Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-24

the two wings of the Democracy
came together at Piedmont a few
weeks afterward, united their forces
nominated NJ. Wilson, Judge Hoge
and Mr.. Lucas both retiring. The
Eon. John W. Mason was the Re-
publican candidate and ex Congress {
man B. NJ. Kitchen the GreeRhacS /
nominee. Mr.. Wilson was declared
elected by 10 plurality over Mr.. Ma
son, but Mason and Kitchen togeth-
er had GAG votes over Mr.. Wilson,
from which it will be seen that cleo
ton Mr.. Wilson lacked GAG votes OF
carrying his district land this was
the first time the district had been
lost to the Democratic party since
1870. It is well known that in this
contest about twenty FIVE votes
which properly belonged to Mr.. Ma
son we're cast for Mr.. Wilson at
Charlestown, in Jefferson county.
A Republican ticket was circulated
on the morning of the election upon
which the name OF Mr.. Wilson had
been substituted for that OF Mr..
Mason. These tickets were placed
in the hands of illiterate colored
men and at least twenty five ofthem
voted for the Democratic nominee,
supposing they were voting for Mr..
Mason. 1t was never supposed that
Mr.. Wilson paid any money to
further this trasaction, but it is well
known that this ticket was prepared
By one julius Caesar Holmes, who
received his pay at the hands of Mr..
Wilson in the shape of good tat
office, and that this appointment
was among the first made by the
Cleveland administration. Mr.. Will
son was renominated in 1881, and
the Hon. f. NJ. Reynolds, of Keyser,
was his Republican opponent. 1t
will be remembered that in that
year we had very active and Wig
orous State campaign, and that the
strength OF both parties was suppos
ed to have been tested in the State
canvass, the district having been
lost by Judge Maxwell, the guberna-
torial candidate, III October, and
Mr. Reynolds did not feel justified
in making an active campaign in
the National, election, which occur
red few weeks later, and at that
election Mr.. Wilson was reelected
by majority of 1929. In 1886,
however, the Republican made an
aggressive fight for the place. Mr..
Wilson was again nominated by his
party and was opposed by the Hon.
w. II. II. Flick, the Republican
candidate, and by Mr.. John L. Siler,
of Morgan county, the Prohibition
candidate. Mr.. Wilson was elected
by 80 plurality over Mr.. Flick, but
Messrs. Flick and Siler together had
CT more votes than Mr.. Wilson, he
again failing to obtain majority OF
the votes of his district. In 1888
Mr.. Wilson was again the nominee
Of his party, as was also Mr.. Flick,
and Capt. Frank Burt, of Manning
ton. was the Prohibition candidate
While Spencer w. Sturm, of this
county, was the candidate OF the
Labor party. Mr.. Wilson was elect,
ed by plurality Of 373 over Mr..
Flick, and By majority of so over
all. 1t will be thus seen that no
Democratic candidate for Congress
except Mr.. Wilson has received less
than 1900 majority over the Repub
leans in this district since 1870, and
yet Mr. Wilson would have his con
stitucnts believe that it requires
some one with barrel" 20 defeat
him. AS a matter OF fact it is not
believed that Mr.. Wilson conld re.
ceive majority of votes of has oacn
party no one ioaS running against him.
We do not desire to be harsh in
our criticism, but after INDUCING i'll
such uncharitablc destinations, Mr..
Wilson cannot complain if the whole
truth is told regarding the interview
above quoted. The man who has
succeeded in eight years in reducing
the Democratic majority in his dis
trict from 1900 to nothing shoald
not be considered very formidable
antagonist for anybody to defeat.
1t is fair to Mr.. Wilson to say, how
ever, that his unpopularity in his
party is not on account of any per
sonal objections, but because lie is
not politically in sympathy with the
people of bis district. A very large
majority of the people OF the Second
Congressional district are Protec
tionists. Without protection this
district would be bankrupt in sixty
days. It is because Mr.. Wilson Is
at heart Free Trader, and has vot.
ed for every Free Trade project that
has been brought before Congress
since be has been n member of the
House, that he has twice lost his
district, and has been elected each
time by a very slim margin. Mr..
Wilson has always misrepresented
his district in that which affects its
greatest material interest, and we do
not believe he will be permitted to
do it again, no matter who may be
a candidate against him.-Fdirmont
HToo1 .