Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-15
MR.. GIRSON'S FRIENDS
Iuin Him In a Little Caucus, Last
Evening.
A Rand Of Revenue Rsformers---col.
Dave LeOnarfs Petard---A
Lively Discussion.

In response to his invitation, the room OF
Congressman Eustace Gibson, at the Nc
Lure House, last night, held a party OF
about twenty gentlemen, including the fol-
lowing: D. D Lucas and R. P. Chew,
Jefferson county; j. ]. S. HAsler and V. s.
Armstrong, jackson; DR.. Mitchell, Writ;
Senator B. W. Byrns Kanawha; Col. Alex.
Monroe, Hampshire; John B. Laidley.
Wayne Ferguson, Cabell; ]. NJ Mason.
jefferson; W. W. jackson, D. II. Leonard,
Wood; Mr.. Capehart, Mason, Messrs. Divine
and O'Kane, Wheeling, and members ofthe
press. Mr.. Gibson made quite lengthy
address, setting forth his views on the rev.
enue and tariff questions, which the Regis
TER has published, in extenso, and which
are doubtless familiar to all interested. he
explained the Blair bill, spoke Of the pro-
posed reciprocity treaty with Spain the
Nicarauguan treaty and wound up with say
ing he had asked these friends to meet him
for the purpose of learning their views and
determining how he should cast his vote.
Messrs. Lucas, Byrne and Mitchell, ex-
pressed themselves at some length and 1t
appeared from what they said that their
views and Mr.. t4ibson's rather harmonized
If different views were held, the owners
made no sign. In all of this-and there
was mere or less tariff talk-there was no
mention of Randalls name until DR..
Mitchell said Randall had made no friends
in his section by his vote on the Hiscock
bill, which induced Mr.. Gibson to say ne
had no war with Randall and didn't wish to
be so understood.
When the various expressions OF sentl-
ment we're completed, Mr.. Gibson seemed
entirely satisfied and with bright smile he
arose and said that to give the conference
action he would move that Mr.. Armstrong
"be made corresponding secretary, to open
the channels for the collection OF sentmen:
on the subject we have Just been discussing,
and also to disseminate such literature on
the same subject as might be desired.
Col. Dave Leonard had come, In the
meantime-wbile Senator Brine was talk.
ipg-and he now took the floor. he SAID
be had been invited to the caucus or confer.
ence, or whatever it was, and was there, and
he did not approve Of the motion just made,
The party had just come VIGOROUSLY
through hard fought fight, in which all OF
thtse questions had been decided. The
scion of this caucus would array factions
Of The party and create schism, and while
there we're honest differences of opinion on
the tariff question, he saw no occasion, now.
to bring those factions together in need
less fight.
This brought Mr.. Gibson to his feet in
hot haste, and he vehemehtly declared tina
if there were scbisms he wanted it distinctly
understood that the revenue reformers wert
not creating it. They were the party the
majority, and the Randall wing, those Al
Democrats who helped the Republicans de
feat 1877 Democrat" and the Morrison bill,
we're the minority. He protested against
such talk, and objected most strenuously to
the Wheeling REGISTER referring to the
lS7 men who voted for the Morrison bill as
cranks and fanatics. Then, turning his at.
tention to Gel Leonard, he insisted there
was no schlsm in appointing Mr.. Armstrong
Corresponding Secretary and in learning
the sentiment of the people.
Colonel Leonard replied that a conven-
ton or State conference was the way to
leirn the wishes of the people and not lit
tie caucus like this, which offended many
Democrats because they were not invited.
Mr.. Armstrong then laid down his posi-
ton. He placed principle before policy and
If be could not stand on principle he would
90 down. Publicly or privately he stood on
the Chicago platform and was for tariff for
revenue, with Incidental protection, the tax
so levied as to benefit the largest number.
Several more speeches were made. in the
heat of which the original object of the con-
ference was lost sight of. Col. Lucas said
he thought this was little caucus of Mr.
Gibson's friends ana did not dream it was
to be State affair, but as they were dis
cussiDg he went on to talk of Mr. Randall, s
Southern trip, saying he was sent there on
the eve Of the incoming Democratic admin
istration, and it was for some end"
Major jackson suggested that if Mr.. Glib
son wanted to know the sentiment of the
people the proper course would be to adjourn
this conference, call another for some suita-
bic time and give notice Of it.
Mr.. Gibson said he had seen Mr. Cleve-
land and he understood how the fight had
been wsged and won in West Virginia; he
was going to see him again and would have
other valuable state affairs to tell him, then.
There was some further speaking, but all
the peaceful spirit had gone and finally tn
caucus adjourned to meet at the call OF Mr.
R. P. Chew, who had been appointed chair.
man.
Only those mentioned took any part, Tn
others sat about the room, listening bu
preserving discreet silence.