The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-18
INTERESTING INCIDENTS
-, -alND THE SCENES
fasbard Favored Abolishing June
tPriinnry, Also Deposing
the State Committee.
-Four Bills in Control, Doing All
Things in the Name of
Col. Roosevelt.
Charles Brook. Smith.

PARkERSBURG, w. Va, May IL.
THE faithful chroniclers for the
daily press have set down with COM
mehdaole accuracy an account OF
the Republican state delegate con.
vention at Huntington, telling the
drama in detail as II was acted when
the curtain was up. But they have
not told US what went on behind the
scenes prior TO the rise OF the first
curtain, and during the time the
drop" hid the stage from the audi
ence between the acts. That is the
most interesting and most import
ant story connected with the pro-
duction.
This was a Roosevelt convention.
so-called; as a matter OF fact II was
a convention controlled by ex-Gover-
nor Dawson and ex.Goneressman
Hubbard, aided, abetted and assisted
by Mr.. Edwards. OF Kanawha. Mr..
Grant, OF Monongolia, Mr.. Harmer
of HARRISON, and Governor GIasscock
at-large. There we're others. but this
Is not a party directory we are writ.
ing.
In the name OF Theodore Roosevelt
everything was done. and what was
I a.
whenever, there was a break i'm the
ranks, a wavering in the lighting
lines, the magic OF the statesman of
Oyster Bay was invoked TO save the
Crisis for the men in control. The
autocrats-the supreme court OF This
gathering-were the four Bills-BiI
Dawson. Bill Edwards, Bill Glasscock
and Bill Hubbard As some way OF
a 0RIRUlfa from T1a,a-
served: This damned convention il
sort OF a Waltz Me Around Again
Willie affair" The remark was oc.
easioned by the fact that the four
BlIls took turn about presiding
Dawson was regularly elected chair.
man, but when he had other work 10
do. he handed over the gavel 10 an.
other Bill
Four Bills as Bosses.
Here was a convsntion which was
controlled by the four Bins In The
holy name of the Colonel: at least.
they had majority in their favor so
large that IL was cumbersome. And
Yet, and Notwithstanding, they could
not force that majority to do their
bidding on all things. The fact is that
on their most important plans they
failed to make il do their bidding
The truth is that II was too raw.
| Also and likewise. here was a con.
vention elected on the basis principle
entitled: Let the People Say.
which, on several important matters.
really accepted that political idom in
the best OF faith. On other matters OF
business before II. they ignored Il
without a smile for their inconsist.
ency. by order OF Messrs. Dawson and
Hubbard. This will appear as the
narrative progresses.
There was never any question but
: the slate OF delegates that Dawson
! and Hubbard would decide on could
prevail. That was the leat important
matter 10 them connected with this
gathering. SO wen dismiss that
What they wanted was to get control
OF the party machinery by operating
the mechanism OF this convention IA
suit themselves. They wanted 10 do
II In as legal and as fair-looking A
. way az they could. but whether that
way or not. they proposed 10 arbl
! traryily get control even n 10 was
, necessary for them 70 usurp authority
that was not theirs. and 10 stoop 10
revolutionary methods And this Is
3 what they did. although I'm doing go
they bungled so lamentably that IL is
very questionable whether they achlv-
ed the thing they set out 70 do-Fef
control OF the party organization. The
signs are that they failed
Were Against Primary.
II was Mr Hubbard's idea prior 10
the convention 20 have the conven.
ton depose the state committee. elect
a new one aud declare the June an
I primary on" This scheme. II must
, be admitted. is characteristicalIy Hub
: bardesque. n Is IN Impressive har.
. mony with his Interpretation OF his
own famous slogan: Let the people
rule 10 was such n raw" proposaI
that Dawson himscf-and that b. say.
ing something refused point blank
70 listen 90 such n scheme. Then Do
was proposed that the present state
b committee De depoaod at once and "a
new committees elected By the con.
vcnton. consisting of one from each
of the hfty counties. Even liar.
vey Harmer. Of ClarksburE. wouidnf
agree to this absurd proposal The
third termers. 30 win be- seen. we're
very much divided among fhomaolvos
on what would be- The best plan to
pursue in f0rrlbiy taking over the
party organization FINALLY. 10 vas
agreed on Thar the sire of The present
state committee BE- Increased from f7
~ 81 members BY ciectinE 90 afdI
tional member from each Of the fffeon
J state senatorial districts. and one col
orcd hrofhcrafiarre This vas tho
action taken. despite the face That .n
the primary nert month DO has heen
arranged That is committeeman rhaT
b. elected. one from each rrnaforIsf
district ard fao ro'ored men f.Iarre
lt waa also provided that The rraaanf
committee shall Do down ana die
hFurativrly speaking. on the morning
of June sfh
Tho point in fhis action is bfs.
liauson and Hubbard. esponcnfs of
Tho "Lef tho People say" doctrine.
wanted 90 make sure of getting ab.o.