The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-05

oelegateS-atlarge 10 the national Re
publican convention TO be held at Chi
| cago in June.
Temporary Organization.
Chairman Sherrard then announced
the temporary organization. as fol-
lows:
Temporary Chairman-w. Z. Wells.
Hancock county.
Temporary Secretary-Capt- L L.
Hood. of Mineral
Assistant secretary-c. c. Wright.
| OF Marshall.
Reading Clerk-Phi Waters. OF
kanawha.
Sergesnt-at-arms-D George W.
! Otto. Ohio.
I Assistant sergeants-at-arms- Frank
/ Tyree. Cabell: X. W. Buskirk. Mingo;
Carl Bachman. Ohio; NJ. NJ. Mcintyre,
! Wetzel. Arthur J. Thompson. Harri-
son.
Mr.. Wells Speaks.
Chairman Sherrard then gave way
! to Mr.. Wells. who accepted the chair
with an able address. in which he en-
Enthusiastically predicted Republican
| success. Mr.. Wells was frequently in
| terrupted by hearty applause. and his
! speech made a decided hit He spoke
4 in part as follows:
| This opportunity that has been graci-
ously given me by the state committee
I 10 preside for while over a state con-
vention OF West Virginia Republicans.
/ the opportunity to make some brief
4 mention OF the momentous issues for
I which Republicans will nght in the
4 coming national campaign. accept with
keen appreciation OF the responsible
tiles imposed. and OF the honor con-
ferred-
West Virginia conventions of our
splendid party are always notable for
intense earnestness and enthusiasm.
1 They are marked by nne exhibition OF
party spirit. that working In harmony
| sweeps everything before ~.
IL requires only . glance over this
4 or n IN 1tfaa~
with them in the Hobbies OF the hotels
\ to demonstrate that this convention is
20 be no exception to the West Virginia
! In striking contrast to the present
| harmony on national issues. our party.
I four years ago at the Huntington con-
vention. was divided by its allegiance
4 10 opposing party leaders. On account
\ OF that division. our state was lost on
national issues, and that same division.
nationwide. lost US the country. But
\ happily. that old wound Is healed. and.
, and who was wrong. we are here today
| with q single purpose to start an ire
sistibie movement to recover all that
The Ratchet is buried, let us hope
| beyond the peradventure OF resurrection
! and this convention should celebrate our
/ first grand reunion. That old break in
4 the ranks may have taught some les
sons that are good for the political souls
\ cost OF Calamity"
| Intense interest Is being manifested
hut we must not forget that the ofri.
cial duty OF this convention Is to select
four men to represent the state OF West
] Virginia as delegates-at-large at the
| national convention. which will assem-
, BILE at Chicago on June Z. to nominate
Republican candidate for president OF
choose men who will have a voice, and
just possibly a controlling voice. in
naming the man who must win in No
our responsibility here in acting for
the great little state Of West Virginia
| is in exact ratio to the gravity OF the
! issues that will confront the new ad-
ministration. and IL is well that we
into the future to see what those issues
will be and act accordingly. The war
viii surely end during the term OF our
next President. The REIMBURSEMENT OF
International affairs will create an
emergency with which the new admin
istration must deal; an emergency more
acute than any other that has con-
fronted our country I'm your time or
in mine. There are but few men big
enough. strong enough. and wise enough
TO manage that Job, and i am loyal
enough TO believe that those few are
There Will follow this old world
struggle Of arms another struggle.
diplomacy. OF statesmanship. and the
stake viii be the worlds commerce. and
United States. Every nation OF tn.
globe down 10 the smallest unit will
be involved. The welfare and pros
TO come will depend upon how well IL
Is prepared. They will hinge upon the
courage with which IL faces, the wisdom
with which It deals with that cmer-
gency.
Are we prepared to-day Could we
survive such a struggle with no better
defense than the Underwood Bill. with
no better business generals than Wood
row Wilson, VIM. c. Redfield and Jose
Why. the only thing that saved the
face OF Mr.. Wilson's admit Illustration was
as the spring OF 1914. Democratic poll
! cies enacted into law had begun to sap
away the life blood OF American busi-
| ness and American prosperity. We were
headed straight for one more period Of
distressing low tariff prostration. Every
thing was perfectly staged for another
performance OF the tragedy OF 1894.
Then the war broke out. The worlds
| commerce was disrupted Eventually
importations OF foreign goods into the
| United States almost ceased. partly a.
the result OF blockades Of the seas and
partly because OF the tremendous war
icost OF producing goods IN Europe. We
have been compelled 90 fall back upon
our own resources 10 supply all the iegi-
[ innate wants OF life. and / think we
have shown our Democratic friends Just
how well we can take care Of ourselves
when we have the chance.
| only wish had the time 20 tell you
something Of the amazing things that
establishing new Industries. In the pro-
duction OF raw materials and finished
products that we have always been told
we must buy from Europe or do with
out Yet what has been done f. only
a suggestion OF what might be done m
THAT direction.
II IS not too much TO say 81 has been
demonstrated that our country f. 50 self
contained. 30 self sufficient. that we
could prosper amazingly and Indefinitely
II We were never permitted 20 spend a
dollar beyond our borders.
/ The holding Of our own markets plus
sales 81 great magnitude 90 Europe have
created national prosperity. and have
headed off the Democratic program OF
staFnation and distress. The astounding
I feature Of the situation ia that tho
spokcsmen Of the administration are
claiming credit Tor this prosperity a. "a
viudicatiou Of Democratic policies They
might with the same propricty. claim
credit for the sunshine and the rains
that made the big crops last year. The
only logical deduction from thcir claims
e. that the Democrats started tho war
| But the basic truth iq that the war be-
lopcrnftnE a. an accidental. artificial
tariff and iq demonstrating every dav
the Houndness ~ Republican tariff doc
Ifrinr
We are but enjoying to-day. through
Europc'a calamity. what we might al
ways enjoy under normal conditions DO
our country would permit tho Republic
can party 90 make a. tariff law and then
Lee al.