New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-24
ME NEW sENATOR FROM WEST virginia.

THE NEW SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
TIE CONTEST CLOSED by ONE OF MIR. CAMDEN,s
MOST ACTIVE OPpONENTs-HIs STRENGTH IN
POLITICS DUE TO HIS wEALTH-A BRIEF SKETCH
OF HIS CAREER.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUNE.l
WHEELING. w. Va, Jan. 20.--JOhnsOn n.
Camden nominated Tor Uuted States senator last
night by the Democratic because the opposition
had not determined purpose to defeat him. He was
nOmna ed the third ballot Dy tue CHANGED vote of MI
CreSaP OF Rand0paOne OF the men WAC had made many
protests aga what they pleased to term bull
DE- zlnG tactics OF the Camden men, AT the critical
moment just before the result Of the third ballot
announced. Mr. Cresap the floor, and said " II has
cOue to question OF and man "a as
good as anohe change my vote J. n. Camden. and
unite this knot" This change raised Mr. Camdens vote
from 80 to 80. the number required for
nomination, and followed by four other
changes, two Of wnlcb went to Mr. Camden.
Mr. Camdens opponents Dr0essed great desire to de-
feat him because OF his with the railway aud
OH corporations, bat they were so distrusu VI each
other that they were ready surrender the FIRST de-
cdcd sign Of his probable Had there been any
real backbone In the opposition TO Mr. Camden lie could
have been defeated On frat ballot he received only
81 votes and the second 81 votes. Ia one or two
respects" Gays The InteH0encer referring 10 Mr. Cam
den lie the least Objectionable Of all the candidates
voted for He has less provncalism, perhIps than
OF them AMI perhaps knows and less about
the traditions VI Virginia Democratic politics tnan any
OF them. But while he has less OF those OLD AID
Objectionable ideas, lie has Some lattertiay
ideas that are not by any desirable iU "A Ma
tOna legislator. He beoI to growing AMI powerful
school Of mOneyed arlStucrcy In politics II IL ms money
that has gwen power aud presli. &c West Virginia
politics and that h.is finally cleo ed the United
States senate He To the Senate not as tribune OF
me people, but personally Interested In Of the
great and gaspng onopoes when the people are try
ing tn I'll IFS rtJrts 10 dggrau LIS s'li sun more
OmnpOtently at their This is tn specially dis
cuur ging OF Mr.. Camirn's success. aud the
chief reason why many persons who would otherwise
have preferred nim cannot re- Olce IN MS triumph"
Mr. Camden represents greater portion or tue cap
t Of Parkrrsburg and 10 supp sed To be the weatnest
citizrn % West Virginia He Is sbOut hIy years Of sge,
and has active IN politics for gears B IL
native the State and resides AT ParkersIurg lie was
educa ed AZ LAWYER, and before the PrOsrcuf-
ing Attorney Nich ns and several other counties.
He mas bcrn twice defeated tne Democratic candidate
the Republicans. aud a1dln 10 1872. when he had a
chaurr success, hui was defeated by Governor
Jacobs by means Of combination Uf The Bourbon ee-
IN n He 'rhaps mure Largely ideD ihe with the
material Development Of the state than other one
man IN Wrst Virginia When OH was hrst discovered III
the State he intercsc in the oil business, aud
Is now president OF the United b fillmore OIl Company
straubOIs aud many -. and g Interested III
mlnN manufacturing enterprises lie IL president
OF the Clirksburg and Western rIOw-Gauge Railroad
and ore the principal Owns oil the Grerubrler Wnte
Snplr Springs. He d candidate Tor United states
senator In 1879 but finally defeated by Allen L.
- to February IL. Mr. Cam len IS described - large
man with u Stuau head, and une who. although his
svmpAthies were with the south, renamed at homo
during war"