Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-03
BRANNON PROBABLY DEFEATED.
Congressman and Senator Traded Off For
Minor Offices.

The result of yesterdays voting carries
with il the usual number of surprises and
disappointments for the members OF both
the great parties, and also affords the
usual number of wholesome lessons, the
needing or neglect of which will elect or
defeat party nominees in future contests
The most important of these lessons APP
plies with peculiar force to Democrats.
The city of Wheeling and county OF
Ohio gave majority Tor
Golf and Scott yesterday solely
and only because of Democratic
apathy and lack of organization. With a
clear majority, both in the city and coun-
ty, the leaders of the party in certain dis
tricts, and particularly in those south of
the creek, through what at this time seems
to be gross neglect and lack of a proper
appreciation of the situation, failed to see
that the full strength of the party was
polled, and this, supplemented by the
splendid organization and alertneSs Of the
enemy, and lavish use of Doodle, accom-
plished the defeat of John .. PendletOn,
contributed to the overthrow of Judge
John Brannon, and so far jeOpardized the
whole legislative ticket that it was
only saved from defeat by the popularity Of
some of the candidates and the personal
efforts of them and their friends. II Cen
ter and Webster districts had done rs well
rs Washington and Clay, the story to be
told this morning would be of very differ
ent nature, and the rejoicing of Demo
Gratis over the election OF three candidates
for the House of Delegates would have
been intensified by the triumph of the
whole ticket This much in the way of
an explanation; now for results.
The day was . perfect one; warm and
sunny, and it was the general opinion of
experienced politicians up to o'clock in
the afternoon that a tremendous vote
would be pOllcd. The ballots went into
the boxes with will during the morn
ing hours, and tour of the various voting
places at an early hour in the afternoon
showed unusually large crowds, and deep
interest in the result. The usual num-
Der of electiOn-day rumOrs put in circula-
ton either through INSTRUMENTATION
or a shrewd desire on the part of
word workers to influence voters,
were flying about, and the tickets were
elected and defeated innumerable times
before the hour for closing the polls arriv
ed In several wards, rs the afternoon
wore on, 1t became apparent that the party
usually carrying them would be unable to
hold the ground won in former elections,
the most pronounced instances being in the
First, Fifth and Sixth wards. In the
former the Democrats early wiped out the
Republican majority of two years ago, and
slowly but surely rolled up
one for themselves, while in the
last two wards, and particularly in Centre
district, the usual Democratic lead was
cut off in q way To be despised. When
357 votes had been counted, BrannOn was
only 10 ahead of Cot, and the aStOniSh
ment of the Democrats up town, when 1t
became known, was great. In many cases
the information was secuted by Demo
Gratis, but Mt half-paSt four, when count
of400 votes showed only - majority, the
news could no longer be doubted. Coup
led with this came reports Ofa Democratic
loss in Webster, together with ominOus
rumOr, of Republican gains
in Richie, and the Radi-
cal leaders went home to supper in a jubi-
liant mood. Democrats, however, were
cheered by rumOrs of gains in Madison,
Washington and Clay, and they generally
believed that the county had been carried
for the whole ticket
Soon after dusk large crowds of inter
ested voters began to congregate about the
newspaper offices, eager to learn the re-
| turns, while others, members of the two
party organizations, thrOnged the rooms
of the Young Mems Democratic
| Club and the Lincoln Club. The
first district to report was the Seventh
ward precinct of Madison, the total for
Congress and Senate being known within
half an hour after the polls closed. The
slight falling of for Golf was taken rs a
good omen by Demo, rats, and when, n lit
tie later, it was announced that Golf had
| but 81 majority ut the Market House,
against l27 two years ago, the feeling Of
satisfaction increased. This first news
proved to be the best, however,
and by 10 o'clock it became ap-
parent that the county was going
to be doubtful for Congressman, while
John o. Pendleton would scarcely pull
through. Republicans began to pluck up
courage, and soon the streets were taken
possession of by crowds Ofmen and boys,
provided with tin horns, red fire, and 9TH
er implements affected by the rejoicing
politician, and discord reigned supreme
until after midnight, when the town grad
ually quoted down.
In our table, complete save as to Liber-
ty district, the story OF the voting is fully
| told. 1t will be seen that three of the
four Democratic members of the Legisla-
ture are certainly elected, Woods and
Gleason being two of the lucky men,
while the third may be either Garden or
Riley. There is possibility that Whit
aker, the leading Republican, may be also
defeated, but the chances are in his favor.
The exact maiOrities of the various candi-
dates cannot be given this morning ow.
ing to the absence of returns from Liberty,
but tomorrow they will be given COM
plete.
The scratching throughout the county
was unprecedented, especially among
Democrats, the various candidates being
traded off on the slightest, prOvOcation.
Even Congressman was traded very fire.
quently for some minor office, and this
partially accounts for COTS majority.
Advices from up the river, given on our
Geographic page, show that Golf carried
Brooke county by majority, while Pen
dleton, for Senator, only had 8 more votes
than Scott.
INTHE DISTRICTS.