Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-07-25
NOMINATIONS.
The State Republican Convention
at Parkersburg dominates a
Strong Ticket.

4uo ntht6 H6puDllUdA OOAVoutiuu
| at Parkersburg dominates a
| Strong Ticket.
| G. W. ATKINSON FOR GOVERNOR
Parkersburg was captured by the
republicans Wednesday and Thurs
day. Never had such a political
| gathering assembled in that city.
The leaders Of the party from all
over the state were there with the
rank and file of delegates and on
thusiasm was never so marked. The
big wigwam, which would hold four
thousand people, was throngcd. The
convention was formally opened by
State Chairman, w. NJ. o. Dawson,
OF Kingwood, who introduced Rev.
DR.. S. G. Moore, who invoked the
Divine blessing upon the meeting
| and for its deliberations. Senator
Stephen B. Elkins was named as
temporary chairman, and his pres
ence upon the platform was the sig
nal for the most hearty, prolonged
| and noisy ovation ever rendered any
man is West Virginia. 1t lasted five
minutes and the first word uttered
by the senator evoked another five
minutes of applause. His address
was characteristic of one familiar
with national and state politics, pro.
ducing unanswerable argument in fa-
vor Of protection, he passed on to
the financial question. He said that
the democratic party adheres to war
On protection, and favored restric-
ton on the freedom of contract, had
declared for the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver, the debasement of
the currency, class legislation, in.
come tax, greater government con-
troll Of the railroads, attacked the
Supreme Court and through it
breathed spirit of reputation and
revolution.
1t is well known that Senator FL
kins is largely interested in silver
mines. He devoted the greater part
Of his argument in showing the ruiz
Gus results of free coinage. He in
troduced this argument against free
coinage, as follows;
81 have been producer of silver
for over sixteen years. Naturally,
/ am It's friend, and favor its largest
| possible use as money, consistent
with sound and stable currency. Ny
interest would incline me to favor
the free coinage Of silver if l could
see that it was practicable or posi-
bic that it rested upon any sound
principles. The people now agitat-
ing the silver question and demand
ing its free and unlimited coinage at
is to /, when silver is only worth 81
to l, are its worst enemies, apart
IRON the injury it would do to the
country. | did not favor the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman act
because | felt, as a friend of silver
and as a citizen, it would increase
the production OF silver, and thereby
lessen its value in the markets and
destroy confidence in it as money.
This was the result" Senators Ell.
kins then argued that free and I'M
limited coinage would not only drive
gold out of circulation and democrat
ize business, but that it would also
debase the white metal so as finally
to destroy it as money.
The speech occupied an hour, and
its reception WAS marked with an
other ovation when the senator con-
cluded.
After an adjournment for dinner
there was n tremendous down-pour
of rain wsich prevented the conven-
ton getting down to business until
4 o'clock. Mr.. l.. M. Wade presid-
ed in the absence of Senator Elkins.
The permanent organization com.
mittee named John Fl. Holt, of
Grafton, for permanent chairman.
The platform adopted did not receive
dissenting vote. 1t indorses the
Mckinley platform, pledges the party
to take no steps to bring about
settlement with the old Virginia
debt, to change assessment laws to
benefit the farmer, and indorses the
records of the present representa-
tiyes in congress and Senator Elkins'
plans for extending American trade
and American ships. Nominations
were then in order, and Hon. S. G.
Burdette, of Charleston, in a bril-
liant speech, named Hon. George
Wesley Atkinson, of Wheeling. A
motion to make it unanimous was
voted down, because nearly every
county wanted to make known its
Endorsement of that popular gentle.
man. Then the motion was carried,
and Mr.. Atkinson was carried to the
platform and amid whirlwind of
applause made speech of 40 min
utes.
Mr.. L. N. LaFollette, of Grafton,
was nominated for Auditor, be fore
the convention adjourned for the
night. When the convention met
the following morning, M. A. Ken
dali, of Wood county, was named
for State Treasurer, T. Russell Trot-
ter for State Supt. of Schools and
Edgar P. Rucker for Attorney Gen.
eral. Hon. H. G. McWhorter WAS
named for Judge of the Supreme
Court of Appeals. The Electors
at-Large named were James B.
Fitch, of Monongalia county, and
S. B. Rathbone, of Writ county.