The Washington times., 1894-04-08
Big Efforts to Be Made to Defeat
Hon. ". L. Wilson for Recollection.
OLD FRIENDS ARE AGAINST HIN
By Putting Coal on the Free List He Has
Alienated Powerful Interests-Republi-
cans Have Hopes-Politics in West Vir-
ginia Pretty Well Stirred Up.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES.

at least one of her congressional districts the
struggle will attract national attention, ow-
ing to the effort that will be made to defeat
for reelection Representative William L. Will
son, the chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. This contest will be Of more
than ordinary interest because Of the fact that
Republicans have predicted that Mr.. Wilson'S
own state will never indorse the tariff bill
which bears his name, and that gentleman
and his associates, with equal confidence,
have claimed that his constituents will tri-
umphantly vindicate him.
The popularity of the situation in Mr.. Will
sons district is that it is large producer Of
raw materials which the House tariff bill
placed upon the free list, and the prosperity
of its people, as indeed of the people OF the
entire state of West Virginia, depends wholly
upon those industries which would be most
directly affected by the measure which the
Ways and Means chairman reported to the
House. Nor is this all In the majority of
cases the men who have their fortunes in
vested in the coal and lumber industries are
Democrats and have heretofore been among
the Second district Congressmans staunchest
supporters.
Among the most prominent is ex-senator
Henry G.. Davis, who, during the tariff hear
ings by the Ways and Means Committee. ap-
peared with Governor McCorkle to protest
against free coal, and in the course of his
argument declared that the abolition of the
coal duty would ruin the industry in West
Virginia. Another is the present Democratic
United States Senator, j. n. Camden, who
owns the largest mines in the district, is
largely interested in the lumber business in
the state, and who labored to have coal
placed on the dutiable list in the Senate bill.
Many other leading Democrats are inter-
ested in the coal and lumber industries. and
with scarcely an exception they have ex-
pressed their hostility to Mr.. Wilson's return
to Congress, while, affected by the depression
in the coal business and the reduction OF
wages. many miners who have heretofore
voted the Democratic ticket have been shaken
in their faith This is true statement of the
Democratic disafection as it exists to-day,
but Mr.. Wilson's friends are confident that it
will die out. and that even should the coal
operators continue their opposition the
masses of the people are with him and will
indorse his tariff reform theories at the polls,
as they have heretofore.
1t is believed that the Democrats who dis
agree with Mr.. Wilson on the tariff will con-
fine themselves to an effort to defeat his re-
nomination. and that after he is successful in
the convention they will fall into line. Should
the condition of Mr.. Wilson's health force
him to decline n denomination his mantle
will fall on the shoulders of Ex-Governor A.
b. Fleming or Hon. Wood Daley. The
former is himself an extensive coal operator
and his nomination would be acceptable to
the protection element Mr.. Daley is bril-
liant orator and young man of extraordinary
ability in other respects. and would surely
make his mark in Congress.
The present dissatisfaction in the coal and
ttrrr,l
Republicans with substantial hope that they
will be able to defeat him. They even go fur
ther and say that they can defeat any Demo-
crat They have reason to feel encouraged,
for the district. even in the best of times. has
never been regarded as safely Democratic.
The first time Mr.. Wilson was elected in 1892
he only had a majority of eleven votes, and
three times since change of from one to two
hundred votes would have defeated him.
1t is said that Mr.. Wilson will have the ac-
tive assistance of President Cleveland himself. |
and will not want for money and speakers in |
his effort to secure vindication from his |
people. On the other hand. the national Re- |
publican organization will spare no effort to |
defeat the author of the Wilson bill. The |
moral effect of such feat on the rest of the |
country would be very great. as it would con-
firm the predictions made by the Republican
leaders in Congress. that Mr.. Wilson's state
would not indorse him
ducing states. and contains 10000 square
miles ofundeveloped bituminous coal territory;
it is second in the production of coke and |
contains the greatest hardwood forests in
the United States. 1t is also peculiarly
adopted to become great wool-g-owing
state.
1t may thus be seen that a rare oppor-
turity is afforded to test in a distinctly raw
material producing state the effect of the
Wilson bill and the Dem Ocratic free raw ma
terial theory.
The Republicans have not decided upon
man to run against Mr.. Wilson. Among
those upon whom a strong pressure is being
brought TO bear are ex-Secretary of War
Stephen b. Elkins and ex-Commissioner of
Internal Revenue John W. Mason. Both
gentlemen have, up to the present time. dis
the use of their names in this con-
nection.
1t is known that Mr.. Elkins prefers to de-
vote his efforts to the choice of a Republican
legislature, with view to succeeding Mr..
Camden in the United States Senate. Mr.
Camden, who can probably match Mr.. Elkins
dollar for dollar in a Doodle campaign. is
himself a candidate for reelection. and the
light to carry the legislature will be a veritable
battle of dollars
1t will not be surprising if this contest be-
.ween the two millionaires for a seat in the
senate complicates to a great degree the con-
campaigns in the various districts.
Mr. Camden, besides having to fight Mr.. Ell
lins as the Republican aspirant for control of
he legislature, has factional contest on his
hands within his own party.
Hon. Joseph Chiffon the friend and law
partner of the late Senator Kenna, is can
ildate against Camden, and the campaign is
ilready warm. With the Democracy thus di-
-ided, and the fact that the Democratic ma [
orlty in the legislature is small, the prospects
or Republican United States Senator from |
Vest Virginia are not altogether hopeless.
Congressman Pendleton of the Wheeling
district; Capehart. of the Parkersburg dis
rict, and Anderson. of the Charleston dis I
rict. are all candidates for denomination. and
will doubtless have little difficulty in obtain
ng the prizes. Their reelection is another
natter. How far the dissatisfaction among
disappointed office-Seekers and protection | {
will affect their campaigns re-
mains to be seen. All of them represent coal ,
nd lumber districts. and one of them, Mr.. j
'endleton, has among his constituents the i
ron. steel, pottery and glass men of Wheel I
ng, who are, of course not in love with the {
wilson bill
Mr.. Pendleton has been heretofore elected ,
y small majorities, and represents the dis i
rict which had previously elected Gen. Goff l
Republican, by large majorities. c
Elections in West Virginia always have q I
'cal interest to Washington on account of its
earness to the capital city. Especially is I
ms true OF Mr.. Wilson's district, which ex- t
snds from jefferson county. in which is v
'cated Harper's Ferry. at the eastern ex- 4
-emity of the state, to within one county of il
he OHIO river, the western border. and is
,aveled through its entire length by the Bal
imore and Ohio railroad.
Pretty Lamp Shades.
A lamp shade more easily made and roora Z