Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-06-09

fCommunlcated.1

been called to meet ia Martinsburg on
the nth inst, provided the Senatorial
both agree to submit their
claims to the action Of the Committee.
for the sake of party harmony. The pub |
lie. especially the Democracy, is entitled
to know the facts at this time. and the
causes that led up to this unfortunate po-
litical situation. It is simply q case Of
the tail trying to wag the dog. and ex-
cessive use of party machinery to the
point where the patient voters will bear
it 20 longer. Some one has said that
when the long suffering masses complain
they are nearly always in the right. De-
termlned and persistent complaint arises
from the rank and file of the Democracy
in the Fifteenth District The worm
has turned at last. Great responsibility
rests with the State Executive Committee,
provided this matter eventually comes
before them. Long years of tyrannical
use OF party machinery in Berkeley
County has at last eliminated in open
revolt. The last straw has been added.
and party regularity, time honored and
necessary. has been strained almost to the
breaking point. The Mass Meeting was
called by the County Executive Commit
tee to meet at the court house in Martins
burg on the 10th day of May. at 10 a. M.
to select among other delegates to the
Senatorial Convention. months before
the usual time for such selection of dele
gates. This was the beginning of the
''snap" proceedings. Upon the assemb-
ling of the Democrats IN mass. in accor-
dance with the call although it appar-
emily by reason OF the inconvenience of
the time and place virtually DISTINGUISHED
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 SUBJ
stitute was proposed allowing the Demo-
cratic voters from the several magisterial
districts of the county 10 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 fair
ness or legal precedent. it is difficult to
understand. 1t has been customary in
Berkeley county in former contests to
allow the voters present in the mass
meeting from each district to select the
delegates acceptable to them. But this
was not on the program 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- masse on a motion that
practically elected delegation not Sc
lected by the Convention ? Why should
not the substitute at least have been put,
as another method of testing the will of
the Convention 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 arbitrary action,
their purpose in the selection of these
delegates, the same tactics were resorted
to in the Senatorial Convention. called
after protest by Senator Campbell, on
the 2oth of May, only four days after the
mass-meeting. His position in the Con-
veution was even stronger than at tie
mass meeting on the 10th of May. Here
he and his sympathizers claimed only TIE
right of majority of the Convention. if
they agreed with him. as they did. to
control the temporary organization. in
stead of taking as chairman the party
recommended by the chairman of the
Senatorial Executive Committee. The
executive committee was regarded as the
creature and not the master of the Con-
vention. He had as precedent for this
position no less higher authority than the
action of the National Democratic Con-
vention in 1896. when David B. Hill,
eminent lawyer and parliamentarian,
recomm ended as temporary chairman of
the convention by the National Execu-
tive Committee. gave up the gavel to
John w. Daniel. the choice of the Con-
vention on vote regularly taken. 1t
was as Mr.. Bryan says IN his book 1.-THE
First Battle" with much chargtn that the
gold Democrats saw Mr.. Hill retire, but
it was right. legal. parliamentary and
fair. and. therefore Democratic. and
John w. Daniel presided.
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
howled down by those who were not
even delegates to the convention, but
packed IN the Hall apparently for this
purpose. They had as much right. how
ever, to take part IN the Convention as
the gentleman who was recommended as
lSh ROtoh NHotAthSbs bC diSO nOl OCtuR q
delegate to the convention. Mr. Camp
bell aud his friends had good reason to
ask that the convention 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 anxious as to who should
preside over the Senatorial Convention,
The facts are. a party who was not even
a delegate was selected by the Executive
Committee over protest of majority
of the convention; thereupon regularly
accredited delegate being put in nomiua-
ton for temporary chairman. Professor
Wright Denny. of Jefferson county. and
the vote being taken. he was elected. At
this time the pseudo chairman. MrKump.
had just taken the gavel. but no motion