Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-27


The Republican meeting at Benwood
last night was held at the corner
OF Main and Sixth streets, where a
stand had been erected, decorated with
flags and bunting about the front. and
with a large American flag hung up
In the rear On the platform were
about twenty people, probably a dozen
OF whom were embraced in the list of
fifty-six vice presidents appointed for
the occasion. The remainder of those
occupying chairs were space killers. ;"
AT five minutes OF eleven O'Clock the
meeting was convened. The early
evening hours were coupled in the for
nation of the parade and in covering
the route OF march, which was COM
prehensive affair The Wheeling con-
tingent arrived about half past eight,
after weary march of four miles. The
Bellaire and Martins Ferry clubs
dropped into town during the first part
Of the night but the Moundsville club,
which arrived comparatively early, got
tired after reasonable time, and dis
banded before the parade was started,
but before dispensing they gave short
street parade themselves, looking some
what lonesome and isolated.
At twenty minutes after nine o'clock
the belated parade started. BY actual
count there were six hundred and
thirty-nine individuals in the column.
including musicians, but not including
seventy-seven mounted men, and seven
carriages, and the column occupied fiji
teen minutes in passing a given point.
st was an inspiring spectacle, and some
people were moved to tears.
Many people, despairing Of seeing
anything worth waiting for, went home
before the column moved, and those
who remained regretted that they had
not followed suit.
AS before remarked, it was twenty
minutes after nine o'clock when the
column moved--it was bed time. The
column marched down Main street,
turned out Eighth, and followed the
pike to the junction and below, the
maTchers enjoying to the full the coolth
of the fresh country air, and the COM
paratiye solitude of the surroundings.
Just before McMechen was reached
someone had presence of mind enough
to order a countermarch, and the head
of the column was turned northWard,
and the weary tramp back to BenwoCd
was commenced. 1t was getting later
rAry -1noAuisa and many corns We're
complaining loudly. About half-past
ten the head of the dust-begrimmed
column once more struck the southern
confines of our next-door town, and
the marchers proceeded in the direction
of the speakers stand. Ii was an in
spring sight--for those who were late
in retiring. The column proceeded
through the town, awakening babies,
disturbing sick people, and annoying
those who had to get up early this
morning and go to work, and after
bothering about three-fourths Of the
population of the town, and being re-
viewed by Mr.. A. b. White, the speak
erss stand was finally reached by the
scattered remnants of the column, the
parade having been dis'banded on Wat
- street. at five minutes to eleven
o'clock. 1t was a little late for the
obsequies, but the ceremonies were car
RED out
THE meeting was called to order by
j. I. Marley. 1t was like a scene out
OF a play, at the dead of midnight,
when the ghost walks and the william
pursues the maiden. Mr. Manley's re-
marks were brie1-but he had evident
" been misinformed, for he said he
was going to introduce to the people
the mex: Governor OF West Virginia,
the Hon. A. B. White This curious
statement provoked faint applause
Then MIR. White arose. He intro
duced himself by saying that he did
not intend to impose upon the good
nature Of the people OF Benwood by
making a long speech. This was cheer
ed by the flag ends of the population,
out of consideration fer the majority,
who had gone to bed. He said that he
believed Marshall county would add
FIVE hundred Republican votes to the
majority of four years ago. This, Of
course, was due TO directive informa-
ton. He said that he had spoken in
every county of the State except two,
and he intended to visit these two be-
fore the close of his tour. but he did
not name the counties. In all of the
counties he had visited, he said, there
would be Republican majority. This
startling statement provoked dense
silence on the part of his hearers.
They were prepared for the worst.
He next remarked that West Vir-
ginia had more at stake than any
other State in the Union. which was
true, considering the way things have
been going at Charleston, and else
where He said our prosperity was
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