Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-07
BOLD BEN BUTLER.
The Massachusetts Statesman Who
Thriyss on His Own Blundsrs.
WILL PERHAPS BE GOVERNOR AGAIN
The Situation in the Old Bay State
Registration Lists-Butier's Prob
able Competitors.


| this writing seem to favor the reelection
of Gen. Butler to the governorship-that
is, providing, of course, that he consents to
contest again. When he was inaugurated,
in January, he closed his address, to the
surprise of all, with a statement that he
should be content with one term. This an
nouncement was, OF course, 10 be taken in
Butlerian sense-of meaning, If anything
the opposite Of what it appeared to mean.
Consequently there has been only the
merest shadow of a doubt, all the year, as
to the generals candidacy for second
term. His several bids for public cQnhrs
deaee has been successful IN holding his
supporters to their allegiance. No matter
il all but two Of them have been dismal
failures, their failure has only redounded
to his advantage. Like no other public
man, Butler
Thriyes on His Own BIunaers
and is imperyious to the best aimed shafts.
The Governors use of the appointing
power has deeply wounded his warmest
supporters, but their allegiance IS un-
shaken Just the same. His reappointment
of Carroll D. Wright at the head OF the
labor bureau was, for instance, the severest
blow which he could infHict on the social
ed laboring classes, and his giving
Charles Litchman the clerkship OF
the railroad commission was direct stao
at the regular Democracy OF Essex. These
are only samples of the Governor denght-
fully rough. shod manner of doing things,
and the votes of these injured classes will,
in November, be eloquent tributes to his
superiority oyer the common run OF polltl-
cians. AS was said during the campaign
last yesr, no man has such q hold on
what are called the masses; they
Idolize Him,
Int at the same time can not tell why.
Twenty.six thousand people voted Tor
Butler last year who did not vote the rest
of the Democratic ticket. The Republican
committee hopes to win them all back, ana
to that end is putting in bigger stint OF
preliminary work than was eyer before
known in this State. Recognizing the pat
ent fact that Buffers strength lies manly
in the cities, strenuous efforts are max
ing to stir up the lazy Republican busl:
ness men and the youngmen Just comingot
age 10 registration and to voting, and the
! Indications, so far as Boston is concerned,
are very satisfactory. At the registrars
Office here it is said that such activity was
| never seen before on the part OF the Repuo-
| licans. The State Committee is also re-
ceiving very encouraging reports from
| other portions of the State, the canvassers
| for the old man" to see what he would do,
| and have got enough. The unpopularlty in
| and about Boston of last years candidate
| cost the Republican ticket two or three
thousand VoJes and at the headquarters it
is said that these people are all coming out
this fall.
The Probability of Reelection
mentioned at the beginning of This letter,
| lies in the dissensions in the Republican
| party due to the Stalwart and Prohibition
| factions. One would think that the party,
| in The face of its present humiliation,
woulu be thproughly harmonious, and the
| indications were until very recently that
| such would be the state of things. But in
casting about for candidate some OF the
newspapers spoke of Hon. Henry l..
| Pierce, the rich chocolate manufactures OF
| Milton, and then the old sores reOpened.
| Mr.. Pierce, who has been three times
| Mayor of Boston, is the only Republican
| who can carry this city, and he has bar
! which is always on tap for the PartyS
| good. He is pronounced opponent OF
| prohibition. He is also a man OF ability
| ard independence. When he was in Con-
gress in l>7G he had the courage of his
| convictions to speak and vote against the
| Returning Board frauds. The Boston
Traveller, whose proprietor is the collector
Of the port, and which has always
Played the Part of q Patriot.
at once began to stir the old embers. There
are not stalwarts enough in this State to do
apy harm, but there are eight or ten thou
sand prehibitionists. All but about fifteen
Lundred of the latter vote the Republican
ticket, provided the gubernatorial candl-
date be not particularly obnoxious, but
in the event of Mr.. Pierce's nomina-
ton they would bolt en- masse. Mr..
Pierce is on the ocean, and there is no
more talk of nominating him that OF Con-
gresham Robinson; still, a bitterness has
heen created which it was hoped had been
| tHsCtually killed, and the chances are
against that harmony without which But
Ter can not be defeated. Buffers alleged
decision 10 run, communicated to the re
porers means nothing. The warrior
is too shrewd to enter upon another losing
cam paign, and, although the entire Demo.
cratic party is at him, as
Its Only Moses,
o he candidate, he will not consent un.
less he sees his oppon 'nt' divided. His
personal organ here, the Globe, has been
egging On the nomination OF Pierce, with
the hope of creating dissensiOn.
! The man whom Butler fears most is Mr..
Robinson, who would meet him on the
stump. Robinson is a valuable man in
Congress-many people think too valuable
to lOse--aId SENATOR Dawes wants him
to stay there--at least until after 1855.
lie is not, himself, anxious to become the
standard bearer of the party in the hot
fight which is expected, and nothing less
than practically unanimous convention
will enlist his services. Should this con-
cert of action be developed, and should Mr..
Robinson shy his castor into the ring, the
veteran pugilist from Lowell will, unless
his wisdom has quite deserted him, point
to the closing sentence Of his inaugural
message and return 10 his law Office.