Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-04-29
Won the Congressional Nomination
After a Prolonged Battle.
HETZEL is UNABLE TO MAKE 1T
He Then Threw His Strength to the Preston
County Man and Landed Him an Easy
Winner===The Ballots in Detail.

James s. Lakin, of Terra Alta, mer
chant and business man. was nomi-
mated at Keyser, on Wednesday night
for congress. Literally the top of the
district secures the prize, for Terra
Alta is the highest town in the Second
district. Preston, his home county.
that stuck to him through the 80
ballots of the afternoon and evening,
is the great republican stronghold of
the state. Orators boasted that it
would give Lakin 3, 500 majority.
The nomination is "a victory for the
Dawson or administration wing of
the republican party, with which
Lakin and Preston county have been
stanchly identified. A deal had been
under way earlier in the day to bring
abont his nomiration, but it lacked a
few very needful votes. When the
convention took recess late in the
afternoon, successful efforts we're
made to secure the additional support,
and after the convention assembled a
nomination was soon reached. The
state committee is prepared to conduct
an aggressive campaign in the district
for the election, which takes place
June next. II is not supposed that
the democrats have any reasonable
hope of winning, but the republican
state committee will take nothing for
granted. The democratic convention
will meet in Kevser next Wednesday.
WAS BIG CONVENTION.
The convention vas the first i'm
portant one Second district republicans
have held since 1894 That year they
selected a mountaineer youth, whose
leading qualities were tenacious fight
ing powers and fair knowledge of
law. to run against William l.. Will
son. The mountaineer was Aston G..
Dayton, of Philippi, who has five
times been renominated, and reelected
and who was named by President
Roosevelt, and confirmed few weeks
ago as United States district Judge.
Dayton made himself famous in 1894
bv defeating Wilson. the democratic
leader of the house. Since then he
has been'a great political factor in the
district, but, as judge, has refused
to have any hand in designating his
successor. Fond as the West Virgin
ians are of politicalscombat, they en-
tered the contest for nomination that
is very likely to make congressman
with no ordinary zeal.
The seven candidates were all
young men, all under fifty wears of
age. Two. are distinctly business men.
John J. Hetzel, of Martinsburg, and
James s. Lakin, the nominee. LAX
in is rheson of Methodist minister,
is about 40 years old. and is very pop
ular He has pleasant address. and
is thoroughly identified with the bust
ness developement of his section.
Two had served in the state senate
Ira E. Robinson, of Grafton, and L..
u GOAIhdh Va VpSloOuiEs AiO hOi :
mer is a successful LAWYER and bank.
err, and, while in the state senate.
was the party leader. He is brother
in-law of Judge Dayton. Forman is a
law partner of Judge REYNOLDS, of the
judicial district. Had he made more
determined campaign for the nomina
tions. he would have had a stronger
showing at the start. He is a man of
very high character.
THE VOTING. r.
The voting began at o'clock. The
total number of delegates entitled to
vote from the fourteen counties was
$50, the number required for nomina.
tion being 1876. The result of the first
ballot, excluding factions, was:
Lakin, 60; Robinson. 40; Forman,
43; Hetzel. 81 Keim, "a; Stallings,
20; Jeffcrds, 10.
There were only minor changes
the second ballot. The next fe
ballots were almost identical. On the