The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-02-01
THE WEST VIRGINIA ENATORIAL
CONTEST.
The Dead Lock I'm the Senatorship-
Twenty-One Ballots Taken-Skctch
OF Candidates-A Bill for Removing
the state Capital, &c.

The Dead Lock I'm the Scnatorship-
Twenty-one Ballots Taken-Skctch
OF Candidates-A Bill for Removing
the state Capital, &c.
Correspondence of the Baltimore sun.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Jan. -.
Last night the Democratic caucus ad-
jOurned upon the twenty-second ballot
without Il choice The facts are briefly
these All Of the Legislature except
sixteen are Democrats, there being four
Republicans in the Senate and an even
dozen in the House of Delegates 1t is
more intensely Democratic than the last
General Assembly. J. n. Camden and
Ii. ). Walker have led SO far in every
ballot but one, and upon it there was Il
good deal of tlibustering, which gave
Samuel Price vote of u, but ho fell
away to 10 on the following ballot. All
the candidates have been working hard
for year or more to slip into Foreman 5
shoes, whose term expires 4th March
next. | will give Il brief review Of the
candidates. H. ). Walker is conceded on
all sides to be the best politician, the
most silvery-tongued orator, and yields
most trenchant pen. He has been
editing the Democratic paper AT Charles
ton.
Last summer ne "stumped' the State
from the AllcghanieS 10 the Ohio, and
: many OF the legislators owe their seats to
his and OF course they feel grateful and
about twenty of them will vote for him
until the crack of doom unless he with
.,.,,r..,.l wv. to
one. ~ ha, Camdcns, his strongest OPP
. poucnt. j. y. Camden was twice de-
feated for Governor, and has borne the
battIe-hag of the Democracy in times of
doubt and disaster, Us well rs in the hey
day of Democracy, and was only beaten
in 1872, by coalition OF Disconnected
Democrats with all the Republicans, who
had no candidate in the field. The party
remembers his valor, his services and dis
appointments, and many think the
laborcr is worthy of his hire His friends,
too. stick to him loyalty and
ubStinately. Samuel Prices average
vote in a caucus is about nine.
He was Lieutenant Governor of Nir.
ginis Mt one time, president Of the con-
stitutional convention held here in 1872;
is y strict Presbyterian, and has the sup
port of all independents, and will re-
ceve some Republican votes. OF course
the Republicans have not even "baancc
of power in this matter, and the ques-
ton will be settled only in a caucus.
Then comes Judge John Brannon, who
is one of the best heads in the State, and
has MI unblemished character, and not a
personal enemy in the world. His aver
nge vote is 10. Next is Allen T. Capcr-
. ton. who was in the Confederate Senate,
and none wore brighter record than he,
He combines dignity craftsmanship, and
: ability rs lawyer. Finally, comes with
a graceful bow, hat in hand, Hon.
, Chas. j. Faulkner, recently elected
, TO the torty-fourth Congress
from Murtinsburg. The cavalier man
ncrs and courteous graccs he learned in
dazzling Paris, when minister to st.
Cloud, have lost none of their Iuster or
: charm. He is not 81 much Il candidate
, for Boreman's slippers rs those of Davis,
who had better watch this courtIy "man-
age" His vote is merely complimentary,
and he desires no more at present and Il
/, well he does not. These are they who
are most prominent in seeking the sena-
torial toga. But, Judging from the score
of ballots already taken. 1t Is Impossible
to divine this sphynX-likc riddle. So
long as Walker and Camden remain con-
testing, 1t may only result in each, Samp-
Son-hkc, pulling the other down in Il
general ruin of their fortunes this time.
There Is no yield in any Of their
friends. All the best politicians of the
State are here and none can unravcl the
: threads of this Senatorial puzzle. The
gordian knot may, however, be cut bv
"a new departure, and by taking up
, some new man not heretofore prominent
Suspicion points to H. W. Matthews a
the lucky man. He i Attorney General
: of the State, is talented Il fine speaker,
and with more than average ability.
Should Camden see his chances clean
gone. he wants the Senator to hc taken
from this Cthe Third district, 50 that
when Davis'S reelection comes up, Tn"
field in his lCamdens) own district will
be clear. He, therefore, may withdraw
! in favor of Matthews, whose chances, IN
that case would be frightening to all
other aSplrantS.
The Legislature met in joint assembly
today and cast one ballot, AS required Top
the law of 1866. No choice was made.
The candidates received the same vote rs
in caucus, the sixteen Republicans giving
complimentary votes only. SO the mat
ter stands. and will stand for month,
unless some new departure is taken. On"
of the embarrassing elements III tins dis
cord j. the introduction Of bill To- re-
move the seat of government To Wheel
ing. Walker Is from here. and Camden
favors removal to his own town, ParkcrS-
burg. or to Wheeling. Price, Matthews.
and Caperton are from this district also,
while all the other candidates are from
the first and second districts, and favor
removal. The caucus may ballot for Il
month. and vet tomorrow night some
combination may result in a choice, but
it is beyond prophetic ken to divine what
il NAV be. This is an ugly, harrassing
FIGHT, and he who wins will not have had
the honor thrust upon him.
AJAN.