Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-23
BADLY BUNGLED.
A COLD GREETING TXTENDED TO MAJOR
KKINLBY, AT BKLLAIRE.
A Political Gathering Which Was So Badly Ms
m,psged that it Game Near Proving an Utter
Pizz,s-fhs MsjOr Advises his Hearers
to Drop the Governor and Save
the Legislature.

night. ought TO be forever barred from
engaging in any similar political service
in the future.
A worse-bungled affair was never seen
in this section of country, and the best
Republicans in Belmont and Ohio coun-
ties were free to admit this fact last
night.
In fact, all through the meeting, and
afterward, there was a constant success
sion of reproaches showered upon those
who had charge of the affair, and In
countless instances the hope was ex-
pressed that there might never be rep
etition of the experiences of the evening
The place of meeting was changed no
less than three times during the even
ing, until no one could tell where the
speaking was to take place, or whether
it was to take place at all or not, and
there is good ground for the statement
that after the affair was over and the
audience had departed to get their
bones thawed out, there was series OF
| red hot reprocahes on the part OF the
intimate friends Of the gubernatorlal
candidate, and series OF ordinations
and recriminatiOns which lasted until
nearly midnight.
That the meeting did the Republican
cause in Belmont county any good, no
one will believe for moment; that IL
did the party distinct harm, many were
free to admit last night-this result fol-
lowing inevitably upon the heels OF the
way the affair was managed, and the
conceded failure Of the Majors speech.
One Republican who chad come
about ten miles over Belmont county
road, to hear what he anticipated would
be the greatest speech Of the greatest
campaign in recent history, said to
be treated to an hours recital OF tariff
chestnuts while frst-class case OF
rheumatism was contracted, did not
pay, and this particular granger re-
! marked, as he climbed into his wagon,
that he had been a variegated blank
| chump for coming on the expedition,
and that it would be an equally protane
long time before he made such mule
Of himself again.
There is no doubt but that there was
the material on the ground for big
meeting, If it had been called to order
at eight o'clock.
A very large proportion Of the popu-
| lation Of Bellalre was on the streets,
there were large delegations from all
the nearby towns, Wheeling sent down
nine cars of mingled Republicans and
Democrats, and there were great
MANY attendants from along the line Of
| the Baltimore and Ohio road, as lar
east as Warrington. This was the re-
suit of the extensive advertising which
was done, during the past two weeks,
| and then to have it all spoiled by bad
management was too bad.
Visitors began arriving early via. the
B. u. g. c. Three car loads Of the faith
full came in from Monroe county on a
special train. The GAINESVILLE delega-
ton that accompanied Major Mckinley
to Bellaire consisted of brass band and
about twenty-five visitors. The tin hat
brigade was out to meet the Republicans
from the "sun>K sed hills and gave the
handful of visitors rousing reception.
Three car loads Of enthusiasts came
down from Martins Ferry and Bridge
port, and the Wheeling delegation num-
bered about six hundred. The train
bearing the latter stole into the town
rather unceremoniously There was q
noticeable absence OF red fire and other
Examinations.
AS soon as the Wheeling delegation
was on terra frma line OF march was
formed, and with Major Mckinley in
carriage the paraders tramped back
ward and forward over the paved
streets, which areothe pride OF the Glass
City, until O'Clock. A fine audience
was thus spoiled by bad management.
The parade consisted of three brass
bands, two hundred and sixty-fve voters
carrying canes and tin hats on their
heads, some cOuntrymen on horses, the
Wheeling delegation, and big lot OF
red fire and torches. The dis
play altogether was creditable
and very enthusiastic. Some Of
the notices on the banners in the
parade were of a ridiculous nature. A
big tin hat made TO represent the head
gear of female, some tin pans with the
picture of Major Mckinley upon them,
tin neekties and other inappropriate
emblems of the supposed new American
industry were conspicuous.
The meeting was arranged to take
place in the Elysian theatre, was
changed to the public square, and lastly
the Windsor Hotel was selected. BY
the last arrangement the Republican
candidate for Governor was compelled
to stand In carriage under the hotel
balcony. The Vice Presidents
of the meeting were distributed
in a barber shop and in the hall
OF the total. 1t was nine o'clock when
the total was reached, and by that time
one-half of the procession had left the
ranks, and the crowd at its height did
not exceed 1900, and this number rap
idly dwindled. 1t was the idea OF the
inspired managers of the event to locate
the candidate in hack, under the bal
cony of the Windsor, and then this brill
liant array OF talent located the news
paper men on top of the balcony, immed-
lately over the speakers head, in posi-
ton where they could not possibly hear
a word that was said, aud where there
was no light except that afforded by
sickly oil lamp placed on bread-board
in lieu of table. The reporters got
around this table about half past eight,
and by nine o'clock they were so chilled
that by no possibility could one Of them
write hundred words. With the late
October breezes blowing through their
whiskers, and the balcony trembling be-
meath the weight until it threatened TO
break down and kill the throng Of more
or less distin guished gentlemen beneath
it, the reporters held the fort
until the meeting was called
to order. Then the representative
of the Associated Press, Of the Cincin-