Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-22
FACTIONS FIGHT.
A LIVELY DISRUPTION AMONG 'THE PRESTON
COUNTY REPUBLICANS
The journal and the Way It is Managed For the
Bsnsf. Of Pair Of Edinrs-Wm. N.
0, Dawson and His Crowd
Turned Down.


Ing factional fights il has experienced
since the death OF samuel L. MeCor-
mick. when, in 1890, he made his cele-
hrated and memorable fight against the
Acknowledged Boss of Preston county
Republicans. Wan. NJ. D. Dawson, VINO
ruled Preston with a tyrant hand Tor
wears Owing 20 the death Of MeCor-
mick Dawson gained temporary adj
vantage over his opponents as 10 lett
the opposition without leader. but
cessation of hostilities towards Dawson
was Of short duration. Leaders spraug
up IN the persons of such men as CaShler
D. Heermans, Hon. w. I'll. Glover H.
N. Wotring, Leroy Shaw, James w.
White, Jos. A. Miller aud many othe[
able and influential men, who wageu
An incessant war against Dawson
through the columns of the Neir Era,
paper which had been started In op-
position 20 DaWsOn's Preston County
JanndL They created such nerce
and bitter OBpOSitOns 20 their former
leader that after one year Of bitter war
fare on Dawson be was compelled 10
surrender 20 the enemy owing 20 the
loss OF patronage and support. Dawson,
who had been Chairman OF the County
Executive Committee for twenty years,
was deposed and ID. H. Watring was
made Chairman. The NClC Era men
bought the Journal and consolidated
the two papers under the name Of the
Journal. with James W. White and
Edward NJ HeermanS as editors and
proDrietOrs There was nothing LETT
Dawson but 20 announce his retirement
from politics. But this was only
blind. Chairman Natring, who was an
anti-DawSOn man, was gradually won
over 90 the Dawson faction. The NeW
Era editors OF the Journal congratulate
ed themselves on having a clear held
and plain sailing. But it presently
dawned on the Journal men that they
had O white elephant on their hands.
The Journals circulation began
to fan of no tremendous
rate. The Dawson men were
retaliating, and so efieCtually that the
Journal was compelled once more 90
change hands Heermans disposed Of
his interest i'm the paper TO David NJ,
Watring aud Edward 5. Elliott. Al
this stage of this interesting fractional
fight Chairman Watring undertook to
assume the leadership of the Preston
county Republicans, but he made dis
NAL failure as the sequel will show.
Watring and Elliott having assumed
editorial charge OF the Journal they set
out at once 90 boom themselves for OF
fee WOtring for Prosecuting Attorney
and Elliot for Attorney General-and
every issue of the paper sang the praises
of Watring and Elliott. To exclude
al HsrH IN "a
umns OF their paper they announced
that candidates would be charged regu-
Jar advertising rates for "putliug" and
"boomery," which resulted in a bitter
opposition 70 the Journal, and a CORES
poudiug decrease In circulation.
10 became apparent once more that
-sSsserfson was an the helm and Chairman
WatriDg was simply carrying out his
instructions. Mr.. Neil j. FOrtney,
Secretary OF the Executive Committee,
was discOurteously ignored by Chair
man Watring. He never eouQSelled or
consulted FOrtney relative TO the man
agement of the campaign, He was I'M
willing that FOrtney should have any
credit for his brilliant management OF
the party. Now FOrtney is universally
popular with the Preston Republicans
aud week before last the new executive
committee met 90 elect a chairman. In
order 20 administer q rebuke % Wat
ring they turned him down aud by
unanimous vote elected Eortney Chair
man.
Hon. James A Brown, who will ask
the Republican State Convention tor the
nomination for Judge of the Supreme
Court was another man who FELL under
the bane OF the Journal He was
stumbling block in the way OF Edward
s. Elliott, who is an asprant for the
nomination for AttOrney-tienerai, and
while the JOurHpl eXt0.led his virtues
and qualifications each week, 10 rellg-
iously excluded any reference TO
Browns candidacy from its columns
July 9th the District conventions were
held TO select delegates To the State
convention, and the issue was Brown
vs.. Elliott. Elliott met an ignohie de-
feat The delegates are not only en-
thusiastic Brown meu, but are instruct
ed to vote for him.
The third chapter In the factiOnal
fight was the Senatorial contest. The
present incumbent Hon. VIM. G.. Wor-
lev, was championed by Dawson, Wat
ring aud Elliott. Mr.. Dawson asked
Dr. Il. II. Lanham aud Hon. w. III.
Glover as personal favor 60 himself,
not 90 contest the SenatOrshiD with
Morley, but Lanham and Glover polite
Nv informed him that he was mot run
ming Preston county politics this year,
and 10 make good their declarations
Morley received but tlrO delegates out OF
L. "a. B. har M Fafl IN
the Senatorial convention. Thus do we
fluid the former bosses Of the Grand Old
Party in Preston relegated 90 the rear
But this is not the end. III the Repub-
lioan State Convention refuses 90 accept
Hon. James A. Brown as PreStOn'S rep
resentatiye on the State ticket, the
Banner Republican county" will
wait and see,
Another trick Of the Journal TO de-
ceive Republicans outside OF Preston
and convey the impression that Elliott
IS PrestOn's choice, was the issuing of a
special edition of the Journal last week
for distribution outside OF Preston.
The regular edition being run of, ia
was taken out of the forms and all the
eulozy and fattery of Elliott by the
state press was inserted and thousands
81 copies struck oil TO be sent to Repub-
Hcans outside of Preston, with the fam
ing headlines, ''prestoR COunty's Candi-
date! Ii was a cute trick of deception
bat IL will be exposed
The termination of this contest be-
tween Brown and Elliott is awaited
with interest by PreStoniaus.