The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-26
RooKrRYoYEnrHE spEAKRRsn1p

Srr. GIIksson's Friends Very Indignant ut
his Treatment. 5iai
Ever since the Democratic caucus, pre-
liminary to the organization Of the House
of Delegates, the friends OF Nj. Gilkesop.
of Hampshire county, have expressed
lively indignation, not so much over his
defeat as the manner in which It was ac-
complished. Mr.. Gilkeson had the sup-
port, practically Of tho entire South
Branch valley. His nomination in the
GAUGES was put on this ground, and the
fact that the section OF country rep
resented by Mr.. Gilkeson had been
ignored by the late Democratic State con-
yention was mentioned as reason that the
claims OF Mr.. Gilkeson should be recog-
nized.
But Mr.. Dyer, Of Grant and Hardy
counties, chalnpioned the cause Of Col.
Robert White, OF this city, and declared
that the people OF the South Branch
Valley wanted him as their representative.
The Hampshire county Repielp, speak
ing Of the matter, says:
The precedent established by the DEM
ing the best friends Of the party and heap
ing rewards upon sections, which in the
light OF past history were not legitimately
entitled to 1t, was repeated at the organ
,ixation of the Legislature in Wheeling
last week. In anticipation Of the ASSEM-
bling Of that body, Hampshire county
in view OF her splendid record as the Ban
ner Democratic county aud supported by
the Great Eastern Reserve OF the West
Virginia Democracy, asked the slight dis
tinction OF having one OF her sons, Henry
B. Gilkeson, selected as Speaker Of the
House OF Delegates. II was no more than
Just and certainly would have been but a
trihlng recognition Of Hampshire's fidelity
to party and party principles to have
granted the request. There was no aues-
ton as to MIR. Gilkeson's fitness for the
position; no denial Of the justice Of the
claim, and there cannot possibly be any
deduction drawn from the outcome, ex.
cepting that emboldened by the fact that
Hampshire had been snubbed by thu
party leaders and had not rebelled, and III
view OF this-with q probable sympathetic
undercurrcnt OF broken faith somewhere
the same influences that prevailed ct the
Wheeling Convention OF 1854 were brought
into play again in the State Capitol last
week. .tH
II one were disposed to look for pos.
sible foundation for the action OF Demo.
cratic Representatives in the proceedings
OF the caucus, it would be found wanting,
excepting, perhaps, SO much as one could
CLEAN from the published speech OF Dele.
gate Wilbur +. Dyer, OF Grant county: in
nominating Col. White, whose remarks
II they are true as published, and We have
not seen any denial from Mr.. .Dyer-were
ingeniously chosen and well calculated To
mislead. He began by saying that the dis,
trict he represented had no candidate, but
"in behalf Of the South. Branch country
which did, and always will roll up the
largest Democratic majorities, lie would
urgethe nominations Of Col. Robert White y
There is refreshing originality and q cool
assurance In this assertion that nothing
short of a native Of the North Pole, sud.
denly transplanted to the equator, could
with any degree OF comfort, appreciate
The district which Mr.. Dyer represents
at least Grant county-does not number
in Democratic voters, all told, as many as
u large number OF single precincts in the
South Branch country, ofWhich he ambig
uously spoke.
Mr.. Dyer's published assertion that "the
offices have all gone with the giant
strength" OF Hampshire, is not supported
by facts. This no ono knew better than
he, and Hon. Daniel B. Lucas gave him
food for reflection, when, q few moments
later, he said he (AIr. Lucas knew that
Hampshire wanted the Office OF Speaker
for her son, Henry B. Gilkeson. Had
Delegate Dyer designed basing his state.
ment on fact, he might have said that
Hampshire has not hal State officer, nor
any other OF any importance, since 1876,
when Col. White was elected Attorney
General and moved to Ohio county, where
he has lived and exercised the rights OF a
citizen ever since. The charge Of Dele.
gate Dyer that SOHO county has had
nothing" should be preserved in reirig-
orator. tits SO patiently ridiculous that a
denial would be absurd. Had Delegate
Dyer merely reversed the order in which
he presented the two localities, he would
have done himself and his district much
more credit.
Reviewing the result in few words, il
appears that the Justice OF Hampshire's
claim was so apparent that to set them
aside necessitated some ingenious Argyll
ment. Delegate Dyer furnished it, and
the fact that it will not be deposited
among the archives OF tho State Us Il faith
full historical review will not make any
material difference with those who. de-
clared that the Banner county should be
snubbed. 1t has been snuGbei before ;
the operation may be attempted again,
but 1t is o dangerous expedient.
Mr.. Gilkeson made noble fight and
the result will not lower him particle in
the home estimation; on the contrary, it
will elevate him in the esteem OF his con-
stitucnts and give them greater conf.
dence and pride in his future career in
public life. .,.atl. IT.
A friend OF Mr.. Gilkeson's who is now
in Wheeling says that the Review voices
the real feelings OF the Democracy OF that
section. Said he:
"What makes Mr.. Dyer's position worse,
is that he was addressed by Mr.. Giikeson
on the subject OF the Speakership after
the latter's friends had urged him to be-
come candidate for Speaker, and Dyer
wrote that he was not prepared to pledge
his support OF that early stage Of the con-
test. When Mr.. Gilkeson met him here,
he said he felt some cmbarra sment over
the receipt Of Mr.. Gilkeson's letter, because
he was already pledged to support Col.
White. This explanation, taken in con-
nection with Mr.. Dyer's letter to Mr..
Gilkeson, certainly places the former in q
very strange position"
"Fun on the Bristol"
Charley Shay certainly deserves tho
patronage OF the people Of Wheeling, for
giving them the many tl,st-class attrqc-