West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-07-05
DAYTON
RENOMINA TED,
The Postmaster's Convention Was
q corker.
The Feature OF the Occasion Was tho
Opening Prayer.


Il was a great Convention.
1t was Dayton Convention.
II wa Postmastcrs' Convention.
1t was prayerfully hilarious Con-
vention.
Yes, we were there, and we
wouldn't have missed it for a good
deal.
Thursday Of last week was the
great day Of judgment for Repub-
liean Congressional candidate for
this district, and the spectacular
performance came off at Terra Alta.
The braves and rooters began to
gather the day before. About az
went over from Kingwood to show
the others how it was done. The
showing was considerably mixed,
however.
The town, as we'll as the crowd
was pretty full the night before, and
next morning several train loads Of
enthusiastic delegates and shouters
for the different candidates arrived,
and the old town looked like show
day sure enough.
The Meredith delegation came in
with a big flourish of ,rumpets, but
lost in the general melee that night,
while Dayton gained and strength
ened his reserve force, so that Mere.
dith admitted Thursday morning
that he wasn't in it.
Preston delegation had great
time caucusing and general cussing
around. They had fight over the
organization, but the Dayton men
controlled everything and elected
Bob Hollis, Chairman, and William
A. Watson, Secretary
The Convention was finally called
to order at II:2o a. m. by Charles
+. Teter, of Barbour county, Chair
man of the Republican Congress
sional Committee, with f. M. Sho-
walter, OF Fairmont, as Secretary.
The Chairman announced that
Rev. Mr.. Wiley, of Palatine, would
open with prayer, although cork
screw would have been more appro.
pirate, considering the condition of
majority of the crowd. Still, the
prayer started off all right and
the boys were listening reverently
enough, expecting the regular brand
commonly used on such occasions,
but in very short time the so called
"prayer" developed into one of the
widest stump speeches we ever
heard. The Rev. is a strenuous
Republican and came to the Con-
vention as Meredith rooter, spec
tally to pray for his man, and we
only hope his prayer will fail as
badly this fall as it did for the time
being. He prayed that whoever
was nominated there that day would
be elected, and that Mckinley and
Roosevelt would be elected, and
finally that the whole Republican
ticket might be elected. About that
time be was greeted with loud Amens,
from different parts Of the house.
This encouraged him 70 renewed
effort and he prayed for the Lord
10 be On the side of the &. o. D., and
stand Dy them till the resurrection
morn, till Gabriel should blow his
horn and call them up among the
elect to join the procession on the
gold paved streets Of the Celestial
(not Chinese) shore. This brought
out such a storm of Amensl from
all over the house, that the Reverend
could hardly be heard. Then he
prayed that the nominee Of the Con
vention-and several shouted 'Day-
ton" while other rooters, not to be
outdone, suggested Holt, Pitzer and
Meredith. The enthusiasm encour-
aged the sky pilot so that he got
louder and more partisan, praying
for the Lord 70 confound the enc
mics of the &. o. p and that saliva
ton might be free. The Conven-
ton got 50 hilarious by this time
that the prayer closed in a blaze Of
glory and the applause drowned the
noise Of passing trains, and it was
FIVE minutes before the Chairman
could restore order
Then Rev J. J.. b. Jones. Of
Terra Alta, made a very nice little
speech Of welcome, and Mr.. Teier
announced that Tracy J.. letters, of
Jefferson county, had been selected
for temporary Chairman and James
w Holt Of Grafton, for Secretary.
This organization was made perma.
nent and the meeting got down to
business
a tall form arose from the Preston
delegation and was recognized by
the Chairman AS "Postmastcr Clio