Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-04
lCITY POLITICS.
A RATHER ANOMALOUS AND INTERESTING
SITUATION,
And EEsa The Nos. Experienced Campaigaar Can
NotBs Sure Of the Outcome nsasiussS Among
Candidaies-Talk Of Cauc1seS

Although more than week mas
elapsed since the result Of the late city
election became known, the local polit-
ical situation is about as uncertain os
ever, aud grows, il anything, more
complicated and precarious with each
passing day.
The conditions are most peculiar all
around, and old campaigners in both
parties are filed with uncertainty as to
the final outcome, and one Of the results
is that, although there is an outward
semblance Of confidence on the one
hand and Of indifference on the other,
both Democrats and Republicans seem
TO be welded to policy defined by the
poet as sweet dO-nOthingness," aud
state Of mastery inactivity prevails
which would rejoice the heart OF the
late General George B. Mcclellan.
This is best illustrated by the fact
that although there are many offices 10
I'll, the time has come 70 I'LL them, ana
lots of eXpectant candidates are listen
ing 70 hear il their cOuntry-or rather
their city-iS calling them, 20 call has
been issued for a caucus, and there Is
nothing definite as 10 when such meet
ing will be held on either side. This
has filed quite a percentage Of the
candidates with more or less tangible
dread that all is not well In Granada,
and cOuntenances which were erStwhie
calm and confident, now shadow forth
the budding conviction, which is gradu-
Oh there
is nothing so uncertain as - dead sure
thing"
From present indications nothing will
be done at Monday nights session or
Council except 10 canvass the vote Tor
city officers, declare the result and al
low MayOr-elect Caldwell, Clerk Thoner,
Chief McNichol and Wharfmaster
Crockard to qualify. The Committee on
Committees may also be appointed and
allowed 10 get 70 work, and then an ad-
jOurnment for q week CT so may be
taken. All this, however constitutes
but little Side-ShOw 10 the real
question Of the disposition OF the
Offices within the gilt OF
Council. When the deadlock seS-
sion" dissolved Thursday night, it was
supposed a Democratic caucus would De
called for last night or tonight, but as
one or two Democratic members are out
OF town, aud there is some uncertainty
as TO the position 20 be taken by one
member, no call has been issued. The
contest for City Collector on the Demo
cratic side Is also creating some counter
currents which tend 10 em0arrass the
situation, aud Tuesday night is about
l. fah u lHrrf-
cratic members can get together.
The Republican side is In very much
the same fix, and the COllectOrship is
the trouble there, too. 1t is known that
II certain Republican is nominated
for Collector, a Republican Councilman
will vote with the Democrats.
One Of the Republican leaders was
asked, yesterday, as 20 when their side
would hold a caucus, and in reply be
said he thought preliminary meeting
might be called for tonight Another
Republican member said be had no
knowledge OF any such meeting, and
did not know that any such caucus
would be held. 1T is just this way"
said he; 'ff all the Democratic mem
bers are going into caucus, there is no
earthly use IN our making nominations
for the city Offices. We might as well
Just 90 into joint session and allow the
Democratic slate TO 90 through. II one
Democrat won't play with their
side, we ought To select our candidates
and prepare TO see what will turn up.
don't know just what will be done, or
what the outcome will be, but / know
il is all uncertain enough 10 be inter
esting."
Another Republican, referring to
rumor that advantage would be taken
OF the absence OF one or two Democrats
to call a special session and push things
to a cOnsumatiOn, said there was abSO-
lutely nothing in the story, aud that no
such unfair advantage would be taken.
These rumOrS and any number OF 9TH
ers made things very lively In local po-
ltlcal circles yesterday, and afforded
abundant food for the gOssips about the
City Hall.