The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-03-05
Tho LnckY Ones.

~ A<t1CA-L NSlt4s
CHARLESTON, W. VA, February
26.-Governor Fleming to night an
nounced that he would To morrow
appoint Hon. w. A. ohley, of Fair
mont, to be Secretary of State; Hon.
/ NJ. Van Pclt, Of Fayetteville, to be
Superintendent of the Penitentiary,
and Alexander III. Wilson, of
Charleston, to be Janitor at the Cap
itol. The appointment of Secretary
of State is to take effect at some flu
ture date not yet determined upon,
and in the meantime the Governor
has requested Hon. H. S. Walker to
continue in the discharge OF the du-
ties of his Office.
These three Offices are the most
important in the gift of the Cover
nor, and there has been spirited,
though entirely honorable and good
natured contest for them. Among
the active candidates for Secretary
of State, besides Mr.. 0hley, have
been the present incumbent, Hon.
Henry S. Walker, and Hon. w. 4.
Chiffon, of Charleston. The names
of 81 large number of other gentle
mon. notably Col Tom Darrah, of
Wheeling, and Hon. Andrew Edmis-
ton, of Weston, have also been very
f;,vorably mentioned. The an
nonncement of the appointments
has been received with general sat
isfaction here.
For Superintendent of the Peni-
Tertiary Il dozen or more strong can
didates have been in the field.
Three came from Marion county
alone, with an equal number from
Marshall, while several other coun-
ties contributed one or two. Mr..
Van Pelt, the appointee, is lawyer
of decided ability and has been one
of the most active and influential
Democratic members OF the State.
Hon. W. A. OHLEY's CAREER.
The new Secretary of State is a
comparatively young man, but in
his chosen field of work he has won
merited distinction. Mr.. Ohley was
born in Somerset county, Pennsyl-
vania, on September %. 1858; he
came to West Virginia with his
parents in 1873, and located at Iron
dale. Preston county. While at
Irondale he worked in the foundry
ut that place, and taught night
school, at the solicitation of the
Young people of the community,
who had no other educational OPP
portunities. In 1875 the family
moved to Palatine Marion county,
w. Va, and Mr.. Ohley, then a boy
of II, entered the book printing of.
flee of o. s. Mckinney, Esq with
whom he has been closely connected
in all his subsequent career. He re-
manned in Mr.. McKinney's employ
over two years, and then purchased
the Fairmont Inder. That paper
had been established three years,
and was in anything but satisfac-
tory condition. Under Mr.. OhIey's
prudent management it began to
improve and in few weeks took
rank as one of the most influential
weekly journals in the State. A
series of articles appearing in it in
1884, supporting the famous reassess-
ment order of Gov. J. B. Jackson
attracted attention all over the State,
and in fact proved ono of the most
powerful influences in support of
the step which the Governor had
taken. Since then Mr.. Ohley has
conducted his paper with marked
ability and success. AS the home
organ of Judge Fleming while he
was candidate for Governor, and
through all the trying hours of the
gubernatorial contest, it has been a
power for Democracy. Without re-
fleeing in any manner on the
splendid capacity and ability of Mr..
ohley's predecessor, or the other
gentlemen who aspired to the posi-
ton, it may be said that the appoint
ment is, in some measure. a just re-
ward for honorable party services.
Acts Passed.