Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-04

Democrats Confident of a Fail Com.
GressiOnal Eeicgasion-A Review of
the Dissricts-The Fusion and Gre en-.
back Element, Etc.
of THE EVENING STAR:

Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR:
CLARKsBURG, w. Va, october 3.
The congressional contests in this state the pres
ent campaign are OF more than usual interest The
democratic managers say they feel confident OF re-
turning an unbroken delegation to the Forty
ninth Congress, while the republicans claim that
they WILL in addition to re-electng Golf In the first
district, capture the fourth district, in which Dr.
Barbee is running againt Gibson, the present mem
Der. Dr. Barbee is a greenbacker. He was first
nominated by the republicans and then endorsed
by his own party. He is admitted to be a strong
man, and was colonel in the confederate army.
His duty as practising physician has given him
wide acquaintance throughout the region in
which he resides and his popularity is undoubted.
The fourth district, moreover. contains large
greenback element, and when added to the repub-
Hcan vote the combination will have a clear ma
Jority over the democrats 1t is possible that the
nomination OF q straight greenbacker, who was
democrat before he joined the former party, may
give onense to some republicans and cause them
10 support Gibson. AS far as can learn, however,
there Is no such feeling among republicans and
all things considered the fusion ticket in the fourth
srane one ts seems osber an exceptionally
Gratis clearly are in minority in the district and
there are reasons for believing that Mr. Gibson will
not carry the full strength OF his party. strong
fight is being made against him on personal
grounds, and the republicans claim, and democrats
are not inclined to deny, that he Will fail get
the votes OF some OF the best element In his own
party. The chances now seem decidedly in favor
or the election OF DR.. BaTbee
In the first or Wheeling district, the contest is
even q more interesting one than in the fourth.
Although Hon. Nathan Con, republican, was elected
In 1882 by over 1900 majority. the democrats have
claimed that he would be defeated for reelection
this year by Judge Brannan their candidate This
claim, at first, seems rather Wild but when the
conditions are examined into. there appears some
reason for the confidence the democrats In the
first place, GoffS vote in 1882 was no larger than
that cast for John A. Hutchinson, the republican
who was defeated. This peculiar state OF affairs
was OF course, due TO failure to get out the dem
ocratc vote OF the district in 1882. Gofs opponent
In that year, GOode, was politician, and his cam
VasS was managed by men like himself. They failed
TO arouse the voters consequently there were many
stay-at-homeS on election day, and Goff slipped in
by default. In the present canvass the republican
candidate has for an opponent very prominent
man, who IS said TO understand politics thoroughly.
He is making careful canvass; SO that there is no
great danger from stay-at-homes. Gof, too, is
said 10 nave given oenSe to the liquor interests of
Wheeling by his course in regard TO the prohibition
movement. 1t is asserted that he promised the
liquor men to come to Wheeling and oppose the
motion TO submit prohibitory amendment to the
people Of the state. When the time came the
liquor men wrote to Mr. Com at Washington. re-
peatedly, to hurry to Wheeling and fulfill his
promise. They received no answer. They then tel
GoiI came not, neither did he answer the liquor
mems appeals. AS consequence, some OF the most
influential brewers OF Wheeling, who were for
MIN In 1882, are against him this time. There is
also said TO be some dissatisfaction among republi-
cans from other causes. Golf failed to come up to
thelr expectations In Congress, and they are much
grieved at the fact that he made no speech during
the entire session. He is also accused OF showing
symptoms OF swelled-head since he held the port
Ioilo OF the Navy, but these petty complaints, al
though heard among members OF his own party,
can hardly count for much at the polls. They help
TO increase democratic confidence of defeating him.
however, and have talked with republicans who
tacitly admitted that that they looked for such
result.
The other two congressional districts of the state
are reasonably safe Tor the democrats. Wilson and
Snyder the present members, VIII be returned to
the next Congress. although the republicans claim
10 be giving the former hard run, on his alleged
free trade predilictiOnS.