Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-06-27
A SHREWD POLITICAL DODGE.

Senator Faulkner was educated in
school of sehemers, and what he
doesn't know about political tricks
and intrigues he was unable to COM
prehend from the instruction he had.
The Senator is young in years, but ii
doesn't follow that he is young in ex
perience. From the time he emerged
from the swaddling clothes ofinfancy
he has been familiar with the pleas
ing sound of " Faulkner in politics."
and in the contest with his brother
Boyd for the family mantle. the eld-
er brother was showed TO the wall
though it must be understood that
there was no sale Of birthright for
the traditional mess of pottage. Far
from it.
The unexpected" in politics trans
ferred Mr.. Faulkner from the Judicial
bench to the Senate Chamber. an
accident st an exciting period placed
him in a position of prominence OF
which he is now making much.
1t must not be Inferred from the
foregoing that Senator Faulkner is
without merit and minus ability.
Personally he is genial, companions
able, veritable prince of good fell
lows" and he is likewise man ofeX-
cellent ability If he were not such
he could not beso good schemer. Pol
itically, he is bad-very bad and, in
the ordinary political sense, he is aptly
described by Dogberry as an "aus'
picious" person, and by Joey Bag.
stock as sly, de-vil-ish sly J"
We have said that accident placed
Mr.. Faulkner in a prominent position,
and in this remark allusion is made to
| the Senator's notorious exhibition Of
himself as an athlete and as an OBJ
structionist. Aided by a half dozen
ofthe Republican Senators, the Demo
Gratis succeeded in defeating the Fed
eral Election bill passed previously ir
the House. Physically robust and
able to lose sleep, Mr.. Faulkner wa:
selected by his Democratic colleagues
to hold the floor" during one Of the
all-night sessions of the Senate and he
did it. To the uninitiated, this may
appear to have been a wonderful per
Torrance. Such, indeed, is the i'm
preston sought to be made of it by
the Senator's boomers.n In plair
matter of fact the affair consisted of 6
few spasmodic efforts, at interval:
during the long, tedious night, TO com
plete " speech" begun early in the
evening previous. 1t wasn't much o.
a speech, for he merely engaged tC
kill time, and be did it in way that
was appreciated by his fellow OBJ
struetionists and by-himself. I'm
mediately afterwards Tor as soon a:
he could tear himself away from
Washington he repaired to Charles
ton, where his recital of the thrilling
scenes, throughout which he had pass
ed as a hero, was highly gratifying t.
an admiring Democratic constituency
And now come the published detail:
of a private move which originates il
his own town among his neighbors t.
publicly manifest the high regyard'
of the States Democracy for the Sen
ator's eminent public service on thu
memorable occasion when he "helt
r the floor" 1t is shreWd move
upon the part of his friends-and ma!
have the desired and the designed
effect upon the canvass for the Sen
atorial succession. Mr.. Faulkner
term will expire March /, 1898, "anC
we shall see what we shall see." Blu
the weather is quite too warm TO
further present agitation Of the sub
ject.- FdiTmOnt Vest VirgiHiaB.