The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-10
AIR PLAY
THE UTTERANcEs
OF CAPTAIN NELLY AT THE
PARkERSBURG coNVEM-
TON

Editors West Virginian:
Craving your indulgence for infiict-
ing myself upon you and your worthy
readers for the purpose of defending
one Of our townsmen and incidentally
the Democratic party, beg space to
say few words in regard to the ar
ticle in Mondays issue of your paper
concerning Joseph Rosters nomina-
ton, or rather his failure to be nom.
mated by the Parkersburg conven-
ton for Superintendent of Free
Schools. 1t seems as though some
Democrats trace the cause of defeat
to the gentleman's speech who placed
his name before the convention. Now,
to all who hold that view I would say,
be calm and do not Judge too harsh
ly. Hold no malice nor i'll will to-
ward either Mr.. Roster or Mr.. Nicely.
The former is not to be blamed for
selecting a person in whom he had
implicit confidence. Being school
man himself, in all probability he was
confident that gust Of schoolboy or
atory would be treat and would cap
tivate the convention and win the
coveted prize. Be generous enough
20 say that he was honestly mistaken.
Censure not the latter too severely.
Be magnanimous. You ought not to
expect too great things from a tyro
in the political arena. Make some
allowance for the exuberance of his
enthusiasm. No doubt, the Captain
imagined that he was bearing the
mantle of Napoleon the Great when
that mighty chieftain haranSued his
veterans under the shadows of the
pyramids. Give a man a chance. 1
venture the prediction that by the
time the Captain devotes as many
years Of his life to politics as the
Grand Old Young Man of West Vir-
ginia" has, he will have reached such
2 degree of proficiency that his
friends will not be averse to listen
ing TO his e1ocutive efforts. And if
success crowns his efforts in the fu-
ture as it has in the past, he will be
pre-eminently entitled to succeed to
Henry G.'s middle name ere he
reaches Grandpa's middle milestone
is it fam TO construe his reference
TO the Chicago strike to mean that
be desired to be sent out there in his
yellow uniform TO settle the matter?
The lawyers have vacation during the
month of August and the greater part
of the month will be devoted to Dem
ocratic conventions. These conven-
tons have to be held and nominating
speeches and motions must be made.
Now, in the face OF these facts, can
any one who is acquainted with the
Captain, think for minute that he
would leave these pleasant environ
ments to settle the Chicago strike,
even if he We're SO inclined?
Some of the Democrats think that
the party will be held responsible for
the assertions made by the novitiate.
Is that right? The party must have
members and it cannot say just who
shall belong and who shall not Then
again the members of party have
their rights. The party cannot say
who shall speak and who shall not,
nor can it dictate when a member
shall speak and when he shall keep
quiet. 1t it could, the sage CD of
Esopus would have spoken long be-
fore his nomination or forever held
his peace. When a members efforts
fail the first time he appears before
the State Democracy, he has a right
to have other opportunities to prac-
tee. When will there ever be bet
ter opportunity for our young Demo
cratic friends to practice? Practice |
is all they will get this year. No, it
is no more right to hold the party re- |
sDonSible than to hold it response |
Bile for Henry G.. Davis utterances |
the white mans govern
ment." Henry G. is not the party. He |
gets a vote, tells the State conven-
ton that Dave Hill says not
to raise the issue of q white mans |
and furnishes the rhino |
for the campaign. Is it right to hold |
the party responsible for c. Wood |
Daily'S remarks in the convention
when he said, The time TO consider
the question of negro disfranchise
ment is after we get in power?" You
say no, G. Wood Daily is not the par
ry OF course he would have been
the nominee for governor if there had
been any hopes of election, but since
the Democratic sea is troubled and
rough and a dense mist hangs low,
"a to !