoed
with cries of Question, question" and some
of the boys in the rear started up the big
bass drum and tried to drown the voice Of the
man from Cabell, but he was not to be put
down that way. During a lull in the noise
Capt. Gibson asked Mr. Watts if he did not
have his pocket full Of proxies for Kanawha
county. Capt. Watts said emphatically no,
but said Capt. Gibson would not deny the
same charge as to himself, and Capt Gibson
made no reply. He was badly caught, and
the convention appreciated it very highly.
Finally, after aperspiring time, the report
against proxies was adopted and the kickers
ruled out. Before it was over Chairman
Faulkner had tomake half dozen rulings,
which were all sustained, and it was due en-
tirely to his efficiency as a presiding officer
that the tangle was umaveled and the body
was kept in straight parliamentary lines.
THE wEsTvIRGINIA SENATORS.
Another prominent figure in the conyen-
ton was Senator John E. Kenna, who is a
candidate for reelection by the Legislature
this winter. To Senator Kenna was given
the Craftsmanship Of the committee on plat
form resolutions, which he read from the
stand very effectively. Both the Senators
of West Virginia are representatives Of the
Young Democracy, who are now leading the
State in its career of prosperity begun IS
years ago. They are both full Of push and
political force and say there is no doubt
about the result this fall.
THE PLATFORM.
The platform, which was drafted by Mr..
Kenna and adopted by acclamation, con-
trasts the rule of the Republicans and their
NEGLECT to the national and State trusts with
the reforms and correct principles Of gov
eminent applied by President Cleyeland's
administration The striking part Of the
resolutions is the good showing they make
for Democratic rule in West Virginia, where
development has been unprecedented during
the past eighteen years, and is due largely to
the stimulation and opportunities which
GOOD government have afforded in the State
and Democratic sympathy with develop
msnt. The resolutions of course indorse
President Cleyeland's administration, in
dorse his nomination and the nomination of
ex-senator Thurman, indorsc the st. Louis
platform and the administration of Gov.
Wilson and his Democratic predecessors.
JUDGE FLEMING FOR GOVERNOR.
When the resolutions had been adopted
the convention went into the nomination for
Governor Five candidates were put up,
and some of the nomination speeches were
eloquent, especially one by HenryS :. Walker,
Of Charleston, who put forth Judge James
Morrow, of Marion. 1t had been reported
around that Judge Morrow was not a candi-
date. but Mr.. Walker read telegram from
him authorizing his name to be used. Nor
row, however, was not on the slate.
Mr.. McCorkle, of Kanawha, nominated
Judge A. Brooks Flemming, of Marion
county, and after proceeding half way with
the ballot he was declared the unanimous
choice of the convention by acclamation.
The other candidates were John b. Floyd, of
Logan county; Hiram Reese Howard, of
Mason and Judge Alpheus Raymond, of
Marion. Three of the candidates were,
therefore, from Marion. Judge Morrow,
who failed Of denomination, was identified
with the West Virginia movement which re-
suited in the Acknowledgement of the white
vote of West Virginia, and his name is sa-
cred among the old-line Democrats of West
Virginia.
THE NOMINEE.
Tudge Flemminp i described rs 4 man