Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-05-21
The SENATORIAL SITUATION.

THE SENATORIAL SITUATION.
There's rather peculiar situation IN
the fifteenth senatorial district, 30 far
as the Democrats are concerned.
Such considerable proportion of
the voters are disgusted with the state
of affairs that there's no telling what
the final outcome will be.
The beginning of the trouble began
with the senatorial executive commit.
tee. This committee, which ordinari-
ly is regarded as body to deal justly
and fairly with all candidates, consti-
tuted itself a machine by which A O..
McIntire, Of Morgan county, was to be
nominated for the State Senate. 1t
called convention for the unheard.of
early date of May goth, giving but
one weeks publication of the time Of
the meeting of the convention. 1t re-
fused to consider protest against this
action by William Campbell, the op-
posing candidate, and made plain the
fact that it meant to sandbag all cam
didates save Mr.. McIntire.
The senatorial committee having
thus started the ball rolling, the coun-
ty executive committee of Berkeley
county, ably manned by the profess
sional politicians of Martinsburg,
proceeded to add its part to the raz.
zle-dazzle. 1t quickly got together
and arranged that all Of the Berkeley
delegates should be given to Mr.. Nc.
Intire. 1t was necessary to hypnotizs
or sandbag very considerable pro.
portion of the voters of the county,
and the committee decided on the
ssndbagging process as being more
eficacious. From time immemorial it
has been the custom to hold district
meetings to select delegates to the sew.
eral conventions. This would never
do this time, however, for it was very
certain that by such means Mr.. Camp
bell would get share of the dele.
gates. A mass meeting, to be held in
Martinsburg, was thereupon arranged
and the manipulators guaranteed the
results.
The mass convention for Berkeley
county was held last Saturday.
Everything had been beautifully ar
ranged. Besides the friends and ad-
mirers of Mr.. McIntire, there was a
full array of the professional politi-
clans. There was also large contin.
gent Of officials and employees Of the
Hannis Distillery of various political
compilations, except white ribboners.
On the other hand, there was a very
considerable body of farmers and 9TH
ers who were there to protest against
the unusual political methods employ
ed, which meant that the districts
were to be deprived of a voice in the
selection of delegates and must take
the list prepared by the professionals
in town.
Peyton R. Harrison was chairman
of the convention. When the manip.
ulators in charge of affairs presented a
resolution carrying out their pro.
gramme and naming delegates that
had been prepared in advance, John
T. Janney offered a resolution that
representatives from each magisterial
district be permitted to assemble sep
arstely and elect delegates. This
very reasonable request was ruled out
of order by the chairman, who refused
to permit vote upon it. When the
farmers saw what they were up
against, they withdrew from the meet
ing, together with number of bust.
ness men and others. Those who
withdrew included many Of the most
substantial and respected citizens of
the county, and are said to have been
more representative of the party than
those who remained. After they had
gone out, the bosses easily put through
their pre-arrsnged programme. La
ter those who had withdrawn held a
convention in the courthouse and also