The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-19
RANDOM POLITICAL NOTES.

situations are having their gil just now
in v!owing and specializing upon tho
complications that arc in store for tho
Democratic brethren IN this state dur.
ing tho contest for the Uuited States
|Bcnatorship. Until o few days ago 1t
WIS thought that Senator ClmdOn would
have 1t practically all his own way, and,
in tho minds Of bis friends, all that was
necessary was 10 carry tho legislature.
But. within tho past woOk, Joe Chiffon
having discreotly dropped out OF tho
race, eX'CioyernOr f. Windy" Wilson,
Mr. Camden's old time enemy and tor
monitor, hal announced his candidacy
and will make an active canvas OF the
state In opposition to the senator. This
not only means peculiar complications,
but it means that the fight will DO! one
Of the l~ivlicst, IL not ono OF tho warmcst,
faCtional contests that ever took place
In tho state. OF course, tho cx.goy-
eruor's campaign will be Characteristic
1t couldn't DO anything else.
That IL to say, it will be wagcd
against Mr.. Camden as 4 re.
preventative Of mouopolIcs, as u
boodler and millionaire. and In favor OF
I AAlC ANU IAAAhh nun ad AllG GAlAlLl"
pion OF tho people" and tho down.
troddon fOrmers and workiugmcn. Ills
speeches will have their old timo lurid
hue, for tho ex-governor has lost none
Of his vim, and there will DO such q
shaking up OF the dry bones as has not
been witnessed in West Virginia since
the memorable campaign OF 1881. when
Mr.. Wilson buried L. Boyd Faulkner
out OF sight i'll tho contest preceding
the g~uberuatoriai nomination. Il will
be Camden's money against Wilson'S
wind, and it is hard to decide which
will BIO in the majority.
The battle between thcsc two old
time enemies will recall the contest OF
1867, when Mr.. Wilson, then occupy
abettod the revolt against Camden on
the hastings and i'll the legislature.
That was the year in which Daniel B.
Lucas and his eleven immortal kickera
refused 10 20 into tho CAUCUS and held
IL against Camdou, the caucus nomi-
nee, producing q deadlock which was
only broken BY the adjournment Of the
legislature; and then. ut tho special
session called later, continued the fight
until the senator threw up the sponge
and Mr.. Faulkner was elected as 4 COM
promise candidate. Though Lucas was
the nominal leader oil that memorable
revolt, Governor Wilaon was the real
leader, using the power OF his admins.
tration to bring about the result, and
aiterw1rd rewardins Lucas by appoint
| tpF- IA I'M 70 r1,r,pn1 , H,p,rI.N lN,. @I,.
timo OF the expiration OF the term and
the election Of a senator at the special
session OF tho legislature. AL this his
tory is go recent us to be still fresh in
the minds oil u majority Of the Demo-
Gratis, and 1t is safe 10 assume that the
bitter feeling then e%ngendercd between
the factions will be revived by tho an
noUnccinont OF Wilson's candidacy. II
certainly will be before the ex-governor
proceeds Jar with his Canvass. The
tight will resolve itself into II contest be-
tween tie machine Democrats, with Mr..
Camden rs the leader, and the oppos-
ltlou to tho machine, with Mr.. Wilson
at the head, while the personal feeling
which exists between the two men and
their respective supporters will lend
aohlhlOhdA lHtciCsL " tio sLtultIOll.
-
II is moro than likely that ox-Gover.
nor Wilson has been quick to sec the
opportunity and advantage afforded
him by the peculiar position Mr.. Cam
den occupies ~ one OF the Democrats
in the senate who are being denounced
byStho party ull wei the country for
their betrayal OF Democratic principles
and violation OF Democratic pledges, as
exhibited in the reputation OF the
Wilson bill, and the substitution OF a
tariff measure which is n compromise
with professionalism bete n0treof Demo.
crazy. This is 4 decided advantage over
Mr.. Camden, from a Democratic stand
point, providing the Democrats of West
Virginia stand in 1894 for the same des-
t~ructive principles they voted for in
1892. But it Is by no means certain
that they do. It's not laid down in the
chronicles Of the past quarter OF q con-
tury that the Democratic party
has occupied the same position
on any vital public question
for two consecutive years. 1t will, there
fore, not DO surprising to find the party,
which was go ready a mouth a.o to re-
solve that the Wilson bill was an en-
bodiment OF Democratic principles,
meeting Il month hence to declare that
the senate bill, which puachos 4O3
hole, in tho Wilson monstrosity, is u
patriotic measure. This would DO in
keeping with tho record OF the past
twenty years, which my Democratic
friend, Major S~talnakcr, 80 picturesque!y
describes when he says there IL not u
political harlot with whom the Demo-
cratic party has not consortcd. So it
.lnay be that what Ex-Governor Wilson
regards as ar advantage now will prove
to DO tho reverse. Notwithstanding,
thoro is going to be m interesting time
in the Democratic camp. and not the
least interested spectators will DO tho
Republicans. In the meantime, the
people OF tho state arc turning their
eyes in the direction OF the party which
represents the best interests oil The
country. and which expects 10 take
something OF n hand itself in the cam
paign. With n Republican majority in
the legislature the battle between the
Democratic machine and its opponents
will have been fought in vain, so far as
they arc concerned.
"a
Instances are multiplying that the
people, not only OF this state, but OF
tho entire country, have had n wonder.
full awakening. The history the Demo-
ocrats in tho senate are making has dis
gusted Democrats who are Democrats