Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-07-23
State Contention Notes.

anu wednesday OF IaSf week was tne &C
casion of assembling 1oge,hev Of one of
the finest bodies of Representative citizens
old war hoisc, of tho patty were there III
large nnm ers-Judge John ii. Holt,
Lawrence Tierney, Louis Bennett, Judge
w. 6 Bennett. John T. McGraw, JOSS.
Miller, Col Bob Carr Gee 7 +. Price, D.
c. G allsher, Charlie Oseptor. Major
Anderson. John Cofnusell. Ben lliuer,
Stuart Walker. sam. aud Hop. W.od,,
o. s. Mckinney, Grav Silver. Cam,
Thompson, General Hollev, B. Fl Oxley.
Joe Chiffon, Riley Wilson and many
others. And then the young Democratic
manhood OF West Virginia was there in
force-bright, intelligent young men
from all over the State. with keen sense
of the importance of the occasion and
devoid of fads and foolishness. Tocrown
all. the beautiful womanhood Of the
Mountain State was there also. deeply
interested in the public welfare, and to
add smiles of encouragement and words
of good cheer as opportunity offered.
The City of Huntington was fully
equal to the occasion as convention
city. Her people We're kind, obliging
and hospitable, and the Riggs Armory.
where the convention held its sessions,
was an ideal meeting place
We append a few notes of the big
gathering
The convention was called to order by
Chairman W. g. Bennett. who named
Judge John H, Holt, OF Huntington. as
temporary chairman. Judge Holt sound
ed the keynote of the campaign in an ad-
dress that bristled with denunciation of
the rule of special privilege under Repub-
lican administrations and with promise
of a change under Democratic rule. In
one of his Characterised imaxes he men
toned the name of Woodrow Wilson,
which started tremendous outburst of
applause.
Hon. B. Fl. Hiner of Pendleton coun-
ty. was made permanent chairman OF the
conve ntion. and made a ringing speech.
Colonel John t. McGraw's first APP
pearance in the convention. after his ar
rival from Chicago, was the OCCASION of
magnanimous ovation TO the Grafton
leader.
On the call of counties for nom
nations for the governorship. Barbour
yielded to Cabell. which in turn vie ded
to Taylor. whereupon Colonel McGraw
took the platform and in an eloquent
speech placed William X. Thompson, of
Huntington, in nomination. and amid a
tremendous outburst of enthusiastic ap-
pIause the nomination was made by ac-
clamation.
The speech OF Hon. Geo R Vending,
placing in nomination w. F. Alexander
for auditor, was unanimously conceded
to have been the oratorical gem of the
convention.
MIR. McGraw moved that the perma-
nent chairman be instructed to send the
greetings of West Virginia Democracy to
| Woodrow Wilson. TO be followed by the
State electoral vote this fall The mo-
ton was carried bv acclaim alton.
A telegram from Senator William E.
Chiffon, who is Ill at his home at Charles
ton, was read to the convention and
evoked an enthusiastic demonstration,
The announcement made in conven-
ton that Hon. Geo. |. Neal had won out
in the contest over the position of State
committeeman in the Huntington dis
trict ELECTED round of applause.
During the convention a Fl 'e rustic
looking old gentleman by the name of /
w. Blizz ard, who had been sitting on the
platform qnietly came to the front and
began speaking. Nobody but the chair
man and few on the platform knew
who he was. and for a while he was mel
with shouts of name your man, :'cut Il
hands and his voice at the same time
shouting this phrase in stentorian tones
For so years have been a Republi
can and faithfully supported NY party
But now announce mGSelf a De m pcrat!
| Whew! Did the convention 90 wild?'
1t did. Mr.. Blizhud WAS gwen tri.
umphal ovation.
John T, McGraw, John J. DAVIS ant
John H. Holt were nance for electors
at-large, but Senator OsStuion NOV dtha
the defeated candida' t mann, Il foi
electors, namel Y, W. -. Sawr.'>. Gil
bert ID Smith and Ben Butcher, AID o,
McGraw's motion these were nominated
instead by declaration.
r. w. Alexander served on the Com
mittee on Rules and Oder of Business.
Hon. Gray Silver was chosen as
member of the State Committee from tn,
Fifteenth Senatorial District
The new Democratic State Committee
on motion of CO.. McGraw, was called t.
meet to organic in Parkersburg Angus
5.
Martinsburg will have an o d Hon
Week-we-k beginning October 81.
MnNEy IN, cd aol tot