The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-28
THH SECOND DISTRICT
Convention and Hon. William L.
Wilson's Nomination,
FEDERAL OFFICE HOLDERS
Who Controlled the Gatherins-A
Notable Absence of the States
men of That section-Mr.
Wilson Frightened.

Special Correspondence Of The IateRigaeer.
PIEDMONT, W. Va, July 26.-Whilt
the result OF the Second District con
vention was not n surprise to any one, il
having been ioregone conclusion that
Mr.. Wilson would receive u renomina
ton, it does not follow that it was in
every way satisfactory to the Democracy
1t was plain to see that the nomination
OF Mr.. Wilson was made solely because
he was the only available man under
the conditions that now exist in this
section Of the State.
There are those who took part in the
convention who believe that he will be
defeated II the Republicans select a
good man. There are others who, while
they believe he will be elected, think he
deserves defeat. They frankly admit
that he has misreprescnted the inter
ests OF his constituency, but they
were poweriess to name any other.
The st. Louis platform, with all its bit
terness, had been swallowed; Mr.. Cleve-
lands policy had been endorsed, unwil
lingly, to he sure; the Mills bill had
passed the House, and rs good party
men, what could the delegates to the
convention do but nominate for Con-
gress the one man more than any other
West Virginian, who had been in line
with the President and his policyand who
had fought for every clause OF the Mills
bill from his seat III Congress and his
place in the Ways and Means Commit
zee? 1t was necessary TO make the
nomination harmOniZe with the action
OF the National convention. Had they
had the ordering of things at st. Louis
they would have shaped them in aman-
ner which would have made the way
clear to send to Congress man
who would more correctly repre-
sent their sentiments on the great
question OF Protection. These men, who
compose large, but very respectable
minority OF the Democratic party in the
Second district, are not boiling over with
enthusiasm for Wilson; they did not
shout themselves hOalSe in the cOnven-
ton, nor are they ut all likely to bank
rupt themselves i'll contributing TO the
campaign fund this year.
1t must have had Il
DAMPENISG EFFECT
on the ardor OF the real politicians in the
convention to observe the manner OF the
nonination-who were the men doing
the shouting, and taking the most active
part in the proceedings. To witness
federal office holders take hold OF the
convention and attempt to turn it into u
Cleveland ratification meeting was not
calculated to inspire disintercstcd spec
tators with the idea that it was spon-
taneous uprising OF the people. Far
from it. 4 large part OF the convention
was made up Of postmasters, all ap-
pointeCs OF Mr.. Wilson. There were
likewise two or three deputy collectors
OF Internal Revenue, among them Mr..
McGraw's Chief Deputy, a Deputy
United States Marshal, II sprinkling OF
railway postal clerks, one OF whom made
the nominating speech, some gaugers,
and Il few editors OF party organs. There
was, to be sure, IL fairly good showing OF
representative men who are not in Office
they mostly, however, represented the
class OF local politicians, in their respec'
tive counties, who are always on hand at
such gatherings. They are known us
"hustlers" and precinct "bosses" ut
home. The number OF business men
and farmers was comparatively small.
Aside from the classes have named,
there was notable absence of men OF
prominence in the Democratic party OF
the Second distributions. B. +. Mar
tin, James Morrow, Fontain Smith,
John 7. McGraw, George Whitescarver,
William NJ. Clements, Daniel b. Lucas,
L. Boyd Faulkner, Ex-senator Davis,
James NJ. Mason, and many other brainy
leaders | might mention were all con
spicuously absent. Thoughtful politi;
clans will wonder "why this was thus"
A CIVIL SERVICE REsoLuTIoN.
No comment on the participation of
ofIice.holders in the convention is
necessary. There was nothing particu.
larly Extensively partizan in their con-
duct, Even young Mr.. Martins speech
was discreetly ,worded, but | fancy that
Mr.. Wilson himself was not altogether
satisfied with the composition Of the
convention. However, to those Who
observed the convention closely it ap'
peared that serious omission was made
in the report Of the Committee on Reso'
lutions. As good Administration Dem
ocrats the Committee might have report.
ed something like the following:
"ResOlred, further, That thisconvention
heartily endorses President CleveIand's
Iallegedl Civil Service Reform policy,
particularly his famous Civil Service Or.
der No. /, in which he, true to the epro'
fessions made in his first letter OF accept.
ance, prohibited Government office
holders from active participation in
political conventions, under penalty o
dismissal"