Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-01-13
HON. G. J. FAULKNER INTER
VIEWED.

Hon. O. j. Faulkner has been recently
interviewed by Wheeling Register report.
er. After receiving expressions upon ma,
tlonai politics, the reporter asked
Now, Mr.. Faulkner, tell us what you
think of the Democracy of West Virginia.
am very coufidant that the eight coun-
ties east of the Allegheny Mountains will
give their old Democratic majority of 2. 500.
L think the majorities in the Democratic
counties west Of tie Alleghanies, in the Sec,
ond District, will be maintained. You are
as we'll acquainted with the condition of af.z
fairs in the First District as am. I see no
reason to doubt that it will give its usual
msjority of 1900 The condition of tn
Third District is somewhat of puzzle.
can't exactly comprehend the state of affai rs
there. It's overwhelming Democratic ascen>
dency, as is not unnatural in such cases
is dissolving from its own overgrown weight
and from the want of any sufficient Republi.
can opposition. Tho consequence is, that i,
has given birth to all sorts of personal. local
and political factions. The Knights of La.
Dor, composed originally of the operatives in
the mines and upon the public improve.
ments, and numbering some four or five
thousand persons, have been seized upon as
nucleus, upon which personal and political
All
this, with their sacred, oath bound lodges
and brotherhoods, make the condition of
things in that district somewhat uncertain
Still L have an unshrinking confidence that
when the issues of 1880 are fairly placed
before the people of that District and they
are compelled to choose between Demo-
cratic and Republican candidate for the
Presidency, as they will be, they will return
to the bosom of their old party, the only one
in which the rights of labor and the rights
OF the great masses Of society find a certain
protection.
What is the state Of things in your Con-
gressional district as to candidates?
There has been, SO far, very little asita-
ton OF the subject. The three gentlemen
most currently named arc Judge uoge, Mr..
Martin and Mr.. Lucas. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Martin desires third term and the
other two would not be averse to trial of
first. Public opinion has so little devel-
oped itself that cannot say in whose favor
the current runs. My own pane has been
mentioned in connection with the place, but
as L retired voluntarily from the House of
Representatives., and have reached that pe
100 Of my life that | cannot solicit or strug
gle for nominations for any positions, it is
not likely that my namo will be before the
Convention.
Some doubt is entertained by your friends
as to your wishes and position in reference to
the Gubernatorial nomination. Have you
any hesitation in expressing frankly what
your position is?
None in the world. l have no secrets
no concenlment in public affairs. I have
been annoyed by the misrcpr' sen tation of
several papers in this State and out of it.
which have spoken of me IS anxiously and
eagerly canvassing for the nomina alton. Now,
every person that knows anything about me
at all knows that to be false. There is not
expressed wish to be elected Governor of
the State Tho utmost that have ever said
upon the subject, and that only in reply to
direct interrogatories propoundcd to me, has
been that if tho people of my native State
not few editors or politicians, but the
peoplc-believe that can render them any
service in the executive department. of their
government, [ would not feel myself at lib.
erty to decline it, whilst would personally
greatly prefer that they would confer that
distinction upon some other person I could
name dozen men in the State that wonld
most cheeriully vote for in preference to my>
self. My acceptance of such a nomination
would be solely based upon the duty which
every man owes to the community in which
he lives to conform to their demand for SER
vice, IN peace or war, when such demand is
made upon him. | do not seek the position
Il would most gladly avoid it shall not
shrink from 1t. it 1t is imposed upon me BY
full aud fair expression Of the voice of the
people.