Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-08-21
REPUBLICANS AT MART1ssBURe.
'swilly wally" Phelps, Who, IL Seems, stu
Has His Bang, Was There.

'swIlly waIly' Phelps, Who, II Seems. stu
Has His Bang, Was There.
Special 7sLEgrdm 20 ne Rooster.
MARTINsBURG, August 19-The Re
pubiicans opened their campaign here last
night in the Central Opera House. They
had big crowd, brass baud, Represen-
tative Fuller, of Iowa, "Willy Wally"
Phelps, of New Jersey, and our own
Ulysses Simpson Grant Pitzer, who in
troduced the speakers. The band played
and then Mr.. Pitzer introduced Mr.
Fuller, who was greeted with hearty sp-
plause, and it is well that ne was, for
that was all the applause he got during
the evening. This gentleman attacked the
Democratic party, claiming that 1t had
not the ability to conduct the affairs OF
the government, and advising the people
to trust the party to which he belonged,
saving that il bad the ablest and most in
teiligent men; which, after listening to,
taking him as its representative, the
audience seriously doubted. Then he at
tempted to say something funny, but the
chestnuts had been heard before, and the
laugh did not come in. Seeing that this
did not take, he pounced upon the civil
service, and then upon the Ways and
Means Committee, trying to show that its
members by reason OF their geographical
position were moi fit to frame tariff bill,
bnt acknowledging as he went along, that
Mr.. Wilson was an able representative,
and tnen after D warm effort to get the
crowd to enthuse over the "son Of his
grand dad" he sat down, having made
speech that fell as fat az any ever heard
in this city,
The band played again, and then Mr..
Pitzer arose, told joke and waited to hear
the laugh, but not a sound was heard,
and, introducing Mr. Phelps in very few
words, he sat down, thoroughly "squelch-
ed" Mr.. Phelps came forward and made
his bow. This gentleman, with his sun
burned face, prominent teeth and his bangs
hanging down in his eyes, reminded one
more OF an Italian peonut vender than an
orator. With his dear little English drawl
he made a speech OF coincidence, saying
that he had kindred feeling for West
Virginia. For sixteen years he had been
"
his State trying to convert the stiff-necked
Democrats, but although they had once
came very near carrying the State they
had never quit9 reached the promised
land, and here i'll West Virginia the same
thing had been done. We knew that il
had been done we'll, but like in his OVID
State, they had never secured the neceS- |
sary number of votes, and from the way |
he talked, it seems a. if he had given mp
all hope of ever doing 50. He gave his
party very little encouragement and
the belief that is entertained |
here, that Cleveland will have, a walk |
over. His argument on the tariff ques-
ton was very unsatisfactory. He took |
neutral ground, being placed between the
devil and the deep sea- by the stand
taken for high tariff by the Chicago plat |
form aud the determination Of ths Repub-
lican Senate to reduce the tariff
The hall in which the speaking was held |
was nicely deco,a ted with flagg. On
very large flag just in the rear of the
speakers stand were placed the pictures OF
Blaine, Lincoln, Logan and Sherman,
while the picture of Harrison had to Occu- |
py place to itself off to one side. Two
cOOns, which animsl seems to have been
adopted as Republican emblem, were
placed where all emblems of that party |
should be placed, on whisky barrel, and
served az reminder that the Republicans
had already depended Gu the ''coous"
OOe only speaks the truth when he says
that the opening of the campaigo by the |
was failure. The speeches
Al. u
were not appreciated by the audience and
Harrison's name was barely |
mentioned. No enthusiasm was exhibited,
while on the other hand the Democrats are
very enthusiastic and il ia safe TO say this
county will give good, big majority for
the Democratic ticket.