Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-31
WEST VIRGINIA,
Both Parties Waging a Very Active Cara
paign.


Correspondence of The Evening Star
WHEELING, W. Va, Oct 2s.-Folitics have
grown considerably more interesting and ex-
citing in West Virginia the past week. This is
very largely due to the lack of information of
each of the old parties concerning the other
Both the republican and democratic managers
know full well that the other side is doing a
great deal of work that does not appear upon
the surface, and each is unable to satisfactorily
locate the other or to discover what effects are
being produced by that work. Both parties
have few stumpers travelling over the state,
but neither is depending to any very great de-
gree upon their work for success. For the most
part these stumpers are the local candidates
and they are working more in their own inter
est than in anybodys else. The campaign is
strictly hand-to-hand and mouth-to-mouth
fight and personal persuasion. written. printed
or verbal. is the medium through which the
victory is to be gained.
In this sort of a fight the republicans in West
Virginia, to all outward appearances at least
seem to have the best of il. Money seems to be
much more plentiful with them and they are
able to put two personal solicitors in the field
to the democrats one. These things, taken to-
gether with other circumstances. have caused
republican stock to rise very considerably in
the market and the managers OF the party I'M
doubleday feel more assurance than they did two
weeks ago.
THE REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE.
The fact that all the federal Office holders in
the state are republicans gives them a decided
advantage in a quiet campaign Of education. -
The democrats, of course. have the state gov
eminent, but all the members of the state gov
eminent are located at Charleston. while the
federal officers are scattered all over the state
and most of them are travelling about from
place to place. Mr.. John W. Mason. commits
sioner OF internal revenue. is native of this
state and is taking great interest in its poll
tics. He has spent considerable time going
about from point to point. and his deputies aid
agents are reported to have accomplished a
great deal of good work for the re-
publican cause. After the Post Office
Department, the next most important branch of
the federal service TO the republicans of West
Virginia is the Office of the United States
marshal. His deputies are located in every
county in the state, and the greatest number of
them are to be found III the back counties aud
moonshine districts, which are more or less in
accessible to those not clothed with their au-
thority. 1t il charged by the democrats that
these officers have been using undue influence
TO secure votes for the republican ticket 1t is
said that United States deputy marshals have
given violators of the federal statutes TO under
stand tina: immunity from prosecution could be
more readily gained By voting and working for
the republican ticket than by any other means
Whether this charge has any foundation In fact.
or whether the democratic managers make il
with knowledge that il would not be bad
tactics to pursue. is not clearly proven.
CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
The Post Office Department is the greatest aid
Of the republican party in this campaign. They
are flooding the state from end TO end with
literature OF every sort Mr.. William NJ q.
Dawson, chairman Of the republican state COM
mittee, is great hustler and his headquarters
in Wheeling have been the scene Of the greatest
imaginable activity for three months. He 10 .
build, with . constitution and head splendidiy
adapted TO this work. The republican head
quarters comprise four large rooms, and these
are slmost continually nlisd with literaturs
which eonss n By freight and goss ess By