The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-10-09
The Youth Hesitates and Falters
---He Lacks the Element
of Sand.
Surpasses the Unsuccessful
Coup de Etat Of JEFF.
Davis.
And Is Left on the Field Un-
hOnOred and Unsung.
Jackson Sure for $50 Majori-
ty for Mathews.
RAvENswooD, w. VA, Oct. Z.

Special to the Register.
For more than week it had been
noised abroad throughout this part OF the
country that the Democrats and Repub-
licans OF jackson county would hold a
Joint meeting here to-day, ut which
General Gof, the Republican candidate
for Governor, and Mr.. Henry S. Walker,
of Kanawhs county, would discuss the
political issues. The effect was to excite
q great deal Of. interest in the occasion,
and to draw together here to-day by far
the largest political meeting ever wit
messed in this county. 1t was understood
that full arrangements had been made
between
The Democratic and Republican
Executive COmmi tees,
and than an equal division of the time
had been agreed upon. Each party had
hired music for the occasion, the Demo-
Gratis securing the services of the Ravens
wood band and the Republicans hiring
the Portland "windjammers." The Til
den club had decided to raise pole, and
so had the friends of Hayes. The DEM
ocrstlc ladies of Rsvenswood furnished
splendid flag to the Democracy; the
Hayes men also procured fine piece of
bunting So far the honors were easy.
The people began pouring into town
early in the morning, some on foot, some
on horseback, some in wagons and others
in boats, until the sprightly town seemed
filled to its capacity. AS the day ad-
vanced it was apprehended that warm
times, with
Brickbats and Fisticuns
as the principal features might be had
but admirable police arrangements of the
town authorities prevented so unfortu-
nate result and all passed of without
serious unpleasantness. The forenoon
was occupied by both parties in arrang.
ing to raise their poles and flags at one
o'clock. All thinks being in readiness one
hundred young Democrats OF jackson,
mounted on horseback and preceded by
band OF music, rode to the
river bank, where the Tilden pole was
lying, dismounted, took hold Of the
tackle, and in ten minutes the pole, one
hundred and sixty feet IN height, was
raised and in its place. The flag was
hoisted amid cheers from the throsts of
thousand Democrats, and then the work
of the day was in order
General Gof arrived on the Chesa-
peake an hour later, and was promptly
waited upon by the Democratic Executive
Committee, who invited him TO the
platform they had prepared on the
elegant grounds of Mrs. Fitzhugh.
The General FaIiered,
hesitsted, reflected, and was silent for
some minutes, and then, for the first
time. it was known that this boasted
champion OF the West Virginia Repubi-
cans was lacking in the element OF sand.
He finally said he must leave the matter
in the hands of the local Republican COM
mittee. That committee, after consider
able parley, stated that it had been
deemed best by them to have the speak
ing on the grounds of Mr.. Scott Proctor,
and that his wife was unwilling that any
Joint discussion should be had. Shade OF
the mighty Davis! Since the immortal
Jeff.'s performance, did any mortal ever
witness SO ludicrous an effort TO make
woman 8 petticoats the scene OF skulker!
Mr.. Walker
then adopted the novel expedi-
ent of employing reporters TO
take notes of Gen. COTS speech, and
answer It as it was delivered, and this
be did. The procession, which escorted
Mr.. Walker,,to the Democratic platform,
passed near The spot where Gen Gotf
was speaking. As it did so the General
paused, and remarked that he hoped NO
Republican deserters would follow that
crowd. No doubt, TO his utter surprise,
two thirds of his sudiepce fell in behind
the Democratic procession, leaving him
to talk to small, spiritIess, unattentive
audience, not one-half of whom were
voters. He had opened by trying TO
mitigate the manifest blunder Of his
committee in referring joint discussion,
saying he was ready to meet his oppo-
nent, Gen Matthews, but candidate tor
the Office of Governor should discuss with
no one else. Mr.. Walker referred 10 this
in his opening, and said, while do Rot
admit the right Of q candidate to avoid 8
candidates responsibility by pleading
that be is candidate, I am sure that l
staDd on an equal footing with General
Goff for although b / am
Not a GubernatorfaI Nominee.
l have Just about as fair q prospect
of being made governor as be has.
Mr.. Walker then took up seriatin the
points Of Gen. COTS speech and replied
IN them in q manner that kept his