The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-27
a wEsr vInGINlA srArEsNIAN

INVEST VIRGINIA STATESMAN.
John W. Mason OH the Last Campaign
publican Prospects.
Special Correspondence Of The InteiItG.Rser.
WASHINGTON, D. O., July 25.-Hon.
John W. Mason, OF Grafton, was in the
city a day or two since to meet ZONE New
York clients OF his who are litigants in an
important suit in which the Flenington
Taylor county, mining property is in.
volved. While here your correspondent
had a brief, but interesting conversation
with the distinguished Republican leader
regarding politics in West Virginia. Mr..
Mason thinks that Republican prospects
in West Virginia are very encouraging
and that the chances are not only good
for carrying the Legislature and insuring
a Republican successor to Senator Gam.
den, but tha. a gain OF at least two mem.
bers OF Congress is not at all unlikely.
As a politician, Mr.. Mason Is one OF the
coolest, keenest and most calculating
leaders in the State. He Is not given to
vain boasts or braggadocio, and can best
be described as q man who thinks twice
before he speaks" He studies situations
carefully and upon every side before he
renders judgment, and when lhe predicts
a certain result, II Is generally based upon
sound reasoning. In 1884, during the
campaign which resulted in the defeat OF
the Fusion ticket in West Virginia, ho
contributed his heartiest efforts for the
success OF the cause, Notwithstanding
the TACT that his better judgment told him
great mistake had been made at the
outset. No man In the State worked harder
than he. Every moment OF his time was
occupied In the campaign work. There
was no sulking or pouting over disap.
pointed hope that the strongest ticket
possible would be selected. He seemed
TO realize that he was under obligations as
Republican and party man 10 set aside
his personal disappointments and to work
all the harder. At his home In Grafton
he never missed meeting Of his local
club when he was in town, and bore his
share Of every burden. He went through
the State and organised counties where
there had never been Republican orRani-
cations before, and worked INCREASINGLY In
this way up 10 the day OF election. And
vet two weeks before the election, In q
private conversation with me he said that
he felt almost certain Of defeat Ho had
looked carefully over the ground, and 1t
was bis opinion that Windy. Wilson
would carry the State by from three to five
thousand mBjority. ! do not know that
anyone else shared this opinion with him,
Certainly no one but his mo0t intimate
friends knew oi his uneasineSS. Tho night
preceding the election he made q speech
In Grafton, and no one could have told
hut that be was very Bangulne OF the sue.
Cess OF the Maxwell ticket.
ANTICIPATING BLAiNE's DEFEAr.
Then, again, for q week previous to tho
November election he felt that Blaine
would be defeated, but he worked and
hoped on 10 the last. He saw the circum.
stances combining toward the last which
would elect Cleveland, and privately &C.
knowledSCd 1t. No one man in West vir.
ginia suffered greater disappointment at
fesult OF that election than aid John W.
MAhOut 4ub WhIlu pulHuuh lIlhuubulV
existing between himself and Mr.. Blaine,
and the great admiration he felt for the
Maine statesman politically, both combin.
ed to make bis disappointment very keen.
After the result OF that memorable con.
test was known, for time the Rspubli.
cans oi West Virginia, while admitting
Mr.. Blaine no leBS, felt that he never
would recover from the defeat, and che
day for bis availability 10 Presidential
candidate was past. know Of but one
man In the State who the day after election
was "a intense Blaine man 90 the day
previous. That man was John w. Mason.
"Blaine will be nominated again In 1885,"
said ho.. MI. Mion was "poohed" by
everybody, but he stood hia ground.
"Such BtuG % Blaine II made OF cannot
he crushed. He will come out Of this de.
feat brighter and more popular than ever,
and within two years you will hear more
Blaine talk than ever. You will oil rO.
allSe thip, and West Virginia Republioana
will again demand the nomination Of Ihs
plumSd Knight" II may have been Mt.
Masons enthusiastic friendship Tor the
great ptoleClionlst that prompted him 10
utter this prophecy when nearly The en-.
tire country disagreed with him, II Ger.
lAinly seems now, Ia the light ot present
events, % though II was o case ol rare
political foresight, Whichever Il
WRb, Mt. MABon's prediction hal
come true, and In line with him to-day Il
a majority Of the Republican party, There
70 mot q public man In America WHOSE