Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-10
The Bosses" Republican and Democratic
The independent" ts"-The Late Confer
ence-How the Committees Were
Selected-Probable Nominees.
POLICY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

eron, Boss Quay, Boss Magee, on the part OF
the Republicans; Boss Wallace, Boss Kan
dali, on the part of the Democrats, and
numerous bosses of lesser degree, monipu'
late the affairs political OF this great State
to suit their own sweet wills.
The Independents.
Within the past few years an element,
styling itself Independent, has arisen in
the Republican party. The platform OF
this new party embraced every prin-
ciple that was noble, and great
and grand. A government run by
il was to have in it all the virtues with
none of the vices. The independents
were most vehement in denouncing what
they denominated the Boss System To
overthrow the bosses and disestablish their
method, was their sole aim. 1t will be OBJ
served that use the past tense in speaking
of the independents; for alas! they are
of the past. Last year the gentlemen OF
independence determined to bolt the
regular Republican nominee and put up a
candidate of their own.
Charles =. Wolfe.
a young man of brilliant abilities, and who
had been the leader of the anti-Cameron
crowd for several years, was announced, or
rather he announced himself, for State
Treasurer. Thus there were three tickets
in the field-straight Republican, lnde
pendent Republican and Democratic.
Wolfe's abilities and his unstained Charac-
ter drew to him almost all those who were
dissatisfied with the bosses and he came
out of the struggle with over fifty thous-
and votes, very Creditable showing for
party without organization, and quite a
nucleus for the formation of a new party.
Owing to the unpopularity of the Demo-
cratic candidate, however, the regular he
publican nominee was elected by a small
majority.
Encouraged by Wolfes showing of
strength the rest of the independent leaders
gained hope, and began to make arrange
ment for the formation of party upon
more solid basis. OF course the sole object
of these men, at least their platform OF
principles claimed it, was to break the cor
rupt ring OF the old politicians, and give
us pure government. Offices were moth
ing TO them principles were everything.
The former were considered only as
means of carrying into effect the latter.
Ring.ridden Philadelphia
was tne Cnlel centre vi tuelI OPela'iOiS,
and indeed several municipal elections of
late years, the Independents have carried
the day in that city. The prospects before
| the party, two months ago, was bright, but
it is not so now. The Bosses our Don
| the young Senator's and the rest, became
alarmed, and as the legislature, to be elect
| ed this fall, will elect successor to Sena-
tor Cameron, that gentleman began to
| bestir himself to secure his own return.
oI,n hot "
| the Regular and Independent Republicans
| for the purpose OF ad usting differences
| and restoring harmony in the party.
| Whether this proposition came from the
| former or the latter cannot be told, both
| deny it. At all events there was confer
| enCe and two bodies of men, calling them
| selves committees of the Independent and
| Regular Republican parties met last week
| in Philadelphia. a committee is general
| " understood to be small body appointed
| by larger one TO represent 1t. There is
| no record Of these gentlemen having been
Appointed by any Organization.
They simply took it upon themselves to
| speak in behalf of their fellow citizens.
They were self appointed committees to
represent parties in which they seem to
| think they have sort of ownership. Well
| these committees met, they agreed and
! now all we constituents have to do is TO
| vote the ticket they have decided TO set up,
Be it noticed that the independents
| have all along cried "Bossism,' "Bossism.'
Yet by the very fact of setting themselves
up, without appointment, TO represent
| their party, they pursued exactly the same
! course of action with those they denounced
| as "bOSSes." In COnSenting TO a conference
| they proclaimed that they were willing to
| enter into an arrangement # made satiSfac-
| tory TO them, with these men whom they
| had been telling us were utterly un-
worthy of the confidence of the peo-
pie They claimed TO hold all
| the principles while the bosses held moth
ing but the offices. Holding this view by
| cOnsenting TO conference, they proclaim
| ed that they were willing TO exchange some
| OF
Their Principles
| for some of the offices, thus placing them
! selves ON exactly the same level with their
! opponents. The conference resulted in a
| mutual understanding, and as Senator Don
! Cameron got the biggest end OF the strings,
| a glittering set of resolutions were adopted
! for presentation TO the coming Republican
convention. They condemned the removal
| of officials without cause, and for merely
! political reasons; they condemned the prac-
| tCe of making assessments on othceholders
| for political purposes, and advocated nu-
merous other reforms. The bosses will
| incly subscribed TO these principles OF the
independents, but took good care 10 hold
| on 10 the offices, andinsisted upon holding
| the convention at the early date at which
! it had been fixed, May 10th, and for which
| they had things set up. The Independents
were opposed 10 this date, but finally agreed
| not TO antagonize il upon an agreement that
! hereafter no convention should be held this
early. OF course the Stalwarts agreed 70
that
Thus everything has been smoothed over
and all Is lovely. However, there must
have been
Private Understanding
between the leaders, because il now crops
out that Mr.. Wr. Wolfe is 10 be ''sugared"
with the nomination for Congressman at
large. at the hands of the Stalwart Conyen-
ton. Thus il seems that the Independents,
the men Of principle, having been promised
some of the spoil are satisfied. There is
growing belief that Mr.. Wolfe led his crowd
into the conference, knowing what the re-
| suit would be- so as to bind them. 1t is
| generally found, however that there is
some little good where there is much ap-
pearance of good and in this case there were
few Independents not willing to be sold
| out and they insisted on holding the Con-
| vention. as previously arranged on May p.
| This conference, spoken OF before, was held
u,
whereby the Convention OF May 2i might
ratify the action of May H. As some OF
the Independents don't relish the settle,
ment reached, lively times are anticipated
at the Convention OF May p, On behalf
OF the Stalwarts,
il must be said that they have brought ont
excellent men for candidates. All of the
names presented to the Convention tomor-
row will be the names OF gentlemen
of high character and unblem-
ished Repatriation, 1t is almost
be yond the shadow 81 doubt that General
James A. Beaver will be the nominee for
| Governor. General Beaver served through
the war, where he covered himself with
glory. He lost leg in the service OF his
country. He is agentleman OF unimpeach-
able character. For number OF years he
was President of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association of Pennsylvania, and his
life has been consistent with that position.
| ba fnr S,Drpma IuIpp lies