West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-02
KNOTT FULLYEXPOSED
Party Treaclery Unearihed.
Some Interesting Reading for the Adj
mirers of Knott.

y
full statement oi all that was said
and done ut the several interviews
had with Mr.. j: n. Camden and his
friends in Washington bearing upon
5. III. Higinbotham's candidacy for
the House of Delegates in opposition
to COL Il. L. Bcckwith, the anti
Camden Democratic nominee OF The
Lucas wing of the party. l will,
however,in agrcatly condensed form
endeavor to give a statement OF such
facts as remember as will show the
connection Mr.. Charles Knolt, in
particular, had in the matter. First,
let me state that Mr.. Camden sent
me u note by messenger, asking me
to call ut his room, No Wizards
Hotel, rs he wished to have a per-
sonal interview with Inc. 1 called
the same evening, as requested, and
was introduced to Mr. Camden bya
mutual friend. After the usual sslu
tations, Mr.. Camden said he had
sent for me for the purpose Of hav-
ing a talk about political matters in
Jefferson county and wished my can
did opinion as TO whether the leading
Republicans of the county we're nore
| favorable to the election Of ID. Ii.
Lucas to the L. s. Senate than they
were to his (Camden's) reelection.
L told Mr.. Camden that the Repub
licans of my county, first and above
all. desired the election Of General
Golf or some other good Republican
to succeed him, but If that could not
be accomplished. i was sure he would
he preferred To Mr.. Lucas by large
majority OF the prominent Republi-
cans. The question was there asked,
if it was the intention of the Repub-
licans to make nomination. j
replied That ! thought not, but that
it had been suggested by several Of
his friends that an independent
Democrat be brought out that was
favorable To his re election, and that
l thought the Republicans would
support him and defeat Beckwith or
any man the Lucas faction might
nominate. Mr.. Knott, Sargent and
several others were present ut the
conference. 1t was then pretty well
determined that Camden's friends
should not 90 into the convention,
and if they did. they were 10 with
draw from it il they found that the
Lucas wing had captured the con.
vention. Through some misman-
agement, on the part OF Camden's
managers, the plan miscarried, and
Beckwith was nominated in full
convention. The night after the
convention, or the following night,
we again met, and after exchanging
views, it was then determined To not
bring out an independent Democrat
in opposition TO Beckwith, but that
we Republicans should bring out
the strongest man in the county and
that the Camden wing wonld sup
port him and assist us financially
in making the canvass. 10 use Mr..
Camden's own words "Leisenring,
bring out your strongest man, not
pledged to vote for me in the Lcgis-
lature if elected, for / don't want his
vote, ] will be elected without it;
but in forming this combination, il
we can cut down Beckwith's MAORI
" below one halftf the usual ma
jority, 1t will be a big victory for
me- The morning before left
Washington to attend the conven-
ton at KearneysviIle. / called on
Mr.. Camden in company with Mr..
Chas. Knott and others, and after
talking over matters and exchang-
ing views, | was handed $50 by Mr..
Knott t. pay expenses to Kearneys
vile, DC; at the same time Mr..
Knott told me he would be ut the
depot in Harper's Ferry to meet me
on my return from the convention,
when he would furnish me more
funds. Upon my arrival at Harper's
Ferry found Mr. Knott anxiously
awaiting my arrival to learn the re-
suit OF the convention. We had but
a few minutes conversation, and az
ter handing me $40 with the prom
Use TO see me in Charlestown in a
day or two, when he would increase
the amount be left for home, whilst
| continued on to Charlestown. The
next morning friday / drove to
the home of ). II. Higinbotham to
notify him Of the action of the con
vention and Of his nomination. He
then most positively refused TO run.
! His reasons stated, IL is not Deces-
sary to state at this time. By strong
and urgent pcrsuasions, | induced
/ him to accompany me To Charles
town To have talk With
and Geo. Sargent (thc latter having
arrived in Charlcstown the night be
fore and occupying room M. s at
the Carter House, before positively
declining 10 run. What transpircd
between Higinbotham.--and
Sargent, they know All know is.
that when ] next met Higinbotham
he had concluded to run. The day
before the election received $40
additional cash through the hands
of Mr.. Chas. Knott, making a total
of $50, not a very large amount to