West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-06-01
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BOSSISM.
Ring Rule In the Republican Party
In the Banner County.

The question that will agitate the
minds of the Republicans of Pres
ton county for tho rext year is
whether they are willing to return
to the County Convention system
of nominating candidates for Office
as contemplated by the Bosses.
The Republican "Mass Conven-
tom was the first step in that
direction. The primary system has
demonstrated beyond any question
of doubt that the Bosses cannot
control the nomination Of candi-
dates by this system, hence their
longing to return to the old system
where they can pack the county
convention with their henchmen
and namc their candidates.
In Preston county Boss rule
under Mr.. Dawson has been ahlo
lutte and remarkable, aud the men
who have from time to time fought
Elm have absolutely failed, with the
exception of tho late s. p McCor-
mick. In that campaign he met his
first Waterloo, and for the first
time since he was placed at the
head of tho organization he was
compelled to surrender. SO abso.
lutte became Mr.. Dswson's hold
upon the machine that unless you
submitted to the arrogant and inso-
lent dictatlon of the Ring you
could not hope to receive the nom
ination for any Office in n Preston
county Republican Convention.
Indeed, Ring Rule had become so
odlous To the better element Of the
party that thoy retired from the
field. Such prominent Republicans
as lion j. q. McGrew. Hon. @. VI.
Bishop, Mr.. +. Heermans, Mr.. Jas.
A. Brown. Mr. j. X. Smoot, Mr..
Chas Il. Ellis. and scores OF Others
who m ght be named were forced
to take back seats. The Ring ruled
supreme and hourishcd and grew
like a green bay tree. Several
attempts wure mado from time to
time to down the Ring by the more
resolute and independent men of
the party. Each and every attempt
was a failure, until the year Of 1888
when Samuel p. Mccormick moved
to this county and led the charge
against Mr.. Dawson. After a
bitter and stubborn fight Mr.. Daw
son was compelled for the first time
to relinquish his hold upon the
Craftsmanship of his party.
The primary system Of nomInat-
ing county candidates having been
adopted, Mr.. Dawson's cup OF
bitterness was filled to ovorfowIng.
lie saw for the first time that sIpte
candidates were defeated for tie
nomination, and instead men nom
mated who had fought him for
years. HIS power had been so
absolute heretofore that he still
imagined that he could defy the
will OF the people that he had his
trusty lieutenants name Mr..
Eugene Lanham az the candidate
for Sheriff, over Mr.. Daniel r..
Jackson, who had received the plu-
ralI'y Of vote at the primary cleo
tion. The result Of that defy is
still fresh in his memory. At the
next primary election he saw the
man above all men whom he
dcsplsed, Mr. Leroy Shaw, nomi-
mated for Sheriff. Not only nomi-
mated, but actually elected Sheriff
Of Preston county. Politically, Mr..
Shaw had been his unrolenting foe,
and no amount Of threats from the
Boss Of the party could deter him
from his plain duty.
The other gentlemen who have
succeeded Mr.. Dawson as Chairman
end themselves conspicuously inca
pablo Of bossIng the party, and the
result is that Mr. Dawson has once
more taken hold Of the Machinery.
After devoting twenty years to
the study Of politics, Mr. Dawson
finds himself master Of most Of the
arts Of the political boss. Indeed
the State leaders Of the party recoe-
nized this fact when they made him
State Chairman.
The spirit ofthe people, however,
TO resent dictation ia the nomina-
ton Of their candidates for Office