The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-17
CHAPTER tx.
A CONVENTION AND A REVELATION

CHAPTER TX.
A CONVENTION AND A REVELATION.
The day Of the state Convention!
The Convention Hall at Granite was y
big. barn-like building. frequently used
for church and school entertainments.
and occasionally giving temporary
home to some struggling theatrical COM
pany For the holding Of the conyen-
ton which was to name the Governor
OF the Mountain State feeble attempt
at decorating the vast interior had been
made by Conover's State chairman
On the front OF the dingy little stage
were u table and chairs for the officers,
and a series OF desks for the reporters
of the local and New York newspapers.
Across tho back hung ragged drop
curtain showing garden scene In pol
sonous ereens and iniammatory reds
Stuck askew on the proscenium arch
were crudcly drawn portraits OF Je1 b.
son and Andrew Jackson. Between these
alleged likenesses of Democracy's spor-
sors, Billy Shevlin. had. by inspiration
and acclaim, caused huge crayon PIC"
ture of Caleb Conover himself to he
hung.
This monstrous trio Of ill-assorted por-
trait parodles were the first thing that
struck the eye as one entered the main
door Mt the front end Of the hall. On
seeing them, grim old Karl Ansel had
cast about him until he located Sheylin
and q group OF the Railroader's othcr
lieutenants.
penetrated the farthest corners OF the
auditorium, what did you want to show
your ignorance OF the Scriptures for by
hanging Conover's picture in the middle
with jackson and Jefferson on the out
side? You've got things reversed IN
the original 1t was the Just Man who
hung between two thieves. You ought
to have put your mug and conover's up
there with Give Standish In the centre.
II you wanted to carry out the r'ght
idea.'
And shevlin, in nowise comprehending.
looked for the first time with somewhat
less pride on his artistic work, and
waved puzzled at the roar OF laughter
that swept over the massed delegates.
"Them pictures set the Boss back M
teen dollars apiece" he began, In self
Justification, "an'---
''And like most OF the crowd here"
finished Ansel "thcy were sold to Con-
over before tho convention began"
There was the usual noise and tramp
ing of feet and clamoring OF brass bands,
the customary rabble OF uniformed cam
paign clubs, with their gaudy banners
and pompous drum-majors about the hall
and In II, for an hour before the time
that had been set for tho calling OF the
convention. Here, there and everywhere
circulated the busy lleutenants OF Boss
Conoycr. Their master, with a little
coterie OF chosen leutenants moved
early into his Headquarters IN one o.
the rooms at tho rear of the stage
where he sat like some wise old spider
In the heart OF his web, sending on
warnings, advice and admonitions to M!
undcr-strappers.
Although Conover was leaving no ray
eled ends loose In his marvelously perfec
machine. he took his wonted precaution
more through force Of habit and for dis
cpline's sake than through any neces
sity. lie felt calmly confident of tn
result. TTe had looked upon his work
and he had seen that 1t was good Eve
had Standish been tho choice Of ma
jority OF the people In all eight countle
OF the state. 1t would have awaited hir
little, for through the routine trick
whereof the Railroader was past master
his young opponent was at the last abb
to control the votes of but two cour
ties--Matnwnn and Wills.
Standlsh's contestlng delegates frol
the other six counties sat sullen an
grim in the gallery, Fraudulent Conoye
delegates. who had usurped the former
places by the various ruses 80 SUCCESS
fully put into action at the caucuse
held the credentials and occupied sea-
belonging by rights to the I4eaguers G
the fioer OF the Convention Hall. Thel
the Machine delegates smilingy sat ar