The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-04

Columns, o., Jan. 3.-The Sabbath
day has been revercntly respected by
tho senatorial contestants. A tenn
porary armistico has been declared in
tho great political baltic which has
wagcd 60 vigorously for tho past few
weeks. Both Senator Sherman and cx-
Governor Foraker have remained on
the ground, but the day has becn ono
OF inactivity so far as their licutcnants
arc concerned. This sudden inaction,
the Foraker men say, is but tho calm
which prccedGs tho storm, tho lull
which prcccdcs the fury OF the battle;
tho Sherman men say that it is
the rigor mortis OF m expiring
cause, tho dead silence which
precedes the last convulsivc gasp
oi dying ambition. To the
friends OF tho distinguished Senator
the battle is fought and won; to the ad-
herents OF the eloquent Foraker the po-
litical atmosphere is laden with hope.
iul augury, and in the future will de-
velop strange results. Thus the situa-
ton tonight is ono OF complaccnt OK
pcctancy on the one hand, OF eternal
hope on the other. The American pub
lie, whose interest in this contest is
probably without parallel in the great
senatorial battles OF years gono by,
quite naturally asks, "Why is the result
longer in doubt? Why, with every
member OF the general Assembly ON
the field or available, cannot tho posi-
tive declarations OF these men who arc
to decide this question take tho place OF
the blatant prophecy OF political man
ayers and tell how this battleis goinc?".
TIE sTRADDLERs.
The answer to this question is, that OF
the 9S Republican assemblymon, no less
than eight have refraincd from public
declaration OF preference, and OF these,
threc-iourths have unquestionaby given
pledges 10 both sides and arc now Mt
home seeking petitions Of '.public SEN
timent" to break the pledge Which they
find most irksome and respect the one
which meets their personal desires.
The diplomatic battle which has been
waged so unrcmittingly for months
past has resulted in many entnngling
alliances. Men, in order to win the
favor OF the factions in which tho party
was divided before the elections, found
it expedient to pronounce pledges
OF icalty to the pnrtisans OF both can
didates, and these promises arc now
most embarrassing. They have post.
pOned the evil day to the utmost limit,
until the hour OF delivery is at. hand.
In the vain attempt still to wear the
shifting masks OF DR.. Jeckyl. and ..AIr.
Hyde they are now suggesting that the
senatorial question should be decided
by 4 secret ballot III the coming caucus.
Should this plan be carried out they
hope TO escape the volumes OF oppro-
brium which otherwise will certainly
hc heapcd upon them from the faction
, they disappoint.
Il has been practically determined to
hold tho senatorial caucus Tuesday
night, instead of Thursday night. It is
generally agreed between the Sherman
and Foraker men that tho few mem
bcrs remaining doubtful will be ready
or forced to declare by that time, and
there will be no advantage to either
side to prolong tho contest.
ONE or TIE DouDTruI.s DECLARES.
Senator Wilbur Parker, OF Cleveland,
who has ostcnsibly been in the doubt
ful list, but generally counted in tho