Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-05-26
WEST VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS.
CLEVELAND ENDORSED, BUT NOT
HIS FREE TRADE POLICY.

PARKERsBURG, W. Va, May II.
A glance at the proceedings ofthe
Democratic Conventions in this
state on Tuesday for the purpose of
selecting delegates to st. Louis,
shows that with the exception OF
this district the Cleveland free trade
heresies were not mentioned, and
while the administration of Cleve.
land was endorsed, the West Vir-
ginia Democracy are not with him
on the tariff to such an extent that
they are willing to say SO.
The First district is essentially a
manufacturing district, containing
the nail and iron mills of Ohio and
adjoining counties. The convention
of that district was satisfied with
one resolution, which consisted OF
sixty-five words, but nine of which
referred to the Cleveland admins.
tration, being a bare endorsement,
and the rest referred to the restOra-
ton of the Democr attic party to pow.
or, and a meaningless expression or
two about squire principles of pa.
triotism." Not word for the Cleve-
land message: not a syllable for the
Mills Tariff bill not an utterauce
for the Presidents vetoes.
In the Second district the resolu-
tions were prepared and submitted
by Hon. Henry G. Davis, and in the
language of them there is an evident
attempt at non.committing the party
to any tariff platform. The Repub'
lican party is abused for the "war
tariff" which no longer exists, but
the Cleveland tariff message is not
endorsed, nor even mentioned. The
Mills Tariff bill received no refer
ence, and while the Republicans are
condemned for having made such q
handsome showing in the Treasury
surplus, that the Cleveland sugges-
tions for reducing it are treated cold.
ly. Five resolutions of glittering
generalities of "barren localities -
were unanimously passed, out OF
which to find any comfort for Cleve.
land would require powerful micro.
scopic examination. The Second
district is agricultural, and anti,free
wool clubs have been formed with
many Democratic members. The
convention wisely refrained from
too much indorsing. This ID also
the district represented by VIM. s.
Wilson, who is said to have made
one of the strongest speeches for the
Mills Tariff bill in Congress, and al
though he was present at the con
vention and could scarcely have
been forgotten. the convention some
how did not put in resolution OF
Endorsement OF his Congressional Ca
reer. This is significant, and is the
occasion of much comment.
Now for the Third district, where
the miners live, where Senator Ken
ma lives, who is such "a Cleveland adj
vocate, with all it implies; where
| Congressman Snyder lives, who is :
pronounced free trader. Three res
olutions were passed in the conven
tion-one instructing the delegates
to vote for Cleveland, the second in
dorsing Judge John Jackson, of this
city, for vice. president. Not an ex
preston of Endorsement for the tariff
message or any word of encourage
ment for Congressman Mills, OF
praise for Congressman Snyder. Ii
as few words as possible, the dele
gates were instructed for Cleveland
and the subject dropped.
In this, the Fourth district, the
Democracy took firm stand. They
endorsed Cleveland. his tariff mes
sage, the Mills Tariff bill and The
course of Congressman Hogg. This
was a trick of the Camdenites. The
convention was small in numbers
with the Jackson men clamoring fol
an Endorsement of all the tariff here
sizes. They got it in the resolutions
and the Camden men take delega
tion of their own kind to st. Louis
Thus in three-fourths Of the state
representing the manufacturing, ag
ricultural and mining interests re-
spectively and particularly, the Dem
ocracy are contented with indorsing
a man, but refusing to indorse the
very measure upon which his. cleo
ton or defeat will depend. In the
other quarter his pet hobbies get g
square Endorsement, only as the re-
| cnlt of a polifiool trioE