Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-10
~Hoopoos,,-oR THE NEW FAC


ton, its "orthography, etymolOgy, syn
tax or prosody." But there is flavor
OF mystery in its construction, and 1t is,
therefore, appropriately chosen. We
don't think it quite SO euphOnious as
"HoOdlooms, OF California origin, and
of which the Third District "HoodoOs'
may be modified expectation, but IL
the only difference is in the name, we
are rather inclined TO "HoodoOs' as less
outlandish.
The more important and curious in
quiry, however, is, who and what kind
OF an organization is gathered together
under this name? Is the name "Hoo
docs" destined to become historical IN
our State politics? The Herald com
plains that those persons who have been
interviewed by the REGISTER on the
subject OF State politics, don't seem to
be conscious of the existence OF such an
organization. The editor of the Herald
has scanned those interviews hastily, or
he would have discovered that several
gentlemen gave information regarding
these secret organizations in the Third
District
In the published interview with HEN
RY ;. WALKER, Esq, although he did
not speak specially or particularly OF
these organizations, we regarded that as
the most significant part OF his interview
in which he asserted that the so-called
National or Greenback organization in
this State. did not hope TO succeed by
virtue of their peculiar financial theO-
ries. or that these would DE prominent
planks in their platform. He gave us to
understand that there were other issues
upon which they hoped TO unite the
laboring-men, the young men, the fresh
men, and the men who had no odor Of
office upon their garments, as against
the protessed politicians, the office hold
ers and machine men generally.
We do not profess TO have acquired
any very definite or special information
in regard TO this organization. We have
not been seeking it, and as those who
have spoken through the REGISTER OF
State politics DO not appear to regard it
with much interest, this may account for
the absence Of any extended reference to
il. But as the HeruH seems to look upon
the matter rs constituting the principal
factor in the politics OF the State, we APP
pend what it has to say about it:
"The Wheeling REGISTER has been
having its correspondents in different
parts Of the State interview the leading
men on the political situation, princi-
pallv in reference 10 this State. The
paper displays 4 good deal OF enterprise
I'M the matter, and the articles in ques-
ton are we'll written and interesting, so
lar rs we have read them. But the most
OF the men interviewed appear 10 be
OF the fUSsiliierOuS type, of which we
have 50 large ami Sd weighty Il supply
III Llll~ NltAN. AAANh tAlf NAAltA'tN ~ '''
what is Immediately under their nose;
only those things which lie NJ a distance
come under the range OF their vision,
and as rule the only mental faculty
they possess is memory.
This class Is, OF course, largely repre-
sented i'm the REGIsTER's interviews,
but neither they nor the more intelli-
gent gentlemen also represented seem
TO be aware of the existence OF what
may become an important factor IN
our State politics. We have seen no
reference % this factor made in any OF
our newspapers, except somewhat vague
illusions 10 il in the Charleston Jour
mails. But. whatever 10 may amount To,
nearly all OF this section Is cOmpdctly
by one or more secret sOcle-
ties. But little Is said or known
OF this organization outside of Its
members, and il may be confined 10
this locality, though we believe
that il extends. or Is being extend
Ell, over the entire state. rs We under
stand IL, il Is not a regular political or
ganiZatiOn. and it may, possibly, have
no bearing on politics, but we think II
will be- found % be powerful political
machine. IL Is an organization OF work
ingmen, and may have some connection
with the National Labor GrcenbaCk par
", though we Ito not think it has. 1t
appears to be opposed 10 the politicians
a. a class, and in autagOniSm To both the
old parties, and possibly in sympathy
with the Greeuback party.
There seems 10 be more than one or
ganlzatiOn at work, though of a similar
character. We do not know the proper
names Of these, but whether Working
mems Association, Knights OF Labor, or
what not, they are regular lodges of
only, apparently, and are
known in slang phrase IN this locality as
" HOOdOoS There are several lodges
i'm this county, and they are increasing
i'm numbers. ROane, Putnam, Mason
and kauawha are Thoroughly organized,
and we hear Oiit occasionally from many
other parts of the state. The different
10 lgeS have agents out organizing new
lodges and spreading the organization IN
new localities. Thus it is constantly
growing.
Whatever may be the original idea
and scope OF the principles o, this organ
izatiOn, and while it may not be OF a po-
litical character in intent, We are salts
tici thar no candidate of either OF the
oh parties will get much AID from the
members of this organization-that is,
considering the candidate Is the repre-
sentative ola political party. Neither
will any Greeuback candidate have
sure thing ON this vote. They appear
10 be opposed TO the ordinary forms OF
parties. and don't like conventions.
They claim % be- opposed 10 putting
professional men lawyers especially, in
office, and are particularly bitter against
politicians. Vet what there were OF
them last fall voted, almost to a man,
fora professional politician like Henry
y Walker, and a lawyer like Judge
Brown. But they seem determined 10
have Il change somehow, and though
they may not know exactly how To bet
ter things, they know very well that
they are not satisfied with the present
condition of affairs i'm the state and the
various county governments, and they
hold that class of men who have hereto
& IL .lY,..r,-fl.In ff,.l