The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-08
OPENING THE BALL.
ABOUT MeRAw's APPOINTMENT.
The Elements In the Republican Party That
are Said to bS Fighting Against His
Confirmation - The Opening of
the Forty-ninth Congress.


Special Dilpdtch TO he IntelEt0aeT.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-Inquiry among
West Virginians in town develops the
fact that there will be a strong fight
against McGraw's confirmation. Ex.
Marshal Atkinson and Samuel McCor-
mick arrived here this morning and went
Immediately to call on Senator Sherman.
1t ia impossible to ascertain what took
place, but am informed they received
little encouragement from the Ohio SEN
ator. l believe they represented to him
that McGraw's defeat meant a crippling OF
Camden and therefore a fight would be
good policy for the Republican party in
West Virginia. A prominent Republican
said tonight that H be is convinced the
fight is good Republican policy he will
join in it, but in no other event. He said,
''If McGraw's rejection simply means
another Democrat in his place am for
MCGraw as my choice OF all other DEM
ocrats."
This Is the general feeling OF all the Re.
publicaps here, except, perhaps, MeCof-
mick himself, whom Democrats think is
moved purely by personal spite against
those who ousted him, together with de.
sire for public notoriety.
THE SOLDIER ARGUMENT.
They charge that he has enlisted the
sympathies Of a-few leading Republicans
by urging the Union soldier argument.
In speaking Of this matter a prominent
ex-soldier said to me: THAT argument in
this case won't stand the test. The
records OF the Pension Department there
show that Mccormick enlisted in Com
pany l, Twenty.seventh Indiana Volun.
!eers, September l, 1851, as fifer, and
served ten months. Two or three months
after his discharge in 1862 he applied for q
pension, alleging that he had contracted a
throat complaint blowing the fife. The
claim %as rejected for reasons deemed
good by the Department.
Every West Virginia soldier knows
that General Duval, a distinguished Union
officer, was replaced by Mccormick about
thirty days before Cleveland's inaugura-
ton in opposition TO the wishes OF the
soldier element OF his party. II Sherman
can conscientously champion McCor-
miCk's cause on this sort OF soldier
record he will do more than l think he
can"
The statement that General Logan will
oppose confrmations where ex-soldiers
are replaced by non.soldiers without just
cause before the expiration OF their terms
is true, but prominent men Of both parties
claim this don't spply to the McGraw
case, as Mccormick had no GGed term,
the length OF time he was TO serve being
at the Presidents discretion.
WHEN M'18Aw's NAME WILL BE SENT IN.
l find on inquiry that the President
will not send McGraw's name into the
Senate until after. the ho!idsyH. It is not
definitely known il General Gotf will en-
gage in the fight. Some Of his friends say
he believes nothing would be gained by
such course, Rs the fight must neces.
sarily narrow down TO hetEeen the Demo
cratic factions In the state aud Involves
simply choice between Democrats. Lay
ing very strongly endorsed McGtaw Tor
the pnsttion over all other applicants 1t is
not likely he will assist in any effort which
can only result III tho appointment OF
some other Democrat. One Republican
SAYS he sees no reason in the fight against
the confirmation al ~, gR it cannot secure
the place for O Republican; W tbs CON
trary, it might result ip the choice Of a
Democrat moro ptegsiye to Republicans.
So far as | can learn Tho opposition to
confirmation is confined wholly TO the ele'
! ,nent mbich secured McCormick's appoint
inert and tie men who insisted on the re-
moyal ot General Dual against the wishea
OF nearly The eatire party. The anti
Camden Democrats gar only give theii
moral support as they cannot bFlng any
influence to bear on tue Senators,
A LONE COMPETITOR.
A Third District Democrat informs me
that it has been definitely settled that
WINDY" Wilson ID to be tho Ions COM
petitor OF Senator Camden for the Senate,
Lucas being out OF the fight. He also
thinks there is likelihood that Henry s.
Walker is laying bis pins to scoop the
whole business.
At the drawing Tor cholca Of seats to-day
| in the House, all the West YirgiRip men,
bers drew good seats except Gibson. he
was among the last and was crowded clear
over on the Republican side much to his
chagrin. The West Virginia Senators
were the recipients OF the handsomest
aoral compliments in the Senate chamber.
Among the West YirginisnS here to
| NJ - EI1.