The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-08-13

Dotn SIDES not over confident OF the
result and the Hsltuation was far too
tense to be sAtoyed even by the few
who were not candidates for office.
The fight forstho leadership was made
by the outs, prtnc:pally upon the
location OF the Headquarters. they
Ccontending that the Charleston
ring doth 3bestride the narrow
world like n huge Colossus and they
petty men were. compelled to crawl
about and find for themselves miser-
able graves. or words to that effect.
In conversation with your GORE
spondent many OF the older and wis
er heads deplored the extreme to
which the fight was waged and hailed
with delight the sounding Of the CAV
ell, which, like the starters flag,
marked the beginning of the end Of
the months OF preparation.
There was considerable jockeying
for position, each side waiting for
the other to make a start. Finally,
j.. X. Jefferson arose, and in the
speech of his life placed in. nominal
ton l.. o. Wilson. MIR. Jefferson re-
viewed the connection of Mr. Wilson
with the order, told Of his arduous
duties as Grand Lecturer, which took
him oyer the hills and into the val
leys of the state, and his intimate
knowledge, Of the condition of the
lodges. Mr. Jefferson was followed
by w. H. Harris. of Huntington, who
spoke in the same vein and availed
himself Of the opportunity to throw
few hot shot at the much-abused
Charleston ring.
r. w. White, Of Esprit De Corps
Lodge, No. S, Huntington, then
mounted the roStrum, and for thirty
minutes delivered such a speech as 1t
is the pleasure Of but few to hear.
His work had been cut out by those
preceding him and right nobly did
he rise to the task. Cold facts were
marshaled in an irresistible array.
Now persuasive, now denunciatory,
he took up the situation point by
point and showed the gravity of the
crisis through which Pythianism in
West Virginia was then passing. 1t is
no disparagement either to those who
preceded or followed MI White to
say that his was the best of the six
very eloquent speeches on the nomi-
nation Of the Grand Chancellor.
Mr.. White was followed by T. r.
jenkins, of the same lodge. He, too,
spoke for w. J. Thompson most elo-
quently. Mr.. Jenkins long connec-
ton with the order qualified him to
instruct the younger members as to
how they should go and his remarks
evoked loud applause from all points
Of the house.
c. w. Boyd, another Of the old
guard, favored the idea of letting
we'll enough alone and hit some tell
ing blows for his candidate, w. J.
Thompson. MI. Boyd's earnestness
was very effective and contributed no
little part to the outcome.
After Mr.. Boyd, Dr.. w. s. Turner,
of Anita, No. 10, Clarksburg, obtain
ed the floor and delivered some tell
ing Blows for Wilson. DR.. Turner is
speaker Of much force, and his re-
marks, which were :. at considerable
length, were eagerly listened to by
both parties.
By this time the room was almost
insuffeFably hot and the delegates
were anxious to record their votes
and get out into the open.
However, J. V. Coleman, Of Mt.
Carbon, was able to hold them with
a very excellent short speech in sup
port Of Thompson.
The ballot was then taken in al
most breathless silence, and w. J.
Thompson declared elected by a ma
jOrity Of two votes.
Your correspondent was present at
recent state convention but he fail
ed to see such enthusiasm az was dis
played upon the announcement of the
count. Men leaped into the air, hug
ged one another, yelled, clapped their
hands and surrounded the victor in a
struggling mass, each intent upon be-
ing the first to congratulate him up
on his having won the most strenu-
Gus campaign in West Virginia Pyth-
an history. The opposition sat daZed
for few moments, then the defeated
candidate mounted the rostrum
thanked his friends for their support,
expressed his willingness to carry on
The work in whatever place he should
be called, and moved the unanimous
election Of w. J. Thompson for Grand
Chancellor. The motion went
through without dissenting voice.
j. w. Robinson and l.. o. Wilson
having declined the nomination for
Grand Vice Chancellor, the election
OF Rev. J. V. Whittico, the only re-
naming nominee, was made unanf-
nous; as was true in the case of J.
M. Hazlewood, nominated by J. Nc
Henry Jones, for Grand Master Of
Exchequer, and II. II. Railey, named
by J. V. Whttico for Grand Keeper
Of Records and Seal.
Il required three ballots to select
the Grand Prclate, Revs. J. w. Rob
inson, J. J. Turner and s. M. Yates