Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-05-06
SENATORIAL.
A GARD

Having concluded to stand for the
nomination for the State Senate and the
time OF the convention being presumably
near at hand, l adopt this method OF ac-
quainting the Republicans OF the county
and district with the reasons that led to
the announcement of my candidacy.
No good citizen is debarred from the
privilege OF honorably seeking public
Office, and it is equally true that no citi-
zen has any Just claims to the euffrages
of the people. 1 make no such claim
and concede none to others. The hold
ing Of office for one term constitutes no
claim of itself to second. That question
is with the people. They may select
their servants and may set them aside,
The same voters who gave their Sena-
torial candidate in Athens a great ma.
jority two years ago, by a twothlrds
vote against him recently, have denied
him second term. OF Senators Smith,
Glazier, Davis, Cleveland and Abbott,
but one, Abbott, was returned the
secon1 time, from the district of which
Washington county is part, all Repub-
licAns but one, and it is perhaps fair 10
add Senator Falcon to the one term list.
In seeking endorsement as against SEN
ator Dana, who desires denomination,
would submit the question to the
people and would not abridge their priv
ilege OF passing upon other candidates
if such desire or purpose anywhere
exists. None should be barred.
Two years ago the opportunity to Sc.
lect candidate was not accorded to the
people, but II wds denied them by q high
handed usurpotion.
TIE METHODS USED.
An executive committee meeting was
held, o majority of such committee
agreed, and against the protest OF Repu5-
licans present, who wanted the selection
Of delegstes referred to the people, Hat
one candidate should be permitted to select
for himself oil the delegates to the Senatorial
C0nUentiOn.
This candidate was indiScred, and
ambitious enough to exercise this authority.
The committee was never by any
expression OF the Republicans OF Wash
ington county authorized to delegate this
action.
A brief recital only Of the convention
that followed is necessary TO revive in
the minds CT the Republicans the situa-
ton OF Two years ago.
The convention met in Marietta. The
large counties OF Athens and WashiI 9.
ton could control. Their candidates pooled
their issues. A gentleman from
Athens, whose seat WAS contested, was
placed in the chair. A rule was adopted
to give Washington and Athens counties
each twice as many members on com
mittees as the other counties were per
~itted to have.
While the committee On credentials
Was in session, the chair declared tive
candidates nominated and adjourned the
convention, Tearing the committee still in
session. This is history. The Republican
voters were too loyal to rebuke the outrage
at The polls that year, but at the proper
time Athens county spoke unmietakably,
and it is proposed TO submit the
question OF an endorsement or r. c.
ton of these methods to the Re-
publicans Of Washington county, as well
rs the question OF selecting candidates
by the popular voice,
Again, two years ago the Republicans
OF Washington county We're treated to
mass convention in which they had no
voice in selecting delegates 10 the State
Convention. Masses were brought in by
special train and voted in bulk on the
adoption Cf a motion that the chair ap
point committee to name delegates and
aternates, our present Senator, with
characteristic modssty, (?l furnished the
presiding officer with paper from
which the chairman read the names Of
tuch committee with the Senator's NAME
at the head of the list. A resolution was
passed, ratifying, in advance, the action
Of this committee, and the convention
adjourned before the committee report
ed. In the list published, Of legally uc-
crcdited delegates, (?) the name OF our .Sena-
tor again headed the lit The State Con
vention was near at hand and had prob
ably done its work before the majority
OF the Republicans Of Washington coun-
ty knew of the method cf their di.frsn-
chisement
My excuse and justification for calling
to mind the methods Of the recent past
are found in the fact that the man
whom seek TO succeed in the Senate
was largely responsible for them, and il
now at the head ii tie Executive Com.
mittee. I challenge the right OF this
committee, composed as it may be o
prominent Republicans and mpsG excel
lent citizsns, TO dictate the county pos
Offices and other appointments under h
national and state administrations and t.