Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-21
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
The Political Situation in The East
ern Panhandle.
Grave Fears that the Democratic Split May
Result in a Republican Victory
A New Scheme for Adjust
ment.
Spectnl Correrpondence Of the Reatster.

Special Correspondence Of the Register.
CHARLEsTowN August 19.-During the
past week, and indeed for several weeks be-
fore, the chief topic of conversation in the
stores and Offices and upon the streets of
this usually quiet town has been the con-
test between Judge Hoge and Mr.. Lucas for
the Democratic nomination for Congress.
Since the keyser convention has brought
forth twins, rather than a single birth, such
as prudent and steady going people expect
ed, the confusion has been worse confound-
ed and "the unterrified Democracy" have
been swarming like bees deprived OF their
queen.
In this County
the prevailing sentiment is in favor of Mr..
Lucas, but a respectable minority composed
Of l should say at guess, one-tifth of the
voters, adhere to the fortunes of Judge
Hoge. The feeling between the factions is
quite bitter and charges of fraud are freely
banded back and forth. The arbitrary con-
duct OF the chairman in excluding dele
gates friendly to Mr.. Lucas and admitting
proxies from the same counties friendly to
Judge Hoge, Is the gravamen Of the Otfense.
1t is asserted roundly by the Lucas men
that majority of the legally chosen dele
ton, but | have failed as yet TO hear any
satisfactory explanation of the fact that al
| ter the two bodies had separated the LuCas's
| convention was the smaller of the two.
Upon the Other Hand.
the few Hoge men here stigmatize the Lu-
cas- men as "bOlters,' who refused to abide
| the expressed will OF what was at least an
| OStenSihle ma ajOrity of the Convention, and
the point with some significance to the fact
that some of the most bitter and outspoken
of Mr.. Lucas friends are men who have
| rarely heretofore complied with the edicts
of nominating conventions and have been
accustomed TO bolt whenever they found
the majority opposed to their wishes.
Said one man in my hearing to-day: "The
nomination OF Judge Hoge was secured by
unfair means, and We are determined that
| he shall not take advantage of his fraud.
| We will OppO>" him from this time until
the polls are c!o.ed on election day, whether
Mr. Lucas is q candidate or not
Another said: Il was a Lucas man and
am now his personal friend, but l value
! the
Success of the Party
| too highly to follow any man in opposition
! to the expressed wish of a convention.
! Judge HOge has been nominated in pursu-
| anCe of the forms ot political usage and
/ expect to support him at the polls
/ So far as l can ascertain. the sentiment
| expressed by the latter speaker is making
! some progress, but it is hardly reasonable
/ TO expect, from present indications, that
/ Mr.. Lucas will not have such following as
will prevent Judge Hoge from receiving
! plurality OF the votes to be cast. The idea
! of a
Primary Election
10 be held some time in September; polls
| to be opened at each voting precinct in the
, district; TO be presided over by one Hoge
man and one Lucas man, and a third
! whom the two may select, with a view
| Of determining which of the two gentle
men is the choice of the majority Of the
! Democratic voters, has been proposed
| But it is not known whether the gentle
men most interested will consent to such
| an arrangement, or whether it can be sue
ceSSfully put into operation. Such is the
| popular interest felt in the contest that it
is certain that quite large vote would be
| pollCd.
In the meantime all is in confusion, aud
while all look forwBrd with apprehension
to what seems to be the
Inevitable Disaster
of Republican success, yet there is not
much talk OF probable compromise. 1t IS
! stated that Mr. Lucas has prepared a list OF
| appointments for meetings in the several
counties, and expects soon to enter upon an
active canvass. He is an eloquent speaker
and an irreproachable gentleman, and is
| well calculated to make friends wherever
he NAV 60; and precisely the same may be
said OF Judge Hoge. Is 1t any wonder that
| uader these circumstances the minds OF
the people of the Second District are all
tore up y.
Hardy County Convention.
|