Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-09
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.

Democratic United States Senators from
West Virginia were elected by the Re
publicans. As the Republican MEM
bers OF the Legislature numbered less
than one-fourth OF the whole body; and
as each Of the Senators received more
Democratic votes than enough to elect
him, not accounting any Republican votes,
an explanation seems to be in order.
And this the H,dSp,ndeni attempts to
furnish: .... ..... /
"The Democrats in caucus had failed
10 make nominations. Possibly tins
had been prevented, for the time, with
an Interior motive, and commenced
balloting in joint session with no under
standing, no arrangement to scatter
their votes and prevent an
election until nominations had been
made. Why matter so important had
been neglected, 80 astute politician
as Mr.. Baker can possibly explain.
During the balloting, as soon as 1t APP
peared that Messrs. Hereford and Davis
had enough Democratic votes 10 insure
by the aid OF solid Republican vote
their election, the Republicans began to
change To these gentlemen, their choice,
and then the Democrats who had OPP
posed these gentlemen, finding that
they hal been Outwitted and that the
game had been taken from their hands,
made virtue OF necessity and changed
their votes also to the candidates whose
election had already been assured by
Republican support"
But, had the Democrats desired to de-
feat the election OF Senators DAVIS and
HEREFORD, they could also have changed
their votes from these gentlemen as rap
IDLY as the Republicans did 10 them, and
that would have defeated an election.
Instead Of that, the Democratic MEM
bers who had voted for other candidates
began to change their votes in favor OF
these gentlemen with quite as much
haste and apparent zest rs the Republic
cans, and an hour oil the happiest good
feeling prevailed throughout the l.egis-
lative Halls-everybody seeming graft
fed that the deadlock had been broken,
that the foolish waste OF time was at an
end, and that the Legitimate work OF
making and amending laws might now
be entered upon in good earnest.
The Senators who thus received al
most the unanimous vote OF the repre-
sentatives of both parties in the Legis-
lature, have, while zealously guarding
the interests OF the people of the entire
State, never failed in their allegiance to
Democratic principles. Who Will say
that either of the distinguished
gentlemen who were competing for the
places would have filled the seats in the
Senate with more ability or with deep
err devotion to the interests OF the whole
people Of the State or more answering
fidelity to the principles OF the Demo-
cratic party.
The Independent speaks of an Interior
motive which defeated a nomination in
caucus. 1t may be there were two ulte-
nor motives; one, shared in by a few,
that some advantage might be gained by
their side by delay, in the Capital con-
troyersy; another, shared in by many
more, that their respective clark
horses" which they were diligently
grooming in the Senatorial stable, might
be struck by lightning, il the quarrel
could he kept up. The disappointment
of the hopes of the latter gentlemen has
never grieved us. We take no stock in
clark horses" in politics. Let him who
is a candidate frankly declare himself,
that his fitness may be
fully canvassed and his merits under
stood. Combinations and intrigues in
National conventions to prevent the
nomination of leading statesmen, that
some nobody may come in and carry
of the prize, usually result in detrimcnt
to the country at large; and like intri-
CUES in Senatorial caucusses and pOliti-
cal conventions generally have a like
result. These are generally the resort
of weak and unscrupulous men; men
who could not stand forth in the broad
light Of day and win on their merits,
1t is one of the duties OF a legislature
to elect United States Senators, hut it
has many other and important duties to
perform. 1t is not right for West Vir-
GINA Legislature which constitutionally
meets but once in two years and whose
sessions are limited TO six weeks in
length, should spend one-half or two
thirds OF this time in quarreling over
SenatOrship; and We hope hereafter
that, whichever party NAV be in the
majority, it will be compelled to per-
form its duty promptly and without un-
seemly squabbling.