Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-28
CONFERENCE IN GRAFTON.
Republican Politicians Discuss the
GubernatOrial and Congregational
AsDirauts.

OuDSrnutOfia anu congregational
Aspirants.
To the Editor of the Register.
GRAFTON, w. Va, March pa
large number of Republican politicians
throughout the State held a conference
in this place last Saturday to discuss
the situation relative to the guberna-
torial contest. The men from Marion,
Monongala, Preston and Taylor, who
have been managing the Freer cam
paign against the State machine have
been placed in a very embarrassing
position since Romeo failed to put in
his appearance in Preston county.
Both Freer and White were billed to
speak in Kingwood, Terra Alta and
Tunnelton on Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday of last week. There was
quite a large delegation from the adj
joining counties arrived in Preston to
help augment the enthusiasm for their
respective candidates. The local pol
iticians had runners out all over Pres
ton commanding the faithful to assem-
bic to whoop it up for their favorite
candidates. White arrived on time &C
companied by Secretary of State Daw-
son and Others and spoke in King
wood and Tunnelton. But their meet
ings had more of a funeral appearance
than political applause. The meet
ings were anything but a success in
point of number and hand clapping.
Preston is intensely Freer and their
disappointment was genuine and sin
cere when he failed to meet his en-
gagements.
Various excuses have been offered
for hic annpAr onna in Direction hTlt
to the inflated the fine Italian hand Of
Billy" Dawson holds the secret which
manipulated the hypnotic influence
which placed Romeo beyond the reach
of his friends. The Freer men ac-
knowledge the State machine is too
much for them and have virtually
given up the fight against White. In
fact the Freer men admitted while
here that they would do nothing to
prevent the nomination of A. B. White
They stated, however, that six of the
hold-over State Senators were Freer
men and that when Nj. Elkins pre-
scented himself for reelection that he
would have to ONE to their terms.
The Second Congressional Republic
can Committee met here on the same
day and from all reports it was any,
thing but a hilarious meeting. We
have four avowed candidates, namely,
Dayton, of Barbour; Pitzer, of Berke-
ley; Meridith, of Marion, and u own
Judge John Homer Holt, of Taylor.
The committee is very much divided in
their choice of candidates, and report
has it that the committeeman became
both ~argumentive and emphatic in be-
half of their man. The Registers in
formation is that Judge Holt appear
ed before the committee and made one
of his flowing speeches. He requested
that the convention be held in May as
there was no question of his nominal
ton. 1t is alleged that he promised
to take the stump and go up and down
the valleys and make the welkin ring
as 1t had never been rung before.
That it would give him June, July and
August to give vent to his ~oratorical
gifts and enable him to hold court in
September. Those who are not favor
able to the Judges candidacy filed a
bill of exceptions to a judge holding
court and being a candidate for Con-
gress at the same time. They were
bold in saying that it would be placing
a club in the hands of Democracy to
beat them out of a Congressman. 1t
is a pretty family quarrel, and one
which promises amusement for the
public. Taylor county will stand roy
ally by her favorite son and confident
ly expects to secure for him the nom
nation. A REPUBLICAN.