Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-12-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsn1NeroN, D. C., Dec. ii. Iss:

Gov. Foster for special election fo
congressman in our district on Jan. q
is judicious. There is just as nucl
need for representative here during
the last six weeks of the session as fol
the six months prior thereto, and partic
ularly so in our case under the accumd
lation of interests arising in the absence
of DR.. Updegraff. Not single measure
introduced or assumed by him will re
ceive the slightest attention from other
members of our delegation, for each and
all are overburdened with their own dis.
trict affairs. 1t is useless, however, tC
discuss the soundness of the Governor
action, inasmuch as he has made the
call, and the people must perforce
accept and act Hereunder. The con-
vention should elect for both short and
long terms, as there is a strong probabil-
ity of the President calling an extra
session on March 4th, and it is better
for US to be fully prepared with our
member. No neglect of important in
terests will then ensue. There should
be as much speed and promptness exer-
cised in getting the certificate into the
hands of the member-elect after Jan. I'd
as the requirements of law will permit
as the need of his presence here is i'm
perative A glance at the Index of the
Congressional Record will show that
DR.. Updegraff was by no means idle, and
that scores of bills for relief of soldiers
and their heirs, ETC., were introduced by
him, not one of which will ever receive
so much as a favorable report unless
pushed by his successor. With us here
the query arises who shall this successor
be? And inasmuch as he should be an
experienced legislator, familiar by SER
vice With committee work, and possess
ed Of brains and industry enough to en-
able him to secure his share of legisla-
tion in the hurry and jam of. the last
days of this congress, the query is Sc
rious one indeed to our people. At this
end of the line to one who, by intimate
association with our deceased member,
DIR. Updegraff, is thoroughly cogniZant
of what is before the incoming member
in the shape of our district and depart
ment business, the inquiry meets with
the response that no name as yet pre-
tod ic tn ha r,,o q
tie of our dead chief than D. A. Hol
lings gsworth, of Harrison county. His
long and varied experience in our State
Legislature admirably fits him for our
needs here as we should have working
man, not a speech-maker. Committee
duty is the one important factor before
him who comes. and no one but Il train
ed legislator should be selected, and to
this end Mr.. Hollingsworth seems the
proper man. Again, the fact that he
was soldier is strong argument in
his favor. The soldier business is by no
means played out, no matter how much
the 'Bourbons who resisted the draft, or
other burdens of the war, may insist to
the contrary, and we venture the asser-
tion that it is stronger to-day and has
more need of soldier member of Con-
gress to give it that merited attention it
should have than at any time since the
war. One who, like MIR. Hollingsworth,
carried musket in the noble old 25th
Ohio, during its gallant service of three
years. and who, beside, can bring to
bear in discharge of his duties, an ex
perience which virtually makes him An
old member, and Herewith possesses a
sound, vigorous brain and body, has GER
tainly no superior in the district, and
yet many interiors. sr.s-.
1t was my good fortune to campaign
with the 25th Ohio in the fall of '62 and
'6S, and l know its glorious record for
true lighting qualities. Such. men as
Coils. Richardson and -Charlesworth,
1t. Mallory, and other friends and &C
quaintances, made it the crack lighting
regiment of our "Ohfo Brigade" and yet
their proud records never dimmed that
of such private soldiers as Mr. Hollings.
worth who, with musket in hand, never
shrank from bloody battle anywhere,
under such leaders. .5---'
All other things being equal, soldier
should be nominated and elected to.Con-
gress by our people, and trust Mr.. Hol
lingsworth may be the fortunate one,
and that Belmont county viii not forget
in the approaching convention to give
her son the suffrages, and thereby en-
sure his election. Doubtless, she has
scoreor more citizens who would only
be too willing to represent us in Con-
gress, and so with the other counties in
the district, but inasmuch. as only one
of all the host can be taken, that one, i
think, should be the soldier and legisla-
tor David A. Hollingsworth.
SOLDIER.
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