Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-28
ELECTING U. s. SENATOR
what a Moorfield Democrat Has TO Say on
the Question.

What a Moorfield Democrat Has TO Say on
the Question.
An estimable Democrat Of the
South Branch, writes o long eommunica-
ton, dated Moorield, December p, which
is indeed too long to publish in full, but as
it is on q matter of general interest, we
publish q condensation Of 1t. he
saws that as the Democrats have . majority
in the State Legislature they should have
two points in view in the selection Of the
United States Senator who will shortly be
elected; first that q pure, able and States
man-like man should be chosen, and,
second, that in his selection the strength
ening and ~harmonizing of the party
should be aimed at. He states
that the Democratic majority IN
| West Virginia has been decreasing and that
perfect harmony and unanlmity OF
action is the only the thing which will re-
store and maintain this majority. Then,
after calling attention to the W factions
in the party, namely, the Camden and Anti
CANDIDA factions, he refers to the fact that
the great body of the party in this State
take but q slight interest in either faction
especially, and that the many thousands
of West Virginia Democrats are Demo
Gratis from principle and not for the pur-
pose of electing to office any men or class
of men, and that the election or defeat Of
Senator Camden would only widen the
breach between the two factions. Then,
in conclusion, he SAYS:
IAN Democrats WHO want to promote
their party's interests should do all things
possible to avoid the troubles / have point
ed out. If it can be done why not do 1t?
Who can say that the election OF any one
man is a matter of more interest thar the
harmony of the Democratic party? Surely
no man deserving the name of Democrat
will assume any such position. The differ
enees between these people, if they are good
Democrats should be compromised the
Democrats should compel them to do so.
A new man should be taken up and sent
TO the Senate. A man who has had moth
ing to do with these bitter animOsities and
who can treat all n good Democrats as
long as they conduct themselves as such.
The people in this part OF the State
are Democrats. They want to see the
a~scendancy of the party maintained and
therefore want this warfare to cease.
WHY can't the Democratic members Of the
Legislature take up and elect a gentleman
like Judge James ID. Armstrong, OF Rom
ney, ". Va, to the L. 5. Senate? His
election will give offence to no man or fac
ton. He is a man OF as pure character,
high order of ability and craftsmanship as
can be found in the State. Besides all this
h. 4, N tbOroupb namOpraf and free from
all entangllng alliances. He has no friends
to reward or enemies 10 punish. II elect
cd to the Senate he would go there as well
equipped for the discharge of the duties of
a Senator as any man in the State and "a
the Democratic representative OF the whole
State. Judge Armstrong also halls from
that section of the State that is beyond all
doubt the most reliably Democratic and
which has been ignored for the last several
years By those who have shaped the
policy of the Democratic party. Judge
Armstrong has been on the bench for the
last twelve years. He has not been in pol
itics at all, although he carefully keeps up
with the current events of the day and Is
well posted and sound on all the leading
questions. Why not elect him to the US.
Senate and thus avoid making any one
angry? Why not select him and thus
strengthen and harmOnize the party? His
ideas of what a Senator of the United States
ought to be accord with the men Of the
times of Clay, Webster, Calhoun, Benton
and others. He would reflect honor and
credit on the State OF West Virginia. The
Democrats of the South Branch counties
are a u~nit,'for him. A DEMOCRAT"