Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-01-03

Imporlant O .es,ian Discussed.

From tie lIayRe Ne,cs.
The Monroe IFatchman rcjoins TO our
rep Y 20 lis structures on Serator Kenna.
The burden of the argument is that Sen
aior Kcnna, by virtue Of being in Com
gres>, has been the leader Of the party in
this State for the last twelve years and
the majority has decreased therefore
Mr.. Kenna should he retired As we do
not admit the truth Of the premises We
maintain that The conclusion Is not well
t unded. We fail 10 see why Il United
States Senator or u Corgrc,' man should
be any more leader in the politics oi
his State than any other prominent man.
Mr. Kenlas course and votes in Con
gresS, have not been such rs are calculaI-
cd to weaken the party and his speeches
during the campaign were OF the very
best made by any caEvas>er. The only
bearing his official position has had Oh
State politics is in the recommendation
for appointment to Office under the gen
era government during thu last foui
wears. The greatest and most abrapt dc
cline in The Democratic majority in Ihi,
State was in the election of 1854 when
Mr.. Kenua was not permitted to run The
political machine and prior TO any OF hi
recommendations. The W'dtchmGn sure
ly does not charge up TO Senator kcnna
the weakness Of the ticket that he did nui
dictate, nor attribute the fall off OF 1881
To The mistakes made by him in The mai
Ter of recommendations since the 4lh %
March 1855. But has he made any 5,
rious mistakes in his recommendations !.
1t there are any Democrats in West Nir-
giuia who are more worthy Of place OF
are better qualified than Miller, Nc raw,
Sehon, Waits, Col. Wilson and Capt.
IIa>ser will the lI'ctchmai please name
few of lhcny They are the most pro-
mnent and popular men in the State anC
have been wheel horses in the cause OF De-
mocrary. We do not know on which side al
these gentlemen trained but we do know that
Mr.. Miller, at least, wa, not an adhcrcnt o.
eithor Mr.. Camden or Senator Kenna and he
got the best appointment made in this State.
The Governor has much more 10 do viii
shaping the politics o. the State than Sen
ator or Congressman, because his oiicia
q, t. have exclusive bearing on State Affairs.
Mr. N i son has represented tn Second dis
trirt i'm Congress since 1882 and in that inns
the Democratic majority Las decreased a
bout two thousand votes Has his leader
ship or official conduct been the cause OF this
Mr. Gibson was elected to Congress in a.
districtin 1882 by over twelve hundred M
jority. Twoyears later he had less than two
hundred Had he. done anything to cause
this? The change in the relative streng h
ofthe parties is not the result Of bad lcade-
ship. The greater part Of the change las
been through the new vote which has come
into the State The majority Of the native
element remains Democratic. Bad leader
ship has not been the chief recruiting az Mt
# ie Republican party from the Democra.-
ic ranks. Soreheadednoss produced by dis
appointment in getting Office has been Il
cause of the great majority ofdesertions.
IfMr. Kenna assumed n prominent d.
ership of the party in the late election we
have not heard oft lie made speeches as
other men did, but it ought not to be expect
ed that the leadership or the influence ofcne
man could check the march Of the army OF
Office hunters in whole ST. te
So far Is the Executive Committee was cor
cerned it could do but little. 1t was bar k
rupt for the reason that the element clamor-
ing for the defeat of Senator Kenna had re
yiously resorted to revolutionary and undem
ocratic methods to defeat all the men who
have heretofore provided the campaign fund.
The News Is under no personal or Ro.iti-
cal obligation to defend Senator Kenna. In
our support ofhim we are actuated by mo-
tives Of public good and party expediCn,y.-
That he has made an able and faithful repre-
sentative no man, whose mind is free from
bias, will deny. lie has given West Virgin
ia about all the national reputation it enjoys.
That he Is regarded away from home a
succe sful and a-tute political leader Is ey :
denced by the fact tina. be has for years over
his own protest been placed at tn hca Of
the Congressional Ca npaign Comm tie.
on, IFhat 4 Cough.
IV,u won L.,d he ,yaruiur The signal