Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-03-28
ENRouTE TO CHARLESTON.
Notes by the Way-A Cleveland Dem-
ocrat The League.
CHARLEsToN. Man


CHARLESTON, March rs.
DEAR HERALD As we were leav.
ing Martinsburg yesterday (by I'VE"
Hon. Geo. M. Bowers and your hum
bic servant are neant) Father Mckee
fry who was going downthe road said.
in reply to an invitation to accompany
US, that he would be most happy to
do so as the bid came from a capital
ist who is able to foot all bills incur
red and an editor competent to write
up the Journey.
We 0he editor afosesaid) took that
remark as hint that at least one of
the Herald S numerous readers would
like to have report of the why's and
wherefores of our journey.
Arriving IN Washington on or about
time, Mr.. Bowers made bee line for
the Capitol while your humble ser
want went out to the Pension Office to
look after the interests OF an old and
worthy veteran.
At the depot we met Hon. Warren
Miller. the genial representative of
the Fourth District, John T. Harris,
F. H. Fitch, Elliott Northcott, and
Frank Adams, the three latter from
Huntington. Soon the IF. F. ""
was skimming out through the cold
Dominion" past Alexandria, across
Bull Run, through Manassas Gap.
and on to the BlueRidge. Memories Of
the great civil war came surging up
and every eye was strained to catch
some vestige of it. There was little to
be seen except pine and oak chappar-
al. Occasionally an earthen embank-
III ent on an eminence or big ditch
rewarded our search. The mental
ejaculation was that those bitches
might be the last which Americans
should dig to protect themselves from
Americans. As we sped across the
Rapidan, "On the Rapidan" appeared
to glitnmer before our eyes, and as the
locomotive strained every fiber in its
ascent of the Blue Ridge we thought
how often the boys in blue and gray
had toiled and struggled on its rug
ged sides.
On the train was a Virginian who
had been up to Washington to have a
tumor removed from his face. He was
sorry looking specimen of the genus
homo and was apparently much de-
pressed in spirits until the name of
Cleveland was mentioned when his
eyes frightened and he calculated,
"Mister" emphasis heavy on the first
syllable) Cleveland is great man, !"
Would you vote for him again?"
"Vote for him? Yes sir; l vote for
him every time. :" "What about his
bond issues?" well, sir l don't like
that; but I guess he knows best. "
Are you people free traders?" Nav
but then you know we are Demo
Gratis"
At Staunton Newt" Linch and
"Lige'' Vanmetre got aboard and at
3 a. III. we pulled into Charleston.
This morning we found a large
crowd of Republicans and as this is
written, in the Ruffner lobby, the
crowd is too thick to stir. The con-
vention will be by allodds the largest
in the history of the State Governor
Bradley, of Kentucky is here and
will make speech. 1t is time for
the convention, of which, more anon.
The convention was called to order
by President Elliott at 1890. Hon
Sam. Burdette delivered the address
of welcome and it was a dandy. The
reply by Mr.. Elliott was we'll receiv-
ed, being plain and practical.
After appointing the usual commit
tees a recess was taken until p. m,
at which time it was amounted that
Governor Bradley, of Kentucky,
would address the League. That an
nouncement was sufficient to cause
the Opera House to be packed to its
utmost. And what speech it wasl
We hope to be able to favor our read
ers with portions of it next week.
Joe Gaines introduced the dis
tinguished guest and the First Regi-
ment Band played The Old Kentucky
Home" The effect was electrical.
Shouts and cheers rent the air
There were yells of Bradley" enc
Kinley F" "Elkins," and when the
vast crowd saw that which they new
er before beheld, Republican COVER
nor of Kentucky, it seemed as if it
was one solid hurrah.
Reports were adopted and officers
elected. U. S. G. Pitzer in an elo-
quent speech renominated President
Elliott. He was elected by ac-
clamation. There was contest
for the office of secretary but John
Kindleberger, of Ohio County, finally
won. The only other fight was
over the vice-president for the
Second District which Marion County
tried to gobble, aud though aided by
Col. Romeo Freer, of Richie, and
Ben Meighen, of Marshall, they were
nearly one hundred votes to the bad
on the final round up, our own E. w.
Vanmetre being the winner.
A. B. S.
Distinction Roll,