Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-01-20
A REVIEW
OF the Very Complex and Peculiar situa-
ton At Charleston.
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of the perplexing questions that will come
before it. The prospect fer legislation for
the general welfare of the people is even
more remote. No one prOtesses to know
when or how the necessary appropriation
bills viii be passed, but all fgree that it
can not be done until the more pressing
political measures are dispensed with.
The situation has provoked considerable
comment fIOm prominent men Of both par
ties, who are mOre interested in the pro-
gress Of necessary legislation than IN sub
serving the partisan interests Of particu-
lar man OF set of men. have heard a
new proposal in this relation. 1t may in
terest people who are tired of pclitics.
The proposal was that a separate body,
something similar in form and functions
to en- Electoral College, should be chosen
At each election 20 select United States
Senator and decide such party conteets as
may arise. TIE regular Legislature whould
be limited in duties to legislation strictly.
ANY one who is aCquainted with the pro
oesdiDgs of the last two sessions Of the
West Virginia legislature and knows bow
little Of real and permanent value 70 the
people Of the State was done, cannot but
be impressed With the proposal
AMEND THE LAW.
I know OF my personal knowledge that
there are members of both houses here who
have important measures on hard looking
70 amendments of our statutes Of every con-
ctivabls nature. These have been pushed
over from session to session by the stress
Of political business, and there is no better
opportunity 10 present them now than four
years ago.
One thing should be done by this Legis-
lature. aud that is to amend the law Ol
gubernatorial contests. The present mess-
ure was framed when the election was
held in October. The time in which the
notices must be served, counter notice
given, &c, should be reduced 50 as to
make it possible to decide the controversy
before the expiration of the gubernatOrial
term. Ths s'a.utss are otherwise confused
on this point, and should he made clearer.
The necessity for some sort of regis
tration law, and of some very important
changes 10 the election law is also sppa'
rent. but there Is no chance that any steps
will be taken in this direction.
The .ial season nas opened up brilliant
". The ball in h0uor of the members OF
the legislature was grand success In every
detail. The ladies and gentlemen who
had il in charge are 70 be congratulated.
If il can be considered any indication,
there will be many enjoyable events OF this
character here during the winter. II a
STUDENT of human nature was around with
a microscope pTying into human aspira-
tions and hopes, he could sea many thiues
10 interest him on such occasions. In
sep9rate corners, q Senator and Gov
ernor. resplendent in spike tail coats,
and full shirt fronts. hobnob with
ordinary members Of the Legislature, ss
Bill Nye would say, in the most friendly
sryle. seemingly for the time to forget the
dignity Of their high positions. In other
knots numerous wOuld-be Senators and
Governors are engaged in the same lauda-
bic pursuit, while little coteries Of pOliti-
clans. each with his particular axe to grind,
make up TIE assembly, as far as the greater
part of the male portion Is concerned. II
is safe 10 say, however, that there Is little
politics on these occasions. Charleston
boasts for her oVn some Of the loveliest
women in West Virginia. Their Ulles Tor
the time at least are sufficient to distract
the average statesman's attention from his
usual desperate efforts to save the 'honor
and integrity of West Virginia
ALL WANT REWARD.
I, is rot an extravagant assertion that
99g1OOO,h Of the Republican leaders
State, county and district, in West Vir-
ginia, believe that they are entitled to
some high reward at the hands Of the new
They feel that the time
has come Tor a new deal, and they are
ready to make the charge all along the
line. Charleston is the present Mecca for
these hopeful aspirants. Here they can
consult and bask in the smiles of that
great power which will distribute all these
Dlums Aud every man of them who is
able 10 pay his fare has packed up his grip
sack and hied himself hiiher. Gossip oil
all kinds is picked up on every hand, most
of it with a tinge of local coloring.
The Federal office that seems most
sought after among the brethren Is the
United Sta'el District Attorneysh'p Esrly
in the conflict Brother W. J. w. Cowten,
of Wheeling. put his new clothes IN a hand
bag and started CharlestOnward, and has
been here ever since, with no visible purpose
except to posh his claims for Gen. Watts
official shoes COwdsn is supposed to
stard next to GOa, but there are quiet
whispers that the sanity brother ls not as
hioh in grace as he once was. For some
reason he has lost caste especially among
the Republicans Of the Kanawha valley
and they are dead set "agin' him. Cow-
denis management Of the campaign Is
roundly condemned.
How's THIs'
One of the leading Republicans of this
citv. let me in on the inside OF
this subject. He said I'VE had TO
tab. the matter out of Cowden's hands en-
tirsIv You will notice that the heaviest
Repnblican gains were in the Kanawha
vsiIev and here we conducted the cam
naign 10 suit ourselves without Cow
den's aid.
f'MlE the OOnuCA-AApit
c.uldn't carry their own county. Now
Won can see why we have no use Tor him:
Nv informant also told me that the
Kanswba Valley Republicans would stand
bv L c. Burdette for U. S. Attorney II
he was a candidate If not, they favored
Flick OF Hutchinson.
Hutchinson has been here in person rep
resenting Gen. GOff and Fud McGinnis in
the legal proceedings, which have been
pendipg. There is no abler lawyer or
more deserving party man in the State.
when General Watts steps down and out,
as he must before many moons, no one
will grumble if John A. Hutchinson ,n sue sue,
ceeds him. Flick was in the army with
Csn Harrison and they are close personal
frisnds. His candidacy depends more on
,bis fact than any tangible claim on the
place. -,.-,,..r,o,-