The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-24
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WEST VA, YNVI1DNES
!. FROM FOUR COUNTIES.
. a nAcY LETTER on POLITICS
!, In Harbour, l'rnxton, Randolph mud Lewis
, How tho Dcmocracy OF Lewis nrc NIL
Turn Up with l'nc,ions-fhe Ito.
5l. publican Cause nll Serene. -
, Correspondence Of hc Inieiiidacer. @s '
. WiSToS,W.Na., September 20,-A horse.
buck ride through the counticsol Harrison
r Barbour, Ul,shur, Randolph and Lewis
enables one to see the loveliest part Of the
!, State Of West Virginia, and al tho same
time, by mingling with tlcpeople at their
homes, to form some idea Of public scntl'
mcnt relating 10 tho political canvass now
in progress in this State. This interior
section isa very rich country nnd is peo.
! pied bya thrifty, intelligent population.
You do not find M over alnolnt Of polish
but you do find rs much good hard
sense and quick native wit MS is to bc
found umong any people OH tho tacc Of
the glob,. They are IN independent peo-
plr--the owners Of good lands, have broad
acres OF fine pastures, nLmeInus herds N
sheep and cattle, generally out Of debt,
have. comfortable homes, not rich bu,
well.to.do, just the happiest lot that can
bciall man, and they wouldn't give the
snap Of your finger for any mans opinion
Oh any subject. There Is something nh.
solutely refreshing in mingling with such
tpeoplc. You catch tho inspiration OF
their independence and self confidence
and yearn Tor the free md easy life they
enjoy.
THEY KNOW WHAT'S WHAT. n l5ua
Do they know anything about politics?
OF course they do. Did you ever see n
West Yirginian that wasn't natural
politician? They are born 10 it. And
with that abundant sclf-conldence which
characterizes them yon can't find, on m
average, nine West Virginians out Of
every ten but thinkthey arc qualified 10
ill any office in the land.
The group OF counties over which my
rambles have carried mo contain as many
men who have made themselves inluen-
tial in the politics OF this State us any
other section-and perhaps rs much as
all the balance OF the State put to-
gether. / say nothing Of the great mon
who have passed away but who have left
the imprint OF their statcslnansl,ip and
political sagacity upon the annals Of our
wealth. But Of those who IRE living and
are active in moulding public sentiment
and controlling the destiny OF West Vir-
einia, we find at Clarksburg the COTS,
Dav.ses, Maxwells, Camdens, the Nloores
and others whose names readily suggest
themselves. Go on up to Weston and there
we find the Brannons, the Dcnnetts, the
Alnolds, the Edmistons, the Harrisons,
and scores Of men whose genius, learning
and abilities would command respect amt
WELD influence in any community. And
ut Buckhannon live number oi gentle:
men who have identified themselves with
our public history and have become prom
incntin State affairs. That beautiful in.
land town is the home OF Ex-Governor
Daniel Farnsworth, eX-prcsdcnt OF the
Senate Thomas J. Farnswortl, ex-Spcaker
George II. Moiiett and ex-senator Carper.
At Phillip resides Judge Samuel Woods.
who, by the way, is now enjoying "more
notoriety. than distinction" rs the yener-
able ben Smith once remarked about MT
Harrison. - ~ ~ .7s-lsi5Gs a--=es4r,..
GOOD SECTION TO GAUGE PUBLIC TENT1MENr.
So, after al, this is d good section TO
gauge public sentiment, and n very fair
estimate OF results can be had from inter
viewing these people at their homes.
To summarize, it is fair to say that out OF
every twenty farmers, you will find nine.
teen, without regard to their party aitilia-
tions, who denounce the Jackson supple
mental assessment and the Supreme Court
contempt decision. Democrats are lust as
open in their denunciation ot these luiaui.
ties rs Republicans can be. The party
lenders are cracking the whip around the
heads CT the honest yeomanry to force
them into harness, but with that Unborn
independence character istics oil these peo;
pie, they are going to do pretty much as
they plelse.
II Is true great many old time Demo-
cruts who denounce the iniquities OF the
present State administration will vote the
Democratic ticket clear through-hBt from
force Of habit and because, as they say, it
is Presidential year, and this will be. the
last chance the National Democracy will
ever have to come into power But there
are d great many who will not goit blind,
and this is especially true OF the younger
men:,, And 1t is right here the Republi-
cans are going to make large gains in, this
State from the young men who arc not
chained down by prcjudices Of past gen
Grafton, but who are looking solely to the
future. .
| HARRISON AND LEWIS COUNTIES.
But, to elaborate a little on the political
situation, VIC will start With the county OF
Harrison. The Democrats have put their
bestioot foremost in that county. Notwith-
standing all that, the: Republicans will
carry the county by the largest majority
ever given. Golf, single-handcd is n host,
but yokeds with Maxwell there is team
that will dsjoint the. Democracy OF Har-
rison county. All the talk about the post-
Office trouble at Clarksburg is bosh. Capt.
John Shutticworth was the displaced post
master, and Judge Maxwell is Capt. Shut
tleworth's son-in-law. Do you catch on ?
The COTS, the Maxwells and the Shuttle
worths are al Republicans and are work
ing together for common victory. iH|
Now, juststep over into Lewis and you
will SEQ the most internal political "inix
up" that was ever known. Lewis county
politicians are in continual stite OF civil
war-I mean the Democratic politicians.
The Republicans arc united and harmoni-
GUS and arc riding around on smooth
sea. In the Democratic camp are factions
and eros, factions. There are the Bran
mons against the Dennetts, the .Edmistons
agninst, the Brannons and Bennctts, the
Canldens against the .Brannons, Ben nctts
and Edmistons,-the Blands against the