Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-27
THE THIRD DISTRICT CONGRES-
sRONAL CONVENTION.

skoNAL CONVENTION.
The Democratic Congressional Con-
vention of the Third District, will meet
at Charleston tomorrow to nominate
successor to the Hon. JOHN e. KEN
| Ma.
There has seldom been q more holly
contested race for the nomination in
any district of the State than Is now 60
ing on in the Third. Nearly every
county in the District has Its candidate,
and il must be said Of them that they
are almost without exception, able and
worthy men, any one Of whom would
do credit to the District and State If
chosen. .-'s-.
1t being conceded, in advance, that
a nomination by the Democratic CEN
vention Is equivalent to an election, 1t
is natural that the struggle should be
warm. Mr.. KENNA's last campaign in
the District was practically a "walk
over" He carried every county in the
District but Upshur. The total vote OF
the District was 1851, Of which the
Democrats cast 10, 279, the Republicans
5,Sl4, and the Greenbackers l ,454. Mr..
KENNA's plurality was therefore 4, 465,
and his majority SOIL. 1t is probable
that Mr.. KENNA was stronger is his
District than a new candidate may be,
and it would not be a surprise if the
Democratic majority in the May cleo
ton may be reduced, but there is suf-
ficient margin to make the election Of
the candidate who is fortunate enough
to get the calling, sure.
Our reports from the District as TO the
relative strength Of the several eandi-
dates have varied. The dispatch pub
lished in yesterdays REGISTER gave
the standing of the candidates as they
will 90 into the convention about as ac-
eurately as can now be done.
The most active competitors and lead
ing candidates are conceded to be ex-
! Governor MATHEWS and ex-senator
DENNIS, Of Greenbrier; Hon. J. NJ.
FRENCH, Of Mercer; Hon. JOHN b.
FLOYD, of Logan; Hon. JOEL f. STOL.
LINGs, OF Boone; Col. GEO. w. IMBo-
DEN, of Fayette; and Capt. PHIL. shy
DER, of Kanawha. But no one of these
will have enough votes on the first bal
lot to settle the matter. The Charles
ton Leader says: There seems to be
general conviction that MATHEWS, DEN
MS, FRENCH, STOLLINGs and SNYDER
will lead and that the prize will ulti-
mately come to one of these gentlemen.
Which one is problem unsOlved, and
so it will remain until the convention
decides. Kanawha, of course, stands
by her favorite sOm and will battle long
and strong for his success. Whether
she wins depends upon her manage
ment. She has sent up an exception
ally strong delegation, one that will at
tend we'll to the expressed preference Of
Kanawha. The friends of Capt. shy
DER may rest confidently in the assur-
ance that no interest of the party here
will be deserted or abandoned by that
delegation"
When the balloting begins aud the
weaker candidates drop out, the result
will, of course, depend upon whether
their support is thrown to one Of the re-
manning competitors or to new man.
There are a number of dark horses men,
toned and if the contest among the
leaders grows stubborn, one Of them
may carry off the stakes. Among the
dark horses" mentioned are the names
of Hon. WIN. A. QBARRIER, of Kama
wha, Judge DAVID +. JOHNSTON, Of
Mercer; ex-senator FRANK HEREFORD,
of Monroe; Hon. JOHN w. HARRIS, of
Greenbrier; Hon. w. w. ADAMS, Of
Summers; Hon. GEO. II. MOFFATT, of
Upshur; JOHN ID. ANDERSON, of Mich
olas; and Hon. f. WILLIS WILSON, of
| Kanawha.
1t will be seen, therefore, that the
material is not only of that abundant
quantity but choice in quality to insure
very lively convention. We hope the
best man may win