The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-29
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
An Interesting Condition Of
Democratic Affairs.
MR., WILSON'S WEAK POINTS.
His Lack OF Conservatism Don't
Please Progressive Democrats.
Republican PrOsprcts.-Thc
ncmocratic Split In Putnam.
stcta! coHespnlieace ofihe In,eqioa,ar.

Sifcid! CoHcsp0nie acc offhe Inteaiceetr.
kErssE, W. Va. August eS.-The si
uation in tho Second Congressional dis
trict Is more interesting than that Of an
other diatrict in the State. For tho pns
ten years the Democratic hope has bee
hanging by u aalender thread. Previou
to 1852 the majority had been up in tn
thousands. Since that time, which EN-
braces the period OF Hon. W. i. Wilson
career in Congress. 1t has dropped unit
the district is now classsd among tn,
doubtful ones, and once during tha
time the plurality Of the Democrati
candidate was leGH than n score, while A
another timeit was score short OF n hun
drrd, and on neither occasion did Mr.
Wilson receive Il nisjority OF the yotet
east in the district. At tho last election
Judge Flick. the Republican nominee
owing TO i'll health, did not make M
active canvass and yet he came within
an ace OF defeating Mr.. Wilson
This Tas in presidential year when
party lines were drawn and irll vote
%eB out. In view OF these facts, It II
no wonder ths. the delegates to the
Democratic convention held here yester
day TO nominate Mr.. Wilson for q fifth
term in Congress took the action they
did with some misgivings as to the re-
suit. To be sure, there was, consider.
ing the diminutive size OF the conven,
tloD, a fair amount OF enthusiasm, bu;
away Down in their hearts there was q
feeling among the delegates that the
condition which confronts the Dem.
ocracy Of the Second district is serious
and it might be the wiser course to Sc,
lect another than the man who has neye,
yet received one.hal! the o!d.time Dem.
ociatic majority and who has three times
barely escaped losing the district for the
party.
BONE FRANK TALK.
BY common consent, however, it was
resolved to trust once more to the magic
power OF Mr.. Wilson's elcqucnce to
carry him through, and ut the same
time TO trust 10 luck that the Republi.
cans would not nominate strong man,
Thus It was that for the third time MIR.
Wilson was allowed to carry of the
prize by acclamation.
after tic adjournment OF the conven.
tion l had n talk with two or three dele.
gates from counties west OF the noun.
,ains, end they frankly told me that they
realized the situation was Just as have
outlined it above. "While Mr.. Wilson,"
they said, sis brilliant man intelectu.
ally and has in that respect creditably
Represented tho State, it must be nc.
knowledged that he has never shown
remarkable strength among the people,
particularly among our people, who are
not in sympathy with him in his radical
free trade views. In Marion, Monon.
gala, Randolph, Taylor and Preston we
have seen our coal territory developed,
we have seen our skies lighted by the
fires OF coke ovens and iron furnaces, we
have felt the beIeticent results of rail.
road building and have witnessed the
inauguration OF an era or industrial de.
velopment and financial prosperity such
as has never been experienced before in
our history. Mr.. Wilson is m avowed
enemy and leader Of the enemies OF
the tariff policy Of the government un-
der Which these things have been
brought about. 90
with the evidence before their eyes
TINT the American protective policy; is
not rGIarding the progress OF West Vir.
2inia, and particularly our section OF it.
we eare not prepared to say that the peo
pie OF the counties named are willing tc
endorse Mr.. Wilson's rank free trade
theories. This is one reason why he
has never carried the district by an ole
time majority, Gnd why We are afralt
that the sentimental idea that because
William l.. Wilson cali make a yoot
speech and is popular among his fret
tiade colleagues from other States, is ,
mistake.
BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONS.
practical business considerations G;
farther With our people than sentiment
Even east Of the mountains, where tn,
people depend moro on agriculture, al
analysis OF the returns from the last i:
years elections will demonstrat
that the farmers are beginning to se
the buttered side Of their bread. Stu
ated, rs they are, between the grea
manufacturing ceutrss Of the East an'
the magnificent mineral territory nj tn
very gates OF their farms on the west an,
south, they do not require telescope t
see for their farm products home mar
ket which is iostered by tho American
policy OF protection, which Mr.. Wilsol
80 cloquently denounces, and which b
would destroy il he had the power. Sc
son See, just what the source OF MI
Wilson's weakness is.
Conservation is word that is not il
Mr.. Wilson's vocabulary. Charles J
Faulkner and Ben Martin aud Johl
blair Hos", who preceded Mr.. Wilso
in Congress, we're all conservative mer
and they were always good for from tw
to three thousand majority. Then cam
Wilson with his radical views on ever!
question, and even with all his elcquenc
he has not kept the party above loot
tide"
The above are some OF the exptcs
sions OF Democratic poli!icans-me
who view matters from Il practical bus
ness standpoint.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.
On the other hand, talked with
number OF Second district Republican
Like their Democratic friends they vie
the situation from y business siant
point, and il they reflect the sentilner
Of the district. it is very evident that it
tho unanimous intention to select III
strongest man to run against Mr.. Wi
son. 3lr. Elkins never uttered o true
word than when he said, in declining
become Il candidate himself, that thei
Is plenty OF good material TO relect iron
The relative strength Of all the gentl
men who have been mentioned in tn
connection is being carefully canvasse'
and there Ia every reason 7s'
believe that the convention Il
Piedmont next Tuesday will meet f'
busness. IN talking with Republicans
have met from various parts Of the di
trict ON the trains and
various stopping places, ! find vic
divergence OF opinion, but iu eyer
instance there Is the one expressio
that whoever is nominated will receis
A. ,,,,stnl nf IN nj q