Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-08-19
NOTIFICATION OF HON.
HENRY 6. DAVIS.
The Only Event of the Kind in the
South since the War.
Great Crowd at the Old White---
Many StauntOn People There
JnO- Sharpe Williams the Speaker.
Especial to the SPECTATOR

| Especial to the Spectator.)
White Sulphur, w. Va, Aug. H.
No such gathering was ever before at
White Sulphur. For two days the
crowd has been assembling to witness
the ceremony of notifying the Demo
cratic Vice Presidential candidate of
his nomination. Mr.. Davis, his broth
er, State Senator Thomas B. Davis,
Col John IT, McGraw, State Chairman
of W. Va, and other notable persons,
reached here from Elkins on Mr..
Davis private car "Graceland" on
Monday evening. Since then the hotel
has been gradually filling up with dis
tinguished persons from many other
parts OF the country. Last night ex-
} cnrsion trains began arriving, and all
incoming regular trains were crowded,
but this morning witnessed the real
gathering of the clans. The estimates
of the crowd are varied, but the most
conservative place it at 5000. Before
day had fully dawned every road lead
ing to White Sulphur was crowded
with vehicles, persons on horseback
and on foot. AS the day wore on the
place swarmed with humanity. Mr..
Davis rose early this morning and
before eight O'Clock had breakfasted
and shaken hands with thousands of
pesOns. His step is as elastic as ever,
and there are many men at White
Sulphur now 20 years his junior who
look older than he. His recollection of
names and faces is remarkable, and
he carries the same hearty hand shake
which has characterized him through
his long and eventful life. In West
Virginia by persons of all parties and
conditions of life he is fully trusted,
and his many acts of charity have en-
deared him to all. His brother, Hon.
Thomas B. Davis, is here, and whilst |
he is the senior member of the family |
be is likewise very hale and vigorous.
On the morning train the Stonewall
Band, with a full complement arrived,
and SO soon as the Crime of travel and |
the effects of very early rising could |
be removed-in their splck and span
shape they appeared on the western
lawn and began playing in their ia
nous style. This attracted the crowd
and some idea of its immensely was
gathered before the time for the regu-
lar exercises to begin.
On the verandas and about the hotel
we noticed many Staunton people,
among whom were Mr.. Robert w.
Burke, who seemed as much az any
We saw. to be enjoying with bis return
OF good health, his own return from
far wanderings, to the paths of Demo-
cratic rectitude; Hon. Edward Echols,
Mr.. A. G. Braxton, DIR. G. T. Lewis,
Junius Snmmerson, Robt. w. Burke,
Jr., and others, were among those who
greeted us on our arrival. From other
parts of the country, as well as Vir-
ginia, there are returning prodigals
and old timers of the true faith who
mingled once more in happy commun-
ion as of old.
Speaking of returning prodigals
there are numerous instances of the
leaving of the husks and returning 10
their father house in West Virginia,
notably in Col. Randolph Statnaker of
~f fo<a
the administration of Gov. Henry M.
Mathews, Hon. Chas. P. Dorr, ex-
Republican Congressman, Col. Fitch
of Cabell, one of the finest stumpers in
in the State and an old timer, besides
Wesley MolohOn prominent Charles
ton lawyer, Mr.. Ensloe of Huntington
and many others. These signs are very
encouraging.
We Will not undertake to give a
synopsis of Mr.. Williams speech or
that of Mr., Davis, our report is intend
ed really to show the actual occurren-
ces of the day independent of the ad-
dresses themselves.
At one o'clock with the StOnewall
Band leading the way, the committee
escorted Mr.. Davis to stand on the
west lawn under the shade of the
spreading oaks, for which the lawn of
the White is so much noted, where a
stand had been built. and where seats
had been placed for the occasion. AS
soon as the music subsidized Hon. John
Sharpe Williams introduced Bishop
Gravitt who made short and impress
sive prayer. Mr.. Williams then pro-
ceeded to the work of the occasion,
which was the notification of Mr..
Davis. This he did in most impress
sive style. in a speech full of wit,
satire and serious thought. He called
attention to the mistakes of our an
cestors, such as Washington, Jeffer-
son, Madison, Monroe and Others,
going back little beyond that, to the
day when the tea was cast into the
Boston harbor. He called attention to
the glaring mistakes of those who
founded the government, as now shown
by the present occupant of the White
House, how Washington was only a
farmer and those about him were only |
farmers, and how they and their kind |
in the eyes of Mr.. Roosevelt were like
cattle, how the Declaration of indie
pendence is not fit now to be read at a |
Fourth of July gathering, and the |
Constitution a paper unfit for the gov
ernance of great nation, how war !
brought out, according to Republican
ideas, the better and higher points in !
men, and peace tended to effeminacy.
That he may not be misunderstood
these mistakes were not mistakes
from Mr.. Williams standpoint,
/ but from Mr.. RoOseveIt's. The
speaker was applauded to the echo
in many places, and when he had fin