Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-07-21
THE REPUBLICAN, CONVENTION.

ing and not even a knock down. The
fact that seven or eight men had been
killed in various sections OF the State
as result of quarrels over the selec-
ton of delegates, led many persons to
believe that there would be some live
ly scrappiDg in the convention, but
such was not the case.
The great struggle between W. M,
D. Dawson and Charles F. Teter for
the nomination of Governor, the for
mer representing the tax Ieformers and
the latter the opponents OF tax re-
vision, overshadowed all other con-
tests. The State Executive Commit
tee had for several days previous to
the convention wrestled with the sub
iect of conlesting delegations and had
agreed upon a report to the conven-
ton, by which Dawson had comfor-
table majority on the temporary Or
ganization. The Teter delegates from
Wood county had been seated, but
Dawson got the Kanawha delegation
and most of the other contestants.
The convention assembled Tuesday
morning Senator Elkins had been
agreed upon as temporary chairman
by all parties-except himself. lie
didn t relish the job of presiding over
what promised to be a stormy gather
ing with possibility of big bust
up, but he couldn't well get out Of 1t.
His colleague, Senator Scott, had
evaded the trouble by running off to
Colorado. Senator Elkins had big
beer mallet, and he made good use of
it in pounding the convention into ST.
lence.
Respectful attention was given to
the prayer by Rev. Mr.. Howard, and
then trouble began. Senator Elkins
made the customary speech, but the
leaders of the two factions were more
intent on marshaling their forces
than listening to speeches, be they
ever SO good. Taylor Vinson, the
leader of the Teter crowd, moved that
the customary committees be ap-
pointed. All the Teter people want
ed was to have the several contests
put before the credentials committee,
and victory was sure, for the com.
mittee had been judiciously packed.
Their CONSERVATION was very great
when w. P. Hubbard offered reso-
luton to dispense with the credentials
committee, make the temporary or
ganization permanent, and adopt the
list Of d elegates as agreed on by the
State committee as the roll of the con-
vention. This was a body blow to
the Teterites, and they fought against
it bitterly. A battle royal followed,
in which Hubbard, Sturgiss and Gov
ernor White led the Dawson forces,
while Congressman Dayton, Taylor
Vinson, Reese Blizzard and Charlie
Caldwell fought for Teter. Finally
a vote was taken on Hubbard's reso-
luton, and it was carried by vote
of AGA to 333. 1t was a test vote
showing the strength of both factions.
The result made the Dawson people
very jubilant, but the Teterites played
another card Immediately, and sought
an adjournment. 1t was their last
hope that during the night they
might be able to "iuhuence" enough
Of the Dawson delegates to get ma
jority. The motion to adjourn was
lost, however, and the convention de.
cided to proceed with nominations.
Congressman Dayton, who had been
fighting for Teter from the beginning
of the campaign last winter, made the
speech putting him in nomination,
while Ex-Governor Atkinson per-
formed the same duty for Dawson.
After a number of seconding speeches
had been made for both candidates,
the voting began, amid the most In
tense excitement. Barbour led Oft
with y for Teter, Berkeley gave 9
for Dawson and 8 for Teter, and
Cabell gave Dawson "a. When JEFF
ferson county was called, Teter got II
and Dawson /. The Jefferson dele
gates had been taken in by the Teter
bluff and were lined mp among the
goats-all except H. V. Daniels, who
was astute enough to see through the
game and firm enough to vote his sem
timents in spite of the tremendous
pressure and even threats that were
brought to bear against him.
AS the roll call went on the tax
reformers saw victory coming their
way. Kanawha gave 48 solid for
Dawson, Monongalia 20, Ohio SO out
of AZ. Preston 25. Putnam IA, and so