Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-06-23

parts OF the State, an analysis OF the
crowd may prove interesting. Not one
OF the Republican papers claims that
there we're more than 1,500 persons
present, and many OF Them are salts
fed with less exorbitant claims. From
a hundred 10 a hundred and fifty of
these went FROM Ohio county in the in
tereSt Of either Doveper or AT
kinson, and instead OF showing
the spirit Of enthusiasm accredited
by the Republican press TO all the dele
gates, they were responsible for tight
which threatened for time to turn the
convention into 4 First district nomi-
nating convention. Marion county, In
which the convention was held, fur
nished fully five hundred OF the crowd,
while Taylor county marched 10 from d
special train at least two hundred
strong. Special trains with reduced
fares brought in large crowds from the
nearby towns Of Clarksourg and Nor
gantOwn, the two trains swelling the
crowd at least four hundred more.
Leaving out Ohio county, which was
represented in the interest OF its candi-
dates, aud the towns within 25 miles OF
Fairmout, the whole State did not send
more than $50 delegates. The Eighth
Senatorial district, composed Of Green
brier, Pocahontas, Monroe, Fayette and
Summers counties, sent single dele
gate, and hS candidate for Congress.
The Seventh district, composed OF Lin
coin, Boone, Logan, Wyoming Nc
Dowsll, Mercer and Raleigh counties,
was represented by q single delegate, a
former deputy collector OF internal rsve-
nue., who wants his old job back. In
fact large majority OF those
who attended the convention
were either candidates, or
went TO work for some favorite candi-
date Expressions like this were often
heard as delegates ran across each
other: Hello, you here? What are
you a candidate for?"
1t was big meeting, but it was a
meeting OF office-seekers and local Re-
publlcans.
The Republicans from the southern
part Of the State felt that they had been
overlooked, and their attitude toward
the Fairmont convention was not cor
dial. A delegate expressed their
sentiment when he said in convention
that the southern part of the State
had never been given anything by the
league except one president and he had
not been much o. one, aud had snubbed
his own district by calling this conven-
ton for Fairmont. The whole leag ne
system looked to most OF the few who
came from the southern half Of the
State as plan by which the northern
part Of the State was TO control It's Re-
publican politics.
The fact is that Rucker, the last
president, who lives in Mercer county,
first called the meeting for Huntington,
and the call was made through the
Huntington Herald. Bat so much
pressure was brought to bear upon him
from the upper end Of the State that
the call was changed and Fairmont
named. The Southern section hadn't
enough influence TO get the convention,
nor will it go southwark next time If the
Wheeling people can prevent it.
The excuse advanced for changing
the place OF meeting was that Fairmont
is the most accessible point in Chairman
Wilson's district, and that the enthusi-
asm of the meeting would help TO de-
feat Wilson If held in his district. The
Republicans are especially DESTROYS OF
defeating Wilson because Of the ma
tional reputation he has made but they
exercised bad judgment when they
counted on the league meeting to help
them do it. The fact is that the Demo-
Gratis in Marion county and other parts
OF the district were aroused by the con-
vention. The effrontery of these bra
zen politicians who invaded their dis
trict and tried by force to Brighten
Democrats into immediate surrender,
has incensed the Democrats and they
will labor more earnestly than
ever before for the success
Of Mr.. Wilson. The prominent part
taken in the convention by the negro
had also good effect in strengthening
the Democrats. The man who opened
the convention with prayer and prayed
that the negro might secure his vote,
was blacker than the ace Of spades.
The Ohio county delegation was in
charge OF q negro just as black, while
scattered through the convention were
scores Of others, all Of whom were there
TO assist In overpowerlng the Democrats
and beating Billy Wilson. The second
district Democrats may let them do it,
but they didn't talk that way the other
day.
The most difficult task the convention
had to do was 10 keep such men as Jake
Kemple, c. b. Hart and other injudi-
cious takers from occupying all the
time. When Hart once got the floor no
one could stop him, not even the time
limit placed on speeches, and the fact
that he was occupying too much time
was publicly commented on in the con-
vention. Poor Jake was Squslched, and
the State organizer OF the Republican
party was not recognized. As organizer,
.