Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-04
THE GULF WIDENS.
TEE REPUBLICAN REBELLION AGAINST At
KINSON SPREADING.
Pointers Indicating that the Jig is About Up with
the Acting Oongressnan-W. P. HubSards
Friends Said to Have Captured this Coan-
ty-Some Interesting Reading

The REGIsrFg has noted, upon several oc-
casions, the deep dissatisfaction Of the Re
publicans OF this Congressional district
with acting Congressman G. W. Atkinson,
and more than once has ventured the pre-
diction tina, the agile politician who attract
ed so much attention during the last cam
paign by his great balancing act, wherein
ne endeavored, although Unsuccessfully, to
keep on the right side Of two antagonistic
questions. would never again enter Re
publican Convention with majority OF the
delegates NJ his back. This prediction
rested upon wellgrounded premises, ana
although at first c. Wesley was disposed 10
po0h-pooh any attempt TO point out the lncy-
table. and many Republicans thought his
nomination a fOregone conclusion, the lat
ter have. upon calm reflection, exhibited a
decided disposition TO acknowledge that
the acting Congressman day of usefulness
was about over and that second nominal
ton was out Of the question. Mr.. Atkin-
son could not for long time bring himself
10 the mental condition essential TO his
viewing retirement with calmness, and upon
one occasion. as has been narrated IN this
paper. he went 10 the length Of displaying
his wrath when one leading local light in
his company summoned up the courage nee
essarv to tell him the truth, and what al
one time promised 70 be row was only
averted with some difficulty.
or late. however, Mr.. Atkinson has re
ceived information which must have car
ried conviction 10 his reluctant mind, and
he is now supposed to be on the verge Of
retiring. and il would not be surprising
e.. I'M =
had determined TO sever the string orlgl-
nally attached TO his little bluff to the ef-
feet that he did not want the office, etc,
and 10 read over his tremulous signature Il
letter. couched in glittering generalities,
announcing his withdrawal from political
life.
q. Wesley will be all the more disposed
IN do this. when he hears the latest news
from Ohio county Recent happenings
here. coming right on the heels Of bad
news from Wetzel, Hancock
and other counties in the district will have
something Of lastStraw effect, and Will
cause his political spinal column to snap
with a whip-like crack that will be heard
10 the remOteSt corners of the district
Mr.. Atkinson. after the manner OF MS
kind. has been writing letters TO his friends
AN over the district, in the hope of learning
something which would bring comfort TO
his sorrowing soul. and show him N last a
few square feet of solid ground, upon
which he could make a stand against
the rising tide. number
of these letters went TO Wetzei
county, among others, and bird has
brought the news that when Mr. Atkinson
read the replies he almost tainted. One
of the best was from New Martinsyille,
ana the writer said, after a careful survey
of the local field, he was safe in saying Mr.
Atkinson "WOuld not lose more than -
votes" there. Some of the other letters
were not so cheerful. \ gentleman In
Hancock, who was appealed TO for tue lay
of the land, responded that he did not
think Atkinson would lose more than 100
votes" up there, closing with the hope that
the aspirant would make IL up somewhere
else" Other letters are said 20 have been
in the same strain.
But it was reserved for the Republicans
Of Ohio county-Mr AtkinsOn's home-to
deal him the worst blow. There have been
desertions here right and left, and TO crown
all. the friends OF W Z. Hubbard are tax
ing the offensive. and from present indica-
tious they already have the county solid
for that gentleman. Saturday evening 5
meetings are quoted as virtual triumph
for the Hubbard men, and it was freely
PREDICTED yesterday that Atkinson had been
completely knocked out.
Some very interesting things, N pOllt-
cal way. may be looked for in the immedi-
ate future