Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-19

Y.
has been some criticism of the adminis-
tratiOn OF the office OF State Superin-
tendent of Schools, but it seems, to have
had no Just foundation, and the cin-'
dorsement plan" will in all probability
be followed in each case to the general
satisfaction of the indorsed.
SENATORIAL sTRiFE. nj
There is a lively canvass being made.
quietly, but Systematically and careful
ly, for Senator Hereford's place, which |
is TO be filed by the next Legislature.
The incumbent, while possessing lair
ability and undopbted industry Is
thought to owe his success as much to
afortunate combination of circumstances |
as his own merits. He came back from |
California and settled in the lower end |
of this State about the time the war |
ended, and, being about the only law
yer of Democratic procliyities in that |
section who was then permitted to |
practice his profession, he become a
spokesman, not only for himself,
but tor all the disfranchised and
debarred brethren that the ex-
isting Registration Laws kept out. !
When the ground swell came, and |
the Democratic majority got chance TO
be heard, it lifted Hereford to Congress,
and the vacancy in the Senate above re
ferred to, caused by Hon A. I. Caper-
tons death, coming on to be filled by
the Legislature at the same time thBt
Senator Davis term expired, the latter
seized Herford, whose geographical loca-
ton and following made him the most
available ally IN reach, and the two went |
through as easilyhs you have sometimes |
seen a pair of penaroyal buds with their
tails wired together go through a rotten
panel of worm fence. 1t is doubtful
whether any State in the Union has now
weaker Senatorial representation than
West Virginia, though To their credit 1t
may be said that both her Senators try to !
make up in industry whatever they may |
lack in other respects. Possibly active |
mediOcrity is better than passive proiun-
dity, and Senator who can shin around !
the departments and get places for his |
friends is better than Websterian rep !
resentatiye who can only rise TO the |
height OF great occasion and ordinarily |
leaves his Office-seeking constituents TO |
shift for themselves; but however the |
State may feel on this subject, there are |
a good many aspirants who entertain
strong convictions as to the untitness OF |
the present incumbents, and, transpos-
ing Brother Beecher's remark, say in the I
anguish OF their souls, IL would have |
been better man in his place
For short term place, which, as be-
fore stated, is to be filled by the next |
Legislature, Governor Henry NJ. Math-
ews, the present Chief Executive OF the
State, seems likely to be Heretords |
strongest competitor
THE GEOGRAPHICAL ARGUMENT.
The geographical argument prevails |
strongly in this locality, and the average |
West Virginia politician, II called upon |
TO Guild tabernacles for Moses and Elias, |
would pre- badly inquire first whether
both Of these gentlemen were from the
same district. l do not mean to inti-
mate that any of the material in use or
in prospect resembles the prophets, but |
merely to indicate the feeling here-that |
the senior Senator being from this end |
of the State his colleague must neces-
sarily come from the other. The neces- |
sity OF the rule is not as apparent as Its
general acceptance. Should 1t hold III
this case its effects would beto conhne |
the choice TO the First or Third districts, |
with the chances in favor of the latter. |
There would be no deaath of candidates
in either case. From the Third, besides |
the incumbent, there are mentioned the |
present Governor; Ex-Governor Price, |
who once held the position by the Ex-
ecutive appointment hardly long enough |
10 take the chill off the seat for his sue
cessor; Congressman Kenna, who, by |
reason of his multitudinous promises, |
has earned the title of the most promis-
ing Young man in the kanawha Valley, |
and whom Ben Butler declared a mighty |
good greenbacker at home, but mighty |
poor greenbaeker at Washington; Judge |
Ferguson, who is set down as having |
more brains and less reputation than |
any man in the State; Judge Ward, who |
invented magic relief liniment that,
like Mulberry Sellers eve water, "made |
every man who did not have sore eyes |
have EN-" and several others of lesser
pretentions. Should the geographical |
rule be broken over, il would let in still |
further acccssiOns of talent. Congress |
man Ben Wilson, who is the most ac-
tive, if not the most efficient OF the
present Congressional delegation from
the State, would be backed for the place. |
]. n. Camden, above referred to, would |
be prominent candidate; judge Bran
non, OF Weston, would be pushed by |
his own section, and Judge Jackson, OF |
ParkerSburg, has been recently men
toned.
Coming back to predictions again, it
seems to be the best matured opinion OF
political observers here that Mathews
will get the place. Democrats and Re |
publicans unite in the agreement that |
he has made an excellent Governor, |
and he represents as fairly as any other |
public man the young progressive De-
mocracy of the State. He has an ex-
eellent military as we'll as civil record, |
and the soldiers of the State, without re- |
gard to past differences, would be glad |
to see him further honOred.
THE CONGRESSIONAL OUTLOOK.
In the First district it is pretty clear |
that Congressman Wilson will be his |
own successor, unless he gets something |
better He has strengthened his hold /
in the district very preceptiblv since he |
first took his seat, and, having broken
through the two-term rule which he for |
merly obtained, he is in better position
than ever to ask for his own retention. |
There is enough opposition 10 COM
pass his defeat IL it could be |
united against.him, but TINS far its di- |
visions have rather tended to his !
benefit. Hon. ]. III. Good, of this city, |
Colonel Alex Campbell, of Bethany; |
Gallaher, of Marshal county; Colonel j.
b. Jackson, of ofParkersburg, and several
others would like TO represent the dis
trict, but none of them apparently have !
the ability to concentrate the opposing |
elements.
In the Second district there is bitter !
fight between Judge Hoge, OF Martins
burg, and Col ID. B. Lucas, OF Jefferson,
with chances in favor of the latter.
The Third district will be contested
as to the nomination between kenna,
the incumbent, and Phil Snyder, a
former aspirant, unless the exigencies