The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-10-10
THE MAN WHO BEAT HALE.
Thompson H. Murch, Gresnbacker---
The Story of His Campaign.
What Sort OF n Person He Is, and What
Ideas He Holds

b
the main entrance Of the-Sew York Post
office was cut from the rock by q stone
cutter, who will be sworn in as the sue
cessor Of Eugene Hale in the next Con
gress. His name is ThompsonH H. Murch
It is the work Of an experienced workman
TO cut an eagle from the granite thai
abounds in the Maine islands; but Il
Mr.. Murch, as he admits, it would have
seemed easier a year ago for q green hanc
to take up the hammer and steel and fash
ion that bird than for any n of those
stone cutters to defeat Eugene Hale. Yet
Mr. Murch did defeat him by a pluralit!
of !, O42-he received the official figure:
last night Two years ago Mr.. Hale's ma
jority was more than 5000.
now MuRcH MAD HIS CANVASS.
Last fall Mr. Murch began quietly .
thorough canvass Of the district. His po,
sition as editor of the Son<eraters' Journal
gave him an opportunity to watch the 10
cal newspapers, and he took every oppor'
tunity Of learning just what the feelings Of
the people in the district were. The vol
of discomfort developed surprised
him. Republicans were chatting underline
imperious rule ofHale and Blaine, although
they did not dare say so openly, and were
disguised with the policy Of the admins
tration. But they regarded the Democratic
party as fully rs bad, and there seemed no
way in which q protest would avail But
inst here comes the true inwardness" oil
the greenback movement, not only IN
Hales district but throughout the State;
and the manner in which Mr.. Murch unl'
lied it is briefly told.
Seeing that there was great dissatistac'
ton, aud that the people were ready tor
ANYTHING that promised relief and the rout
OF The B[aine-Hale ring. Mr.. Murch deter,
mined TO put out q feeler early last Febru-
ary. He arranged for q greenhack meet
ing in Rockland, and paid Scion Chase,s
and the hall and printing bills
from his own pocket Nh. Chase had a
great audience. The people did not have
yery definite notions about this greenback
question, but they we've ready for any
thing that promised 4 change. Mr.. Murch
saw this disposition, and began an orgaui-
zation. The work was done IN his ONCE,
in the village stores, or the street corners,
and wherever opportunity offered. The
organization spread ike %ildfre. The
hundreds Of voters who described all this
TO the writer say that at first they had no
clear notions upon the financial question,
but went into the movement because OF its
promise a becoming formidable enough
TO upset both the old parties.
In the spring Mr.. Murch determined TO
the strength Of the movement, and
men can't boldly out OF both parties with
him and ran q greenback ticket for the
local election. They polled $50 votes in
that little town after only two months Or
but they were enough to de
feat the election Of the Republican Sandl-
date for mayor. Encouraged By, tins, u
club-room was hired, and the work OF or,
eanixation went on. Then twas decided
by the e party men, both in Rockland
and in other places in the district TO or
eanire for the Congressional contest, al
though they had no hope OF present c
cess. They we're looking forward TO lsS0.
Murch, rs he frankly admits he
thought he would be, was put forward by
the new party men in his district asA can
d;date for the nomination for Congress. SO
enthusiastic we're his friends that they
chartered 4 little boat, using all the none!
they could spare, and started, many Of
without their breakfasts, for Belfast,
where the convention was to be held; A
kettle of clam-chowder made in the boat
was their only food; but they were TOO
enthusiastic to feel hungry then.
Mr.. Murch vas nominated, anu ne
made the first speech OF his LIE IN accept
ING. In that speech be told the convention
thst he knew that much money had been
snent in that district for Congressional
Elections. He did not intend TO follow
that example, for he had no money to
speni for such purposes. This expression
IA distorted By . local journal into the
remark. which went throughout h coun.
that he didn't own q cents worth oil
nroperty. and was glad OF n Atthat time
raither he mo- his friends had any hope
niS election, All that they expected to
do was to make n formidable Organization
and a winning one for the next freslden-
tial election. u
miles OF s~eaeoast, and in the interior lew
railroads. There are no large cities It. and
few large towns. NJ. Murch determined
to visit every town in this district, pro-
vide speakers, and send to every voter
documents. The new party wa poor, and
Contributions were very small. Mr.. Murch
hal 1900. and he determined to spend it
al Il necessary. He paid the expenses OF
sneakers, OF hall hire, and now and then oil
aband. He bought campaign literature
and he spoke day and night After q
meeting he often harneSsed his horse and
droye twenty or thirty miles on those Wild
Maine roads in the darkness to the nearest
town, He vas nominated in June; oy the
latter part Of July he began to see thati
new movement was spreading 80 rapidly
that there might he q chance, after al, OF
his election, and he redoubled bis efforts.
The charges that had been made against
him AZ communist he met on the platform
and in private. He went into Hale's home
town OF Ellsworth and had . PACKED
han to hear him. His speakers were
everywhere. Many Of them were young
mechanics, who asked only that their ex,
pcnses might be paid. Reports came thai
whole towns, especiallyfu Waldo county
were going over to the new party. Inc
snaes were struck. 1t was learned tha'
tbe s~tone-cutters were given to under
stHnd that they were expected TO vote FOL
Hall. and Hale's Democratic friends had
nominated d candidate for Congress Win
The expressed view Of drawing from The
new PARTY enough Votss 70 make Hale
ssfe. When It vas 9 that HIS plar
X1nDld fail, there was q movement 70 Flut
J1aw his Democrat candidate. and to pu'
Haas name quietly on the State ticket
Wnrch heard oilt. He had learned tina
seyeral influential Democrats AID RePIo
TcSns we're with him, although spehuIly
and he never betrayed thsir confidence
Through their influence he managed =
have Ne Democrat candidate kept in tn
seId. and when this was anslly aceou
piished. the Thursday before the election
Nr. Murch was satisfied that he had Hal
beaten, But he knew that they vo9l!
stop Al no trick 70 overcome him, and
- necessarT TO eircumvent some OF thel