The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-22

seemed his darkest,
A DANGEROUS DISCOVERY,
Itwas discovered two years ago that
determined, compact, well manage,
minority can triumph over a strong an,
aggressive majority. It was shown thu
In politics there Is but little that is dis
Interested, that the ties Of politica
friendship are apt to resolve themselye
into weakest flaments under q sever
tension OF counter ambition. It hat
been supposed that Camden and Kennl
had formed a close alliance offensive ant
defensive, having for its ultimate obiec
the reelection oi each to the United
States Senate, Friends OF the two mer
understood the inequality Of the parties
to the compact. Camden, trustful, con
fding, unsnspectlng, u poor politician ai
politicians go, was feared 10 be no match
Tor Kenna, secretiye, crafty, taking moth
ing for granted, apolitiCian through and
through, and a very successful one al
that, II Kenna "toted fairn with Cam,
den, Camden's political affairs would
suffer nothing from him. II Kenna goI
to looking out ahead more for Kenna
than for the common allies, that would
be bad for Camden,
TUE FIRST STRAW.
When the appointment for United
States District Attorney was made by
President Cleveland, Mr.. Camden's
friends realized that Mr.. Kenna was
looking out for himself. Camden de-
sired the appointment OF Chairman
Dave Leonard, Mr., Kennainsisted upon
Watts, To preserve the peace Camden
let Kenna have his own way. Watts
was appointed, and Leonard, in disap.
pointment and disgust left the State, and
at the same time left Camden without
his right hand. II has many times been
said In sorrow by Oamden's friends that
the defeat OF Leonard brought about
the defeat Of Camden. II Is beyond
question that the two things were init.
mately associated, but 1t Is not true that
the defeat OF Leonard was the iounda.
tion OF the Noble Order Of the Twelve
Apostals, nor is 1t at all TO be presumed
that Leonard's appointment to the
United States District Attorneyship
would have drawn to Mr.. Camden the
twelve kicking Democrats, who cared no
more for Leonard than they did for the
King Of the Cannibal Islands.
A POINTED SUGGESTION.
The Leonard.Watts episode is recalled
because much Importance has been at.
tached to 1t by Mr.. Camden's friends
and because 1t marks the point OF diver
gence between Camden and Kenna.
During the strike Of two years ago, some
of Camden's friends tried 10 make him
believe that Kenna, instead OF being a
Camden man, was on that occasion an
intense kenna man, looking two years
ahead to his own reelection with more
interest than TO the election then pend
ing. This Camden refused TO believe,
insisting that Kenna was as loyal to him
as any friend he had. Although they
failed To make an impression upon Mr..
Camden's confding mind, these friends
OF his took occasion TO remark 10 Mr..
Kenna that, by reason OF certain ma
nGuvres on the part OF himself and his
followers, he would serve himself and
his party best by beating hasty retreat
to Washington, as he had In their judg.
ment outlived his usefulness in Charles
ton at that time.
II was not long after Mr., Camden's de.
feat that he began TO sec things q little
more clearly, being helped TO this by
some OF his observant friends, who made
up their mind that whatever attitude
Mr.. Camden might assume toward Mr..
Kenna's reelection, for themselves they
would place in his way all the obstacl es
they could In return for what they term-
ed his treaChery to Mr.. Camden. With
this determination they went into the
fight.
SHARP KNIVES FOR KESNA.
Before the members Of the present
Legislature began to gather at Charles.
ton, and from that time on, the Camden
fight has figured in the Kenna contest.
Kenna and his close friends were sus-
piCious. II they saw opposition they
concluded that Camden was under 1t.
II somebody spoke sllghtlngly, they
thought they recognized the familiar
tones OF Camden's voice. Before the
fight had gone far, and in advance Of
that remarkable invention known as
the Caucus conference" correspondence
OF a bed rock character passed between
Charleston and Parkersburg, resulting
in letter from Camden TO Kenna in
which the Parkersburg statesman as
sured the young Senator that he was for
him, had earnestly desired his re-elec-
tion, had done, and would continue to
do, all in his power to bring about that
result. The receipt Of this letter gave
Mr.. Kenna much satisfaction and re-
lief and he soon took occasion 10 have
II generally known that Mr.. Camden had
so written to him. Whatever may have
been Mr.. Camden's resentment against
Mr.. Kenna, or his view OF the situation
asopening to him areturn to public life,
1t Is part Of the history Of the contest
that he did charge upon those friends ot
his who were hostile TO Kenna that they
abide by the caucus nominee and give
him their support.
AN APPEAL TO CAMDEN.
AS time wore on, Mr.. Kenna and his
friends discounted the assurance Of Mr..
Camden. They were confident that
Camden could, IL he would, bring Dorr
and Merrill intn the traces, and they
madea demand on him TO exert his In.
fluence in this direction. It was just
about two weeks ago that they sent an
Envoy Extraordinary 10 Parkersburg 70
wrestle with Mr.. Camden In this behalf,
Mr.. Camden gave renewed assurances
OF his distinguished consideration, pro-
testing that he had not pulled q single
wire for himself; and that all he bad
done before and since the election was
In Mr.. Kenna's interest; that:he realized
that Mr.. Kenna was entitled TO rc.elec.
tlon; and above all things he believed IN
the sovereign sway Of the caucus, which
having nominated Mr.. Kenna, had
thereby placed on every Democrat ID
the Legislature the obligation to sup
port Mr.. Kenna. II anybody was re'
voting he, Camden, was not responsible
for II, and should notso DO hold.
"Then take the next train for Charles
ton and say 30 on tho spot" urged The
Envoy Extraordinary,
mo-" replied Mt. Camden, III ] Dc
that II win DO said that am there II
my own Interest, 10 which charge ! Shal
not give tho color ot my presence,