Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-06-11
The Berkeley County ImbrOgIIO.

ION OF the com mlJtee, LOT the sake VI
party harmony. The public, especially
the Democracy, is entitled to know the
facts at this time, and the causes that
led up to this unfortunate political sit
uation. 1t is simply case of the tail
trying to wag the dog, and excessive use
of party machinery to the point where
the patient voters will bear is no longer.
Some one has said that when the long
suffering masses complain, they are
nearly always right. Determined and
persistent complaint, arises from the
rank and file Of the Democracy in the
fifteenth senatorial district. The worm
has turned at last. Great responsibility
rests with the State Executive Com nit
tee, provided this matter eventually
comes before them. Long years Of
tyrannical use of party machinery in
Berkeley county has at last culminated
in open revolt. The last straw has been
added, and party regularity, time-hon-
ored and necessary, has been strained
almost to the point of breaking.
The mass meeting was called by the
county executive committee to meet at
the courthouse in Martinsburg on the
10th day of May at 10 a. m, to select,
among others, delegates to the senator
ial convention, months before the usual
time for such selection OF delegates.
This was the beginning Of the SNAP"
proceedings. Upon the assembling Of
the Democrats in mass, in accordance
with the call although it apparently
by reason of the inconvenience OF time
and place virtually disfranchised one
half of Berkeley county,, it was moved
that certain delegates, named by the
party making the motion, be elected
to the senatorial convention. A substi-
tute was proposed, allowing the Demo-
cratic voters from the several magis-
terial districts Of the county to retire
and select their delegates, and report
same to the meeting. The chairman
of the mass meeting promptly ruled the
substitute out OF order. On what
grounds Of fairness or legal precedent,
it is difficult to understand. 1t had
been customary in Berkeley county in
former contests to allow the voters pre-
sent in the mass meeting from each
district TO select delegates acceptable
to them. But this was not on the pro-
gramme of this unusual convention.
The "crux" of the situation is in this
ruling Of the chairman. Why, although
called so suddenly to meet in mass
meeting, should the Democrats Of
Berkeley be compelled by the chairman
TO also vote en- raasse On motion that
practically elected delegation not Sc
iected by the convention? Why should
not the substitute at least have been
put, as another method OF testing the
will Of the conventionH The vote on it
would have been en- masse. In our
humble judgment, it was not out of Or
der, but in accordance with precedent,
fairness and parliamentary law.
Now, having accomplished by srbi-
trary action their purpose in the select
ion OF these delegates, the same tactics
were resorted to in the senatorial con-
vention, called, after protest by Senator
Campbell, on the 10th Of May, only four
DAYS after the mass meeting. His po-
sition In the convention was even
stronger than at the mass meeting on
the 18th of May. Here he and those
sympathizing with him claimed only
the right OF a majority of the conven-
ton, if they agreed with him, as they
did, to control the temporary organiza-
ton, instead Of taking as chairman the
party recommended by the charm an
Of the senatorial executive committee.
The executive committee was regarded
as the creature aud not the master Of
the convention. He had as a precedent
for this position no less higher authort.
ty than the action Of the national Dem
ocratic convention in 1896, when David
B. Hill, eminent lawyer and parliament
tartan, recommended as temporary
chairman Of the convention by the Nat
ional Executive Committee, gave up the
gavel to John w. Daniel, the choice OF
the convention on vote regularly tax.
en-. 1t was, as Mr.. Bryan says in his
book, 1.-The First Battle" with much
chagrin that the gold Democrats saw
Mr.. Hill retire, but it was right, legal,
parliamentary and fair, and, therefore,
Democratic, and John w. Daniel pre-
sided.
But how was it with this convention
in Martinsburg? Would they listen to
reason? No, this fair proposition was
not voted down, for it carried, but was
howled down by those who were not
packed In the hall apparently for this
purpose. They had as much right,
however, to take part in the conven-
tion as the gentleman who was recon-
mended as temporary chairman, he al
so not being delegate to the conven.
ton. Mr.. Campbell and his friends
had good reason TO ask that the con-
vsntlon select its own chairman, as
their experience with the rulings of the
chairman Of the mass meeting on the
10th was sufficient to make them anx-
ious as to who should preside over the
senatorial convention. The facts are,
q party who was not even delegate
was selected by the executive commit
tee over the protest Of q majority of the
convention; thereupon, regularly ac-
credited delegate being put In nomina-
ton for temporary chairman, Professor
Wright Denny, OF Jefferson county, and
the vote being taken, he was elected.
At this time, the pseudo chairman, Mr..
Kump, had just taken the gavel. but no
motion had been put and no business
had been transacted. At this point in
the convention, Mr.. Kump, not being a
delegate, was an usurper of the functions
of chairman Of the convention. Sup
pose a motion had been made at this
point by delegate that all but duly
accredited delegates to the convention
retire from the hall, would not Mr..
hump have had to vacate the room
with the other strangers who were
crowdiDg itl The convention was reg
ularly adjourned by Mr.. Denny, and
met later and in a formal way nominal
ed Mr. Campbell.
How long can this state of things eI-
list and the DEMOCRACY not suffer- The
press frequently calls upon decent citi-
zens to take part in politics. How
much encouragement is there for them
in such arbitrary actions as these?
Such tactics might be used in Republi-
can conventions, although we doubt IL
they would be tolerated even there {;
but in an assembly of the Democratic
party, whose life depends upon conf
dence in its leaders and the spirit OF
fairness permeating its caucuses, it is
simply outrageous that now at this time
when this grand old party is about to
join issues with its willy and resource
ful opnnnant IL ehould time he Uwound.