Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-12-20
The WHEELING PoSToFFIcE.
Sterling Not Excited About HIS
Chances for Retention.

Special Dispatch TO the Register.
WASHINGTON, December 19.-As | tele-
graphed you yesterday, the fight for the
Wheeling postoffice has opened out, Mr..
David Bell, who wants Postmaster Sterl-
ings place, arriving here a day or two
since with his hayersack well lined with
letters and petitions asking his appoint
mCnt. He claims to have the bulk of the
Republican endorsements of your city on
the back of his papers, and thinks that if
the popular expression OF that party in
Wheeling i regarded, he will have no diff
Guilty in securing the office. On the other
hand he is of the opinion that if he fails
TO get il tine result will be a pretty
fair demonstration that a general indica
tiOn OF public wishes does not amount to
much with the appOintiye powers as now
regulated. Bell seems TO apprehend the
interference of some of the West Virginia
managers whose voice has hitherto been
supposed to be potent in securing appoint
ments, in opposition to his application,
but says he is going to test the situation
fairly in any event, and see whether local
desires are to be considered in the disposi-
tion Of local offices, or whether the entire
patronage of the State is to be Jumped and
turned over to two or three people as in
old time the Roman world was said to
have been managed by the Triumvirate.
At least this is about his idea. The Roman
business and the balance of the antiquities
are mine and only brought in to illustrate
his position.
do not know what influences
Sterling Relies Upon
for his retention, but he seems to be as
easy as an old shoe on the subject of his
reappointment. Yves Atkinson says he
will get another term beyond any perad-
venture, and Yves" is generally cOrrectin
his representations of Republican happen
ings. The only time ever knew him to
fail badly was when he prOphesied the sue
cess of the proposed coalition on SturgiSs,
and called on the freemen of West Virginia
to come as the winds come, and come with
their axes. The public misunderstood the
call, and SuppOsing that an effort was being
made to grind axes under cover of lorna
do, sat down on the whole project.
Coming back TO Sterling, he will proba-
bly, have the support of most Of the active
Republican politicians of the State. He IS
that kind Of an individual himself, tries to
keep up with the procession and II he hap
pens TO
Fall Into the Rear
has the band transferred to that end and
makes the tail kick up so much dust and
make so much noise that you can hardly
tell it from the head. When he comes to
Washington he tells the boys that he would
like to do something for them but the de-
msnds on him for his influence have really
Outgrown his ability to do justice 10 all,
alter which the hearer generally goes out
and dies. | DO not want to be understood,
however. as intimating that the Coloneps
work is all fuss and feathers, for he has
plenty OF industry. plenty OF confidence in
himself and a general disposition to take
hold OF erythipg in sight as well as no
little executive ability and deal OF per,
tipscitv. He is not going to let 90 without
a hard fight and with the bulge he has on
The denartment il is going to take more
than letters and petitions TO hustle him
out. lNN'