The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-04
'KEYN0TESPEECH
[YCHEERED
At CONVENTION
--
IPreliminaries Of Gathering
Go Through According
toProgram.
GGnM|TTEESAR Attest
Believed That Robinson's
Friends Have Majority
On All.

Especial to The West Yirginian.,
WHEELING, May 4-When during
his Keynote speech in the Republi.
can state convention which convened
here this morning, Hon. Nv. p. Wells,
the temporary chairman. contrasted
present harmony. accord and conf
dence among the rank and Ole of West
Virginia Republicans with the doubt
and dlscord OF the convention which
was held at Huntington bur years
ago the yell that went up from the
throats of the more than three thous-
and delegates and loyal Republicans
who were present almost lifted the
roof. The speech OF the temporary
presiding officer hit the popular chord
In many ways and It was interrupted
many times by cheers and applause,
The convention was called to order
Iat the time set by the Republican
state executive committee which last
night decided to set forward the open
ing hour from I o'clock to 1880. State
chairman T. j. Sherrard called the
body to order and the usual prelimi-
naries including a prayer by the Rev.
Mr.. Terry and the taking of o photot.
graph were gone through with. Many
state and district candidates who were
in the city were accorded seats OF hon
or on the stage and as these gentle
men appeared they were crested With
applause which yaried III volume ac-
cording to the popularity and promi-
nence OF the men. There were wild
cheers for Judge Robinson and Gen.
eral Lilly was also warmly greeted.
( After the cheering which followed
the. conclusion of chairman Wells
speech had subsidized a resolution was
Offered and adopted that the commit
tees to take care Of the conventions
work should consist Of one member
from each Of the fifteen senatorial dis
tricts in the state. The convention
went into recess for five minutes
while delegates from the distriula
went Into caucas to select the com.
mitteemen and then the selections
were announced from the floor.
The formation OF the Committees is
regarded as a vital test OF the relative
strength Of the Robinson and LILLY
forces and as the convention adjourn.
ed for lunch there was a feeling that
the friends OF Judge Robinson had
large majority on each of the commit.
tees. The convention will reconveno
at 2:30 and will proceed Immediately
to the business Of selecting the four
delgates at large to the Chicago con.
yention.
One Of the outstanding features Of
the convention, which has brought to
this city Republicans from all over
the state, is the strength! that n shown
for the candidacy! Of William ,. Hite,
an aspirant for the! senatorial norinn-
ton. Itwas all ibut ttconceded az early
as last night that Judge Robinson
would win in any trust that might be
brought about today. l'|
During the morning the State Re-
publican COMMITTEES. passed Ion contest.
ed delegations, recommending tho
seatingo OF the delegation from Kama
wha headed by Samuel B. Avis. There
were A delegates involved In this
contest. -
In the contest from iWetzsiI and Put
nam counties the seating Of delegates
certified by the chairman and seere.
tary Of the County Committee was rec
commended.
In his "keynote" speech Chairman
w. e. Wells said:
This opportunity! that has been grac.
iously given me by the state commit
tee to preside for a. while over state
convention of West Virginia Republi-
cans; tho opportunity 70 make some
brief mention OF the tmomentouH is.
sues for which Republicans viii fight
In the coming national campaign. I
acceptNwith a keen appreciation Of the
responsibilities imposed and OF the
honor conferred.
West Virginia conventions OF oui
splendid party as always notable for
intense earnestness and enthusiasm.
They are marked by fine exhibition
Of party spirit, that working In hnr-
nonyt sweeps everything before It,
1T requires only a glance over this
body of men, or Just little ininslinE