Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-07
WEST VIRGINIA.

WEST VIRGINIA.
The Democracy Observation-Disclosures Pro
bable Nominee for Supreme Judge
The Outlook for Congress.
Correspondence OF tho Richmond Dlspatch.l
PAREERsrURG. W. Va. June 6. 1890
On June 18th representative Democrat
from every county IN West Virginia vii
meet the Democratic Executive Committe,
OF the State in this city. The meeting vii
be the formal opening of one or the closes
and most exciting campaigns ever fought
in "A southern State. West Virginia of al
the southern States is looked upon by Re
publican bosses as the one most likely t
break the solid South, and repetition OF
tho nefariOus Outrages that so nearly car
ried the State two years ago IS loo' for
West Virginia Democrats expect - night
all the money aud trickery OF Quay
Dudley. and their gang combined IL
supreme effort. Again the campaign
will be the first appeal TO the people since
the memorable gubernatorial contest, anC
the issues Of that conflict Will be fought
over again. In another particular the cam
paign will be unique. Two of West Vir
ginia's four Democratic congressman hay'
been unse9ed. and third probably vii
be before November. All these element:
will tend to make an exceedingly bitter
struggle.
NOMINEE FOR SUPREME JUDGE.
The officers TO be elected in the State are
n supreme Judge, congressman, and mem
bers of the Legislature. For supreme
Judge the Democrats Will in all probability
nominate Judge ID. j. Lucas, and in
doing so will bury forever the fac
oh I.u Il
the Democratic majority in the State from
$1,000 to less that one third of that. Lucas
is a man of distinguished ability. In 1887
he led the bolt in the Legislature which
defeated ex-senator j. n. Camden. The
resulting fight between the factions nearly
lost the State in 1888. Lucas was appointed
to the senatorial vacancy, but was ousted
by the United States Senate, and Charles
James Faulkner. who was elected at a spe-
cial session Of the Legislature, was seated.
Six months ago Lucas was appointed SUI
preme Judge. A reconciliation was effect
ed, and today the friends of Senators
Camden and Kenna will support Lucas
cordially. without their support he could
not be nominated, and his nomination by
them will be pledge of party harmony.
THE FIRST DISTRICT.
In tho congressional districts the situa-
ton is unusually favorable to the Demo
Gratis. In the First distract John o. Pen
dleton, a Democrat who was one of the
first to suffer by Gar Reeds counted quo
runs, and George W. Atkinson, who was
given his seat. though defeated by clear
majority, will be renOminated. Pendleton
has an united party back of him, while no
fewer than six prominent Republican pa
pers are IN open revolt against Atkinson.
Although manufacturing district the
tarIff-reform sentiment Is remarkably
strong. The Democrats have natural ma
jority. and with compact organization
they will easily hold their own. Smith.
Republican stoye-maker. who was given
Judge Jackson's seat in this (the Fourth
district. will be renominated.
OTHER DISTRICTS.
The district is naturally Democratic by
from 1000 TO 1900 majority. A factioDal
fight in the convention which nominated
jackson largely reduced his vote. Jack
son will not DE candidate again. and a
new man on whom all Democrats can unite
will be nominated and elected easily. In
the Third district there will be hard
fight. There are already five candidates
for the Republican nomination, and tho
rivalry between them is excessively bitter.
Congressman Anderson, the present incum-
bent, and Ex-Governor Wilson aspire to
lead the Democrats. Both are strong men,
but Anderson appears 10 have the
advantage. Into this district thou
sands of negroes have recently been
brought to work on the Norfolk and West
ern and other railroads. Anderson carried
the district by 20 two years ago over great
Democratic disaffection and the illegal
votes of hundreds Of colored repeaters.
With a united party and careful watch
on the Virginia importatlons the district
ought to be safe.
WILSON'S FIGHT.
4 fight which will attract national atten.
tion will be on in the Second congressional
district. Hon. William l.. Wilson, the
gifted advocate of tariff reform. will b
the Democratic candidate to succeed him
self The district is close. Wilson carried
IL two years ago by 1888 plurality.
Since his first race in 1882, when his
plurality over John W. Mason. the
present commissioner Of internal revenue.
was only ten, Wilson has been growing
steadily stronger, and on the stump he HIS
no rival. But against him will be pitted
Stephen h. Elkins. backed by the West
Virginia Central railroad and an endless
=" Doodle" Elklns has no hold on West
Virginia. He IS comparative stranger %
the people, and his only hope to beat VII
son will be an unlimited use of money ard
of voters. The sentiment Of
tariff reform is stronger in Wilson's dis
trict than any other IN the State, and it is
almost inconceiyable that he will be
beaten.
THE NEw ELECTIoS-LAw.
The last State Legislature passed strin-
gent election-law and the efforts of the
boodlers who 80 nearly bought a yictorytwo
years ago will be seriously hampered. The
Democrats are more united and have q
better organization than at any time for
years before. The financial depression
among the farmers and the growth of
farmers clubs have spread the doctrine of
tax reform. All these things will tend to
give an old-time Democratic victory. The
I solid South" will not be broken by West
Virginia this year.
Channcey DepeM Yerr GIL