Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-30
The Claims OF POcnhOntas.


the purpose Of choosing a nominee
to represent the Eighth Senatorial
district and to show that the county
of POCahontas is entitled to recog-
milton not only on principle but also
as to the personality of the candidate
she presauts.
1t is conceded to be an established
principle that history repeats it.
self" and while this is true i'm the alb
stract, political adherence to this
rule in the choice of nominees in re-
spect to the counties composing the
Eighth Senatorial district has proved
an eXception-so much so that il in
turn has become the rule and the rule
a rare exception.
We have only to glance at the his
tory Of the Democratic party i'm this
district since 1870. In her whole
history, dating from the year 1870,
never but once has this honor been
granted her, and that was in 1880.
The Democracy Of Pocahontas
naturally asks, Why is this ?" 1t
is true that she has seldom aspired
to the honor of naming the nominee,
and in the light Of existing circum-
stances she calls the attention OF the
people of this district to these facts,
hoping thereby to receive justice in
the convention which is soon to name
our standard bearer.
Not withStanding this seeming par
tiality, let it be remembered that the
county of Pocahontas has never
wavered in defense Of Democracy,
and while she may have been ignored
and the prize wrested from her, yet
with gallant pride she has always
contributed in her might to roll up
handsome majority for tho nomi-
nee. We do assert that il is unquali-
fiedly true, that upon the principles of
justice, Pocahontas ought to have the
choice of naming the nominee in
the coming convention, and in de-
Tense of these principles she recog-
nizes no claim superior to her own.
We admit that for time we were
somewhat at loss to understand the
conduct of Greenbrier in placing a
recently evolved candidate in the
field when she has already shared
this honor three times and only as
late as 1888 therefore, upon fair
and equitable examination, it is an
assured fact that our claims are para
mount to those of our sister county,
which fact she ought to have known
from the spirit OF comfy which
should exist between the counties
forming this Senatorial district.
1t is true that the honor is open to
all-the rich, the poor, the great, the
small may aspire to any office within
the gift of the people, yet we ask
you, my fellow citizens, in candor,
to consider these facts and let the
representation from the counties of
this district be fair and equal.
Aside from the question of distri-
button of public faYors, Pocahontas
stands preeminetly forward and de-
mands recognition in behalf of her
candidate for the nomination for
State Senate in the person of Hon.
+. l. Holt, the young champion of
Democracy of whom we are proud
We assert without hesitation that no
one in tho race is so eminently quail
fed as Mr.. Holt. He is young
man who has always been closely
identified with the interests of the
people-a versatile speaker, thor
oughly informed on matters of pub
lie and general interest, and stands
forth as a man who dares to do right
in behalf of his constituents.
Now, in conclusion, thinking that
a summary Of State Senators together
with the respective counties which
had the honor of naming the nomi-
nee, will make these facts more i'm
pressive, we deem it not amiss to
herewith append them. In 1870,
when the Democratic party came
into power, they nominated and
elected Hon. Elliott Vawter of Mon.
roe; in 1872, Hon. Hudson Dickin-
son, of Fayette; in 1874, Hon. r. F.
Dennis, of Greenbrier; in 1876, Hon.
w. w. Adams, of Summers; i'm 1878,
Hon. II. f. Dennis, of Greenbrier ;
in 1880, Hon. w. l.. Mcneil, of Pc.
hontas in 1882, Hon. j. G. Lobban,
of Monroe; in 1884, Hon. Marion
Gwinn, of Summers; in 1886, Hon.
M. Van Pelt, of Fayette; i'm 1888,
Hon. John w. Arbuckle, of Green.
brier; IN 1890, Hon. J. w. st. Clair,
Of Fayette; in 1892. Hon. VIM.
Haynes, of Summers.
We leave these facts, my fellow
citizens, with you for your consid.
Grafton, trusting that you will weigh
the claims herein presented, feeling
sure that after their careful perusal
your decision will be favorable to
Pocahontas, who simply asks that
equal favors be granted to all, spe.
cial privileges to none. X.