Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-04-10

William j. Bryan for the presidency
after a fight in which General
q. z Watts, Of Charleston, Hon. John
II. Holt, of Huntington, and Hon.
john j. Cornwell, of Romney, the can
didate for governor Of the Democratic
party in the last state campaign,
spoke against having an instructed
delegation.
The Bryan sentiment was such
however, that the opposition was fu-.
tile and the committee passed the reso-
luton with ten votes in favor of it and
five votes against.
While 1t wasa clean cut victory for
the Bryan forces fit also showed that
there is bitter opposition TO his candi-
dacy among the leading Democrats Of
West Virginia.
In addition TO the members Of the
State committee many prominent
Dem cratic leaders were here for the
meeting and quite good deal of work
was done by the various candidates for
the Democratic nomination for COVER
nor.
The field was cleared tonight when
Hon. John J. CornweIl gave out an in
teryiew in wich he declined to be the
nominee of the party for governor, a
place which he had been urged to ac-
cept. This leaves the field to Hon.
A dam Littlepage, Of hanawha. Hon.
Louis Bennett or Hon. E G. Dawson,
of Lewis, Hon. s. V. Woods, Of Bar
hour, and Prof. Thomas +. Hodges, of
Monongalia county, unless other cam
dldates should announce themselves
which is likely.
Marion county was represented
by Hon. O. S. Mckinney, Hon. G. Il.
Wells, Hon. w. II. Conway and
Scott G. Lowe, prosecuting attorney OF
that county. Other prominent Demo
Gratis here are: William II. Chiffon,
and George Byrne, of Oh arIeston; j.
I. McGraw, Of Grafton, Col. Thomas
B. Davis, Of Keyser; ] Hop Woods, OF
Philippi, John w. Davis, and Willard
Snider, Of Clarksburg; Senator VIII
liam Campbell, of Charlestown; An.
drew Price, of Marlinton; S. l.. Walk
|er, Of Fayetteville; Griff Smith, OF
Point Pleasant; William III. Sawyer
of Hinton a.d George /. Neal, of Hunt.
ington, James Beavers, Of Mcdowell
county, was present as proxy for
Wyndham Stokes.
The members of the committee are
John I. McGraw, chairman, of Graf
ton; j. Carl Vance, secretary, Clarke
burg; Blaine w. Taylor, Elkms; Col
Tom Davis, Keyser; Wyndham Stokes
WEIGH; s. l.. Walker, Fayetteville;
Col. Robert Carr, Charleston; X. H.
Kincheloe, Wheeling; George L. Neale,
Huntington; Andrew Price, Marlin
ton; John j. Cornwell, Romney; Creed
Collins, Pennsboro; j. j. slipper,
MoundsvilIe; William H. Sawyer
Hinton.
The first time that any action Of Tia. y
kind was ever taken by West vir-
GINA committee was by the RepubIi-
cans here last January. 1t followed
the lead of the New York state execu-
tive committee which endorsed Parker
preceding the last campaign.
Many of the committee felt that an
endorsement of Bryan might put the
party in an eg barassing position later
but the ardor for the Great Commoner
was such that it was impossible to
keep the committee from expressing
a preference for him.
The action is nothing more than an
endorsement for the Mr.. Bryan by n
majority of the State executive com
mittee and IS not binding on the par
ty further than to show which way
the sentiment is drifting
The meeting of the committee was
an open one and the public had every
opportunity TO hear the addresses of
the former gubernatorial candidates
and others who spoke ON the wisdom
OF passing or rejecting the resolution
Hon. John T. MeGraw said tonight
that he regretted that John J. Corn
well had declined to make the r4ce for
governor. 81 think he would have
been an admirable car dldate, be said,
"but there are many Others who can
lead us to victory this fall. Mr. Corn
well poiled more Republican votes in
1904 than any other candidate on the
State or national ticket and l believe
ne could have commanded subs tan
tally the same vote again.
The date for the State. convention
was fixed for July 20 aud IL will be
held at Charleston. The district conyen-
tions will be held ON May 20 and the
State convention 10 select delegates to
the National convention at Denver
will be held On May Is at Wheeling.