The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-20
SENATORIAL FIGHT.
THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS
In the Capital of the Country to Dispose of
West vIrgInIa's ssnatOFshlp = The
"Duty of the HOur"-somO Gossip
About the Legislative OnlCss, ..
spsssa! pt.paleA 70 he Inlelltpe,eq.

Special Dhpaich 10 ne Intelligae9,
WAsHlNaToN, d, u, Dec, 19,-Qllte q
number Of West Virginia politicians have
been here during the past few days, and
y number Of conferences have been held
with Senator Camden. The main object
OF tho visits is to shape the situation with
reference to the circus which is to open
at Charleston on the 18th Of January, The
Senator's friends are not yet assured that
all the Democratic members Of the Legis-
lature will consent TO 60 into caucus. There
are some who express an uncertainty as
to whether Mr., Camden would be able
to control a caucus, even should they all
consent to one, The opposition Is conf.
dent that 1t will develop more strength
than some people gives 1t credit for pos
aessiDg,
II is possible that a crisis will come In
the Senatorial election when an oppor,
tunity may be presented 10 the Repub-
liCans to forever retire the Standard Oil
Doodle ring from participation In West
Virginia politics, by giving their votes to
some one OF the auti,Oamden candidates.
Said gentleman to-day: "Mr. Gam.
dSn and the coal oil hOodlers he com.
mands are responsible for the methods
used to secure Democratic success in the
State. Deprived Of the power OF this
combination, the Democratic orgsniza.
tion is made purer, II weaker, while Re-
Ia Ia l,n I.,k,.
more hopeful. That It is the duty OF Re.
publlcaua 10 pursue such q policy as will
be Of tho greatest benefit to their party
and tho State is unquestiOned. II there
10 o Democratic candidate with sufficient
Independence to become the instrument
by which the Doodle ring Is to be crushed,
it behooVes Republicans, for the welfare
Of their own party and the publication oil
West Virginia politics to givo him their
cordial support"
APPREHRNsIYE,
neutrality-suspicious. Washington, as
we'll as in the sIats, are apprGlenslve that
a mine Is about to explode, Tho defeat
Of Camden means their official decaplta.
tion. Some OF them have told mo that
Governor Wilson has already served the
notice upon them, assuming that he will
be the auCcessiul candidate. II he Ia
elected 10 will not owe 1t TO them, and
will have hia ewn friends TO reward. The
failure OF Mr.. Camden, then, does not only
mean that gentlemau's individual discom.
fture, but tho political downfall OF every
member Of the powerful ring of which ho
Is the acknowledged leader. The effect
would bs revolution'sing OF the politlcs
Of the State. Republican duty is plain,
therefore. II the Democratic oppoIitlol
stands firm, II is for the respectable RI.
publican minority to say whether or not
the power OF the ring that has heretofore
carried matters with so high q hand shall
be wrested from Il"
Leading Republicans In Washington
arc unanimous In favor ot the IETELLIdRN.
CER's suggestion OF lsst Friday regarding
tho "Duty. OF the Hour" DsiaoGrRtG
here from tho State arc talking little
about the organization OF tho LrgislaturO.
Hon. J. u, Rowan, Of MonroU county,
who Is candidate for the speakership, Is
in the city. Mr.. Rowan ClaimS that he
will receive the CAUCUS nomination With,
out much Of contest Hon. W. Nelson
Chancellor has been talked Of as a candi.
date, but does not neem over anxious for
the honor. 1t seems to be CONCEDED by
many that Hon. George Price will aRaih
be elected President ol the Senate.
So far, Colonel j. B. Peyton has no op.
position as Clerk Of the House, and the
genial George Sargent, unless some un.
look ed ior complication arises, will likely
be elected to the place to which he aspires
that Of SerReant.at-Arms. The various
candidates for the other positions are
making their campaigns, each with conf.
dence In HE ability to pull through.
One oil the matters now agitating the
minds OF tho Camden managers, is
whether or not II will prove good policy TO
make the selection oil the officers Of the
Legislature 0 albject for testing Of the
strength Of the factions, thus virtually de-
Gliding the Senatorial contest IN ADVANCE,
or, II 1t would not be better 10 give the
otfices to tho opposition, as a conCiliatory
measure. Judging from some expressions
heard during the past week, II is likely
that the "managers' will keep their hRndg
Of, aud allow the candidates to 90 through
upon their own personal popularity or
merit, without regard to their individual
preferences in the Senatorial fight.