The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-02
of Party Success as Shown BY
Last Democratic State
Convention.
.,.r Z. I'd ne 1 Z

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. D.
The first state nominating convention
s, 1862, and the last state nominating
s, 1863, and the last state nominating
convention held in West Virginia,
was that of the Democratic party held
June "a, 1914. An interesting coin
cidence was that both conventions
were held in the city OF Parkershurg.
Thereswere 235 delegates in the first
convention and 1886 in the Demo-
cratic state convention of last June.
The enactment by the legislature
early in 1915 of state wide primary
election law puts an end perhaps
forever to the long used, and fire.
quently much abused, delegate con.
vention system of nominating candi-
dates for public office, in West Vir-
ginia. Despite. its abuses, the old way
had some excellent virtues, and its
passing is attended by no want of re-
greet upon the part OF many men who
have participated in the superexcita-
tion OF delegate conventions, enjoyed
the exhilirating spirit Of contact, con-
test, and comraderie with their fell
lows which characterized these gath
erings, reyeled in the finesse and
strategy which attended the clash OF
sharp wits and the matching of
shrewdness and brains. The memory
of it all as pleasant, and will linger
long. The strong friendships formed
the imbibing of a fine party enthus-
iasm, the stirring oratory, the swell
tering, jostling crowds Of delegates,
the music and cheers, the. vociferous
tributes to the popular political heroes
of the hour, and thousand and one
other ingredients which went to make
up great state gathering OF party
to nominate its standard bearers-all
of these things are never to be for
gotten by the men who have tasted
Of them, nor relinquished without
experiencing some varying degree Of
regret that they are gone probably
forever. What superior virtues the
new method may possess over the old
are yet to be disclosed That it will
be entirely free from defects and
abuses nobody expects; that 1t will
prove itself a far better method than
the convention plan all good citizens
hope. That is the best that can be
said of the innovation in advance Of
having experience with it,
Every newspaper-reading man in
West Virginia knows something Of
the last state nominating convention
held in West Virginia. 1t was large
one and in no small measure present.
ed some of the abuses and not little
amount Of the unrepresentative char
acter which have brought about the
substitution of the primary method
Of making nominations. The picture
of the great gathering OF Democratic
partisans which packed istelf into the
tabernacle" at Parkersburg last
June is fresh in the minds of all. But
how many of today are there living
who participated in the first nomin-
ating convention held in he old court
house in Parkersburg, May 6, 1868,
either as delegates or spectators, and
how many of this generation know
anything of that historic assemblage?
That was considered great con-
vention when it was held. and by the
quoted adjective is meath numbers.
Historically, of course, it was all of
that in the other sense of the word.
Western" Virginia had never seen
such gathering Of its foremost men.
The town Of Parkersburg fairly burst
with civic pride at being the host of
such q notable gathering of eminent
men. There was but one hotel in the
place, the old Gals Central" at Ann
and Third streets, famous hosiery