Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-12
HonORs TO FIRST TERMeRS .
REPRESENTATIVE HUBBARD
AND sTUR0Iss SPECIAL GUESTS
Reception and Dinner by West Vir-
ginia Republican Association
at the Riggs House.

| The sons and daughters of West Viz
| ginia-the American Hfghlanders, as they
| have been termed-were present In goodiy
numbers last night at the ninth annual
dinner of the West Virginia Republican
| Association at the Riggs House. The
| banquet was given in honor Of Represent
| alive William P. Hubbard of the first
district OF the state. and Representative
| George c. Sturgiss Of the second district,
both of whom are serving their first terms
| in conrgess The custom of the associa-
ton is to hold special session" follow
| ing the election of each new representa-
| tive elected to Congress from the state.
| The assemblage was, representative
| one, and was marked by bursts OF elO-
quence and flashes of wit. The speakers
! talked of the mountain state, its progress
/ siveness and it's people. Civic virtue was
j a theme. and the United States and its
| institutions We're 1auded.
| At the reception which preceded the din
/ ner were: Representative Hubbard and
/ Miss Alma Hubbard, his daughter: Rep
| resentative Sturglss and Mrs. woodward,
| wife of Representative Harry A. Wood
| yard: Senator s. b. Scott and MisseEdna
Shinn: Representative ]. Fl. Gaines and
| Mrs r. T.. Roberts, eX-Gov. and Mrs.
| George w. Atkinson. Mr.. George M. BOW
| ers. L. s. Fish Commissioner and Miss
1-ChoIo Xudi iC bCoA an6C
After-Dinner Exercises.
| Following the discussion of the menu
| came the 'after-dinner exercises" as
| they were designated on the illustrated
! menu card. Mr.. c. NJ. Shinn. president
Of the association, was postmaster He
paid a tribute to the two guests of honor.
| Representatives Hubbard and Sturgiss,
who sat upon his right and left. and ex-
| pressed the pleasure of his association in
! having the opportunity to honor them
messages of regret were read from Sell
ator Elkins and Representatives Hughes
and woodward, who were absent from the
city. A message was also read from
President Roosevelt acknowledging the
receipt Of an invitation to be present, and
expressing regret that he and Mrs. Roose-
! welt were unable to attend the function
Mr.. Shinn then presented Senator Scott
who delivered the address Of welcome. In
the course of his remarks he said West
| Virginia had in the past been referred to
as THE little mountain state but that
in the light Of recent events and Stats
tics that designation must be changed
to the big mountain state" West Fir-
ginia, he explained, could only be termed
| little, If at all, to its geograp hical
boundaries. In resources and progressive
ness of its people the state Is large. Sem
ator Scott congratulated his state on hav
ing sent to Congress such able r.pre
SSNldltVcS dS are N1eSSTS. HUBBARD ana
StVrgiss, and predicted for them a sue
cessful career in the legislative body Of
the nation. His address was frequently
applauded, and his popularity with the
association was manifested in various
ways.
The responses by Representatives Hub
bard and Sturgss, respectively, came
| next. In the lappiest of veins they ex-
planned that they were much pleased with
their experience thus far as representa-
tives. Mr.. Hubbard sounded the praises
Of West Virginia, and wittily pointed out
the troubles of new member of Con-
gress. He said one term of a repre-
sentative is very short; that he was
just getting used to the office. and is
up for reelection. He said he would
have no serious objection to serving his
constituents again in the House, and fire.
quently won applause by his good-natured
badinage.
Representative Sturgiss spoke to the
same effect. in happy vein. He praised
the loyalty of West Virginia to the Union
and reviewed the history of the state dur
ing its early days. when 1t was divorced
from the mother state. He added:
west Virginia Is the only real and
surviving product OF the war of the re-
bellion, the only part of the United States
that was affected and grew out of the
war. 1t has turned out the bravest and
most loyal men that ever fought for this
country. / am proud of our record of the
war We are blessed with the feeling of
civic righteousness as we'll as patriot
ISM