The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-09-05
ARTHUR MIDDLETON
Writes about the Putnam Coun.
ty Farce and tho Actors.
WHIT WILL BE THE RESULT
Ofthc Peculiar Condition OF Things
A Prediction lteEardin. Farmer
CnpcharL's Candidacy Vcri. '
tled-A Political Paradox.

Of the broadest farces ever perpetratet
in this State was played in the humdrun
town Of Winfield yesterday. The actor
were a few score old mossbacks Will
''ring' written in sounding lettera O
brass all over them, and tho audience
was an amused republican few aud
some disgusted Democrats.
1t wns the so.calletS Democratic mass
meeting to Take action on the rape by
the Huntington ring OF tho Sixth Sen.
atorial district. Jaues II. Stivert called
the convention to order, and placed
young Squire Alexander in tho chair.
II there Is any one thing an ordinary
country Juetice Of the Peace does not
know, It Is parliamentary and other
kinds Of law. Ignorance Of the law is q
necessary requisite Of Juslice Of the
Peace. -
TIE RING AT WORK.
The convention settled down to work.
After brief statement Of the object OF
the meeting, which no one seemed to
know clearly, had been made, the
ring began TO make the "court house
ring" With such speeches as made clad
the hearts OF tho Republicans. There
was no order, no system, nothing but a
diseraceful wrangle. Some were in favor
OF endorsing Marcum, others Of letting
it go by default. aud others OF making
nomination. Finally the chair ap.
pointed q Committee on Resolutions.
which drafted resolutions condemniug
the nomination OF Marcum, and asking
that new nomination be made then
and there. The last resolution was
fought bitterly, but passed.
During the turmoil OF the great unter.
ritied representatives OF Bourbonisn
somo interesting charges were made.
1900. CHARGES AGAINST MAECuM.
Downtsin. the slaughtered innocent,
who wore the blue during the war, and
whose face, since the Congressional con.
vention, is blucr than were ever Ills
army clothes, stated, and gave his au.
thority no less a parsonage than Sena.
tor Prichard, Of Wayne, that Marcun's
nomination was at the instance Of Henry
Clay simms, of Huntington, with the |
object Of getting bill through the next
Legislature, whereby the Central Land !
Company, Of Huntington, would be e1-
empted from paying taxes to help pave
the wide and muddy streets Of that place.
The eame bill, mending the charter OF \
Huntingdon, was killed ut the last scs. |
sion by Prichard, Of Wayne, who had it |
placed at the bottom of the calendar.
Attorney Simme, Of the great corpora.
tions OF the G. l. 0. railway and the Gen.
trail Land Company, wanted a tool in the |
Senate, eeiected Marcum, and got that
political trickster, Gibson, to carry out
his plans.
1t was Democratic love feast, full OF |
experiences without the love. A letter
from Cabell's committeeman, giving
Marcum's opinion Of the situation, was
read. 1t begged and plead ior
party fealty, and tailed Putnam's De.
moeracy by stating that they were too
soundly Democratic to bolt the nominee
nominated by the usual Democratic
methods. How true to lille was that let
ter. The nomination was accomplished
by the usual Democratic method OF ring
rule and corruption, but some Of the as.
sembled Democrats wcre indiscreet
enough TO say that II such we're OF the
kingdom Of Democracy they would take
some other kingdom in theirs. \
After long and disgraceful proceed
ings, the convention decided 10 noui-
nate. Colonel ". e. Flo and 7. G. At
keson were placed in nomination. Ever
since the convention was called the
court house ring has been at work to de.
feat Atkeson for the nomination. AS
long as the fight was between the gal.
liant State House Colonel and Atkeson,
the ring" and, in faet, all the proni.
nent leaders, were against the dapper
colonel. But it was not for love OF at.
keson. AS aoon as the militia was down.
ed, the "ring" went to work to down
Farmer Atkeson. The very nsn who
helped to knife Bowyer put the knife
deep into Atkeson. The result was that
Farmer Atkeson, who is no fool, il he
does sport haysecd in his hair, saw how
the matter would result, and withdrew
before the ballots were counted. Col. !
onel Fife was then declared the nomi.
nee.
WHO eoL. fIFE IS. ~
Who is Colonel Fiie2 He Is an old
maid--that is. an old bachelor-farmer
Of Buffalo district, WHO haa nothing 10
!