Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-08-12
STATE CONVENTION

The Democratic State Convention at
Parkersburg last week was the most
important Convention held in West
Virginia in many years. This Con-
vention was necessarily a part of the
general plan tor redeeming the State
from radical Republican rule. 1t was
attended by the leading men of the
State, the very brain and backbone Of
the social fabric within the State, and
In It's methods aud results the con-
vention was all that could be hoped
Tor. There were few disappointed
candidates but there were no sores aud
everybody went home feeling happy
and determined to pull the ticket
through to victory.
The city OF Parkersburg had built
large wigwam OF rough boards and
outside OF its ventilation it was most
disagreeable and uncomfortable place
to crowd so large body of people
The meeting was called to order by
Col. Thomas B.Davis, State Chairman.
Col. John I. McGraw was made tenn
porary chairman and w. E. X. Byrne,
secretary. Senator Robert Kidd, of
the county of Gilmer, was made per-
manent chairman. Both chairmen
made eloquent speeches.
There were three prominent men
mentioned as candidates and soon
after the delegates arrived the friends
of each respective candidate began to
push his man with vigor. The three
candidates were: William r. Thomp-
sou, OF Cabell county; Judge w. G.
Bennett, of Lewis. and Senator John
J. Cornwell, Of Hampshire. The COR
test was a sharp one but with a
friendly feeling. and the friends of the
losing candidates did not give up until
they were defeated by big majority.
On the first ballot Thompson led by
a good plurality but on the second
there were goodly number of changes
to Cornwell and on the third the STAN
pede set in and before the roll call
was completed Cornwell was away in
the lead and with good safe SHORTY
OF the votes, and on motion his nomf.
nation was made unanimous. The
demonstration which followed will be
long remembered by those who were
fortunate enough to witness it. Men
yelled until they were exhausted toss
ing their coats and hats to the roof
aud kept it up for nearly half an hour.
When order was finally restored Mr..
Cornwell was carried to the platform
and in his characte ristic manner ac-
| cepted the nomination. Hi, speech
was severe arraignment oil the Re-
publican false prophets OF tax reform
and he laid bare the deception of Daw-
son and White in their pre- enses on
the matter of reforming the tax laws
of the State.
w. G. Peteskin, son of Bishop Peter
kin, of Parkersburg. was nominated
fer Secretary OF State.
w. L. Mansfield, editor of the Wayne
News, of Wayne county. State Auditor.
M. d. Helmick, ofSt. Mary's, Pleas
ants county, State Superintendent of
Schools.
Lawrence Reymann. son of Paul
Reymann, of Wheeling, Attorney
General.
Robert S. Carr, of Kanawha county,
who was governor for 80 days in the
/ Fleming-Goff contest, was nomi ated
for State Treasurer.
Henry Gilmer. of Greenbrier, Judge
OF the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Col. R. Preston Chew, of Charles
Town, and Lewis Bennett, of Weston,
were nominated for electors at large.
The State Executive Committee met
after the convention adjourned and
elected of Col. John T. McGraw, as
Chairman, and Stewart II. Bowman.
of Philippi, Secretary.