Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-07-08
LETTER FROM ST. LOUIS.

We have never known a 4th OF
Jvly that was not miserably warm,
but the 4th of July in St. Louis is
sim ply the hottest we have ever ex-
perienced.
We arrived here early Friday MORN
ing, one OF four guest of Hon. HenryG.
Davis in his splendid new private car
Graceland, and we at once set in to-
see the great fair. Friday and Satur-
day were ideal days and we made
good progress in seeing the fair.
At the time of writing, Monday
morning, the political situation is one
of chaos. Though yesterday was SUI
day the delegates poured in by the
hundreds and by Tuesday morning
they will have nearly all arrived, and
as they took up quarters at the var
ious hotels they called upon each
other and weoe busy returning calls
and of course talked politics-only in
cidenlally,
Parker headquarters have been es-
tablished at the Planters hotel and
are in charge Of Mr.. August Belmont
gentlemen of small and rather in
significant appearance but after you
meet him and talk to him ten mimi :.
ties and notice thea how quietly !,
smoothly and effectually he handles
the hundreds of new men of all class
es and ranks. you soon preceive the
ability and cali5er of the individual.
He has most pleasable and enter :
tanning story to tell OF the claims and
the merits OF his favorite candidate
The full force OF the headquarters is
not yet on the ground but anon &
those OF prominence there about We
have noted the handsome features
1 and huge form of Hoke Smith of
Geargia, who spoke with an air OF
satisfaction Of having resigned as a
member of President Cleveland's cab
met rather than bolt the ticket II ongh
he was not Bryanite III the strict
sense the word We also met there
Perry Belmont brother of August Bel
mont the leader ,dapper and ever pres
ent abou. headquarters.
The Hearst headquarters are locat-
ed at the Jefferson hotel but the class
of men in charge and managing til e
affair impre. ses one with no high
ideas OF their candidates chances.
Hearst headquarters are run about
like Heorst's newspaper with a shall
lowness that is tiresome and uninter-
esting They have an immense electric
sign ard flag on the front ofthe hotel
and on the office floor large room
full of California wines and fruits
which they disperse as sort of an ad
vertisement oil the State and in the in
terest of Hearst incidentally. When
we asked the young man in charge of
the headquarters whether or not Mr..
Hearst was here he replied with an
air of little or no apparent confidence
that Mr.. Hearst would be over from
New York about Friday-"as soon as
he ives nominated"
The only other candidate with
headquarters is Wall. of Wisconsin,
this is at the Lindell aud as bis boom
has not inflated sufficiently TO ex-
tend beyond his state delegation there
is not much int, st centered about his
headquarters.
The West Virginia delegation is
not all in yet and there has been nc
caucus and none of the committeeman
settled: The delegation will probably
meet and arrange for the appointment
of the members of the various commit
tees.
It is however understood that Col
JohnlT. McF raw will be reelected as
our member of the National Commit
tee and ex-Gov. MacCorkle or ex Sen
ator Davis will go on the committee
on resolutions. Thus 1t will be seen
that our state will not be for, either
reaffirmation, reorganization or repu-
diation Of form platform. The seuti-
ment is pretty general that the plat
form be framed without regard to
past party quarrels or issues that
brought on quarrels.
The fair is beyond doubt the great
est ever held in the world. The ex-
position covers more than twelve hun
dred acres. The agricultural building,
alone occupies twenty-three acres. The
buildings are iu construction OF abou