The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-05

the Democratic party OF West Virginia.
Judge Fleming, Of Marion county,
seems To have the inside track for the
Democratic nomination for Governor,
though Hon. James Morrow, Of the
same county, will run him close in the
convention.
$4,000 extra will be taken this year
from the pockets Of our tax payers in
West Virginia by reason ofthe bad man
agement OF the penitentiary. Let our
lopsided Democratic partisans whoop up
the glorious Democracy, rs the screws
are put to the sons Of Weldon ne
publican.
Some Democratic papers in the State
are publishing story to the effect that
Gen, Golf declined q challenge from
Hon. W. l.. Wilson to meet him in JOINT
debate on the taritF. viii these papers
kindly inform their readers when Mr..
Wilson ever issued such challenge?
The story is II silly untruth.
Senator Kenna made u speech ut
Moorefield last week and endorsed the
Mills bill outright. Mr.. Kenna was
speaking to the people OF the South
branch valley, who seem to be thorough
" imbued with the free trade heresy.
He said much in his speech that he
would not say in some other portions OF
the State. Mr.. Kenna is on record as a
Randall Democrat in Congress. lie
was for Mr.. Camden's reelection and
was opposed to the election of Daniel Il.
Lucas, who represented the abstract
free trade theories OF Mr.. Carlisle,
William l.. Wilson and others" In the
bitter contest for the Speakership OF the
last Congress, Mr.. Kenna supported Mr..
Randall against Mr.. Carlisle, and vas
quoted at the time as saying that the
West Virginia members who voted for
the latter had misrepresented their con-
stituenCy, who would never endorse Car
isles tariff views. Mr.. Kenna has
always been for protection among pro
tectionists. Consequently, his speech
at Moorefeld, which he did not expect
would ever be circulated outside oil
Hardy county, would be interesting
reading among the rest OF the Randall
Democrats, Mr.. Kenna is not in favor
OF the Mills bill in its present shape
and if it goes to the Senate with free
lumber, free wool, and all the other free
trade features, Mr.. Kenna knows, and
will not deny, that he will vote against
it. Still, at MoOreiield, in one OF Mr.
Wilson'S strongholds, he uttered the
following, which he does not in his
heart endorse: "The poor people may
not see that the Mills bill is for theil
good, now; but they will see it il thu
Mills bill is allowed to become law
They will sec it in dollars and cents
not by more money coming into theil
pockets, but by what does not 90 out
Tor all the neCessaries of life, thing
which they must have TO live on, VII
be cheaper"
The Monroe Hdichmdn democrat
makes thissignifCant kick: Every mem
Der OF the State administration, save Gov
Wilson, is a candidate for reelection
They seem to be all pulling together, O.
in other words, have formeda combine
1t is the object OF this close corporation
OF which certain aspirants for Federal OF
fees are said to be members, to parce
out the places OF public trust among
themselves to their mutual delectation
and it must be admitted that the comb
nation is n strong one. But the masse!
OF the party do not contemplate will
pleasure this attempted usurpation o
their power. These gentlemen have, il
the main, discharged their official dutiel
we'll; but there are others in the party
who are Just as competent, and quite "a
deserving us any OF them. They have
no pre-eminent claim upon the party
Rotation in office is goodold Democratic
maxim which has ever been treateC
with Difference, and we respectfully sub
init, should not now be discarded
There is no reason to doubt that Holly
G. Armstrong OF Jackson, or A. V. Nc
Mcdonnell OF the grand old Democratic
county OF Wetzcl, would make rs ell
cient State Auditor us Mr.. p. J. Duffy
or that Hon. John NJ. Rowan OF Monroe
would fill the office OF State Treasure
as capably as Mr.. Vim. 4. Thompson
and rs we believe, with much more sat
isfaction to the people. There are also
candidates for Acknowledgement ant
State Superintendent OF Schools, who's
claims are deserving OF quite as much re
spect as the present incumbents.' We
do not ut all undertake to exclude
our present Administration, but we dc
deplore the formation OF such comb
nations MS are herein mentioned. II al
the otlice-holders league together to per
petuate themselves in office, with thu
prestige and patronage OF their posi-
tons to back them, they may SO strong
" entrench themselves as to be able t
absolutely control the party machinery
and defy public sentiment. Such beha'
yior must OF course result in ultimate
disaster to the party, for few forces more
tend to breed bad feeling and disruption
in a political organization than an ALI
ance between certain of its members tC
possess themselves exclusively OF the
oiFice-holding privilege. Merit is the
true and should be the only test. Moth
ing can prevent these gentlemen from
forming this combination ifthey choose
they may be even successful in over
throwing all opposition whereby; but
they certainly will not strengthen the
party, whose majorities are already OF
the verge OF extinction. The yeomanry
OF the Democratic organization do moi
view with complacency the surrender
ing of their supposed prerogative-that
OF choosing the party's nominees-into
the hands OF few would-be bosses, al
whose dictation one man is set up and
another pulled down."
Trust the People,