Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-07
LOOKING FOR LIVELY TIMES.
Hot Contests for Senator and Governor
Expected at Charl eston.
correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.


Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Jan. A, 1889.
The approaching meeting of the legislature
is already attracting the leaders of both politi-
cal parties of the state to this place The ses-
sion will undoubtedly be one of the most men,
orable ever held in the state. Besides the
election of United States Senator, the notice
of contest served on General Golf by his demo-
cratic opponent will bring the question of the
governorship before the body for adjudication.
Both sides have narrow margins to stand upon,
consequently the more determined and dog
gedly stubborn the fight will be.
As for Senator, the assembly on joint ballot
is democratic by one or two, and will, in all
probability, re-elect Mr.. Kenna Some oppo-
sition cropped out a short while ago, but there
is no question about the Senator's hold upon
the affections Of his party. and if there was
any real strength in the alleged candidacy of
ex-senator Davis or Governor Wilson it has
been sat upon by the unmistakable manifesto
ton of public sentiment. Unless some unfOrttl-
nate democrat turns up his toes'' between now
and the meeting of the legislature it almost
goes without saying that Kenna will succeed
himself.
THE CONTEST OVER THE GovERNoRsHIP.
But the fight for the governorship promises
to be extraordinarily interesting. Hon. J. w.
st Clair, counsel for Judge Fleming, presented
the notice of contest to Gen. Golf personally.
The contestant relies solely upon the rejec-
ton of illegal and fraudulent votes. The notice
charges that LOAF illegal votes were cast for
Coil and names each person casting fraud
ulent ballet, and outlines the sources of proof
by which it is expected to make the statement
good. The great majority Of these illegal bal
lots were cast, it alleges, by colored repeaters
in Kanawha. Mercer. Mcdowell and Fayette
counties. These men were natives of Virginia,
but were brought to the polls in thinly popu-
lated districts aad voted by the score. A con-
siderable number of fraudulent ballots, it is
also charged in the notice, were polled in Min
eral county.
The republicans, on the other hand. have ex-
pected this, and as far back as three weeks ago
a republican meeting at Weston unanimously
agreed that IF Hon. A. B. Fleming gives no
tice of contest every republican candidate on
the state ticket should be urged to fall into line
and give democracy full dose by contesting
for the respective positions to which they be-
lieve it will be shown by proof that they have
been elected" This feeling was pretty gen.
eral, and as a contest has been noted the deter
mination to have big fight over it has been
intensified, and the indications are such lively
times will be witnessed as will throw the scenes
in the Ohio and Indiana legislatures few
years ago completely in the shade.
A MISUNDERSTANDING CONTEST.
Whether the present situation of affairs has
anything in common with the case or not re-
mains to be seen, but it look a little suspicious
that it is proposed to contest the seat of State
Senator John d. Sweeney, of the Parkersburg
district. Sweeney is one of the democratic
hold-over members. The election between
himself and Hon. Anthony Smith was very
close. Sweeney holds his seat by reason of
conflicting certificates, Writ county having
issued two sets. Mr.. Smith also holds certif-
Gates which show that he was elected by a
majority OF eight. Sweeney's revised certifi-
Gates give him a majority of twelve. On No
vember 16, 1866, the county commissioner of
Writ county issued to Smith and Sweeney GER
tificates which showed that Sweeney had a
majority OF eighty-two in the county. After
ward Sweeney notified that his majority
was 1902 but the commissioners never notified
Smith that his certificate was erroneous. On
this suspicion that the commissioners of Writ
county made out second certificate for
Sweeney to give him the necessary majority,
the contest will probably be raised at the
coming session of the legislature. Should
Sweeney be unseated the democrats will not
have majority on joint ballot.
The republicans are all alert and awaiting
the merest chance TO capture the organization
OF the legislature. and unless the democrats
are here on time they will carry the day, both
in the senate and house. 1t is not expected
that the big guns of either party will begin to
arrive before the latter part of the week.
Gov. Wilson is catching a vast amount of
severe criticism because of his having given
the two democratic Congressmen-elect certii-
Gates OF election in the first and second dis
tricts and withheld those alleged to be due the
two republicans in the third and fourth. The
fact appears to be that Gov. Wilson cannot ac-
cording to law issue certificates to the others
as yet, as both cases in the courts, and until
they come up to him properly certified he can
not Issue gubernatorial certificates