Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-08-14
THE LAST OFFICE.

How the Contest for supreme Judge Was
Settlcd-An Exciting Scene Which Geney-
al ~. Clair Figured.
Nominations for Supreme Judge were
declared in order at ha'f-pasi seven,
and Hon. S. L. Flournoy. took the plat
form, but surrendered for an announce
ment that the Congressional, Commit
tee for the First District would meet
at Col. Arnett's office Is soon as tie
delegates returned to the city. Col.
Flournoy then resumed and nominated
S. S. Green, of Kanawh2.
He was followed by Hon. H. R. How
ard. who nominated J. II. Holt.
Hon. Joe Chiffon said he wanted 10
name winner, and besides he wanted
the convention 10 Try Kanawha law
yer, TO see if they were as good as IA
nawha politicians. If he should turn
our that way he had no doubt the De-
mocracy would keep a Kanawha law
yer on The supreme bench right along
Ha named Hon. Thomas /. Broun.
w. l.. Taylor. of Mcdowell, named
Hon. David E. Johnson, OF Mcdowell.
John D. Sweeney. Of Mercer, suggest
ed that it would be a Christian act 10
nominate David E. Johnson by acela-
nation. and the convention yelled
That's the stuff That's right ana
made other encouraging remarks. lie
stirred the delegates up nightly be
for he Welded the floor to John J. Con-
If. of this county and city, who i'm
pressed upon the convention the great
Importance of the place they were about
to make a selection for. He spoke on
behalf of Hon. Thomas l.. Broun, OF
Kenawha county.
W. w. BrannOl nominated - =. Hls-
gin6otham, OF Upshur.
". n. McG!nnis, OF Raleigh, second
q the nomination of David Z. john
son.
Mr.. r. Thompson, OF CaDell' seconded
the nomination of Mr.. Holt' ana Hon
John T. McGraw followed IN the same
strain. Several others made Drlei al
dresses. among them Hon. Andrew Ed
mission and J. W. st. Clair. The Con
yention got very impatient about TINS
time and raised no end of a row when
81. Clair attempted 10 speak, but he per-
sisted. at first with great good nunof
and la-terly in wrath. once Threatening
10 paste" one delegate who called TO him
20 gel down lin the jaw As he at
tempted 10 so on he was met with yells'
howls. cheers, cries, and indescrloaole
confusion. and could MOI proceed.
chair was handed UP 10 General ST.
Clair. and many Kanawha county dele
gates urged him to sit down and stay
all night. but that he should be heard.
4 motion was made and seconded, dur
ing the hub-bub. that the Serg5ant-aJ-
Arms clear the house OF all but dele
gates. but /. was not put. Finally the
delegates wore themselves out and there
WAS comparative quiet for a moment
bu, by the time General S.. Clair got
fairly warmed up be was again greeted
by cries of time" ri, down" and
many other sorts Of howls. The speak
er KEEP, 10 his feet, however and had
his say out. and then, al S:25, nOmina-
tons were declared closed. while ST.
Clair went for the delegate he was GO
ing 10 paste and was proceeding "a
carry out his threat. The victim OF
he Generals wrath vas Delegate Max
well. of Upshur. and there would have
not only been a fight but riot, in about
a minute. as a hundred delegates rushed
10 the scene and soon were clutching
each other and pushing and crowdin2
at lively rate. Before blow could BIZ
struck. however, John T. McGraw, JohI
4. Howard. Col. Bob Carr. and dozer
others hustled 81. Clair away, while