Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-04-21
HetzeI onTop.

The Republican primaries in Berk-
eley on Saturday afternoon in the six
country districts and in Martinsbur &
on Monday night was the most spirit
ed fight seen 10 the county in many
years and resulted III sweeping vic
tory tor Hon. John J. Hetzel, over DR..
William T. Henshaw
On Saturday Mr Hetzel carried Ar
den, Hedgesville and Falling Waters
districts and DR.. Henshaw carried
GeraIdstown Mill Creek and Ope-
quon districts, thus dividing even.
and deferring the real contest for
Monday night in Martinsburg DR..
Henshaw was supported by what is
commonly denominated the Office
holding clique or ring composed OF
United States Fish Com missioner
Geo NJ. Bowers, Postmaster Alex
Clohan, Deputy Collector OF Internal
! Revenue, L. c. Hens haw and their
| friends. There has been a growing
discomfort among the rank and file
of the Republicans with the ma chine
methods employed by the gentlemen
OF the cotsrie, there has been numbers
of Republicans who bave been .disap-
pointed in getting offices and nomi-
nations which have been laid at the
door of the ring. All these elements
rallied to the support of Mr.. Hetzel
which together with his strong fol-
lowing OF personal friends among the
leading men OF his party III ade him a
veiita bic Qyama IN the contest,
swept ng the big fellows Of the ring
before him. The contest was in reality
between the risg and the antifing
forces, the ring got the worst
OF it, and the DEF, at was a crushing
one. This was especially so in the
third ward OF this city whica Mr.. Het-
eel carried by seven majority. The
third is the home of all the federal
office holders, the leaders of the ring
forces. They were all out in force and
worked like Turks. They were at the pri
mary and did all they could but to no
avail The dapper gentleman from Ar
den and his lieutenants were too
strong for them. The contest
though tinged with some bitterness
was conducted in decent and, order
ly manner, excepting in the first where
the Hetzel men claim they were shut
out by the Henshaw people who ran
through ard adjourned the meeting
before the Hetzel men knew the meet
Ing was going oa. He!zel carried the
cond by IS, the third by 7, the
fourth by one and the fifth by IS and
his friends claim that he would have
carried the first had he been given
chance to get his votes in. These dele
gates will form convention here
next Saturday, iomoriow, to select
the delegates to the Congressional
convention at keyser on April 20. At
the convention next Saturday the
unit rule will doubtless be adopted
and all the delegates instructed to
vote for Hetzel for the nominee for
Congress.
The ring has controlled the Prima
ries and the conventions Of Berkeley
so long that it became generally set
tied IN the public mind that its rule
was permanent and its position im-
pregnable and this result was great
surprise to everybody excepting NJ {.
Hetzel who has claimed from the be-
ginning that he would carry the coun-
ty
In the primary ia Morgan county
on last Saturday Mr.. Hetzel was en-
dorsed and authorized to select his
own delegates. This will give him a
fi7e Start in the convention With the
two counties solidly behind him and
though he may not ct the nouina-
ton he will be in position to com >
mand the most distinguished consid-
eraticu while his enemies in Berkeley
will by his grace will be permitted to
take back seat and wonder what
their fate will be in the new deal
which will most likely take place
Pupils Examination.