Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-08-20
THE STATE CONVENTION.

For Treasurer. w. Tucker, OF
Writ county.
ForSuperintendent of Schools-Vir-
gil A. Lewis, of Mason county.
For Attorney-General-T. S. Riley,
of Ohio county.
For Judge Supreme Court, ii,
Holt, of Cabell county.
This is the ticket that was named by
the Democratic State convention at
Wheeling last week. 1t is winner.
The convention held its session at
Wheeling Park, beautiful resort six
miles from the city. A line Of motor
cars carried the delegates quickly and
safely from town to the park, and the
novelty of convention in such de-
lightful resort was an agreeable feature
to the thousands Of strangers. The
sessions were held in the casino, a
large circular structure admirably
adapted for the purpose. The body
of the hall held the delegates comforta-
bly,, the stage was large enough to seat
all the notables and would-be notables,
and the gallery seated the lookers-on.
By some oversight (O there was not a
drop of water to be had upon the
ground; but by corresponding de-
gree of thoughtfulness all the connec-
tons with Anton Reymann's great
brewery were in perfect order. For
two days that beer pavilion was the
busiest place on the continent.
The first session was held Wednes-
day afternoon. State chairman VIM.
z. Chiffon called the convention to or
der, and named Hon. Rankin Wiley, Of
Mason county, as temporary chairman,
and Col. Thos. H. Dennis, Of Green
bner, as temporary secretary. MIR,
Wiley made a fervent speech In ac-
cepting the position, and then the con-
vention got down to business. There
was so much confusion, however, that
it took about an hour to pass the SIM
plest sort of an order Finally the
various committees were named, and
when they retired to consult the con-
vention took a recess.
The great center of interest, of
course, up to this point, and for some
time thereafter, was the question as to
who should benominated for Governor.
General C. c. Watts, of Kanawha
county, Judge w. G. Bennett, of Lewis
county, Col. G. L. Smith, Of Marion
county, and Col L c. Ralphsnyder, of
Preston county, were the candidates.
1t was conceded that RalphSnyder had
little or no chance Judge Bennett,
it may be asserted, was really the
choice of a majority of the delegates,
but he had hesitated too long about
announcing himself, and many who
would have supported him were
pledged to Gen Watts. Col. Smith
had some strength in certain quarters,
but he was never looked on as win
ner.
One of the things first and most east
ly discerned was that General Watts
had at his back a political machine
that was the best of its class and in fine
working order. Later events proved
its efficiency, for it slipped but a SIN
gle cog during the convention. 1t was
manipulated by those two eminent po-
htical engineers Of Kanawha county,
viii and Joe Chiffon They played
their fine Italian hand to perfection,
and had the able assistance Of Gener-
al J. w. St. Clair, ex-Congressman
John D. Anderson, Governor Mac
Corkle, Ex-Governor E. Willis Wilson
and a whole host of lesser lights Each
individual part Of this machine, rep
resented by an astute human being,
fitted well in its place and worked In
beautiful harmony 1t was also well
creased. General ST. Clair and John
Anderson, whose powerful frames and
stentorian voices fitted them well fol-
their places, were the floor managers
They made the motions and sounded
the trumpets to guide their devoted
followers. The Chiffon boys, gifted as
they are in speaking, preserved an al,
most unbroken silence-their work was
in another line. The forces Of this
combination were under perfect con-
troll and reserves were handy. The
leaders pulled the wires and the ma
chine did the rest.
The knowledge of this faultless ma
chine was discouraging to the manager
of the other gubernatorial candidates
and they were really more timid thar
the circumstances warranted. Wher
the convention reassembled about
o'clock Wednesday evening they were
ready to throw up the sponge. R, F
Kidd, of Gilmer county, placed Gen
eral Watts in nomination, and Their