The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-02-07
THE HOW AND WHY OF 1T.
Something for poIIteIans to consIds

oOtnetuluS IOf GOuLItLanh 70 SOnslutEs
From the Wayne News.
The lawyers and the politicians
have always claimed the Office of
Congressman as their exclusive
right. For years they had undis-
puted sway in this State. their right
there was none to deny. In the
Fourth district they cut and slashed
at each other. before nominations
were made, and even carried their
personal fights into the party and
cut each others throats after nomin-
ations were made, until a magnifi-
cent majority was Whitfield away
and any kind of Republican could
be elected.
As soon as they found that an
election was doubtful they were not
anxious to push the rights that had
always been conceded them. So
long as nomination vas equiya-
lent to an election, they all wanted
it, but none of them wanted to lead
forlorn hope il the interest of
party organization. This is why
they allowed the nomination to go
to plain farmer who "can not
make speech" They were entire
ly willing that he should bear the
fatigue and expense of a campaign
and be laid on the political alter for
the good of party organization for
his presumption in aspiring to con-
gress.
Mr.. Capehart received the nomi
nation and instead of going down
under overwhelming defeat as the
politicians predicted, he redeemed
the district from tho Republicans
and rolled up majority of over
1900. This encouraged tho politi-
clans who concluded that the dis
trict was safely Democratic again.
They began TO set their stakes for
retiring the hayseed Congressman
on one term and get man in con-
gress who can "make speech"
But the sturdy Democracy had
had enough of cut-throat politics
and the sentiment for the farmer
was so strong that the aspiring pol
iticians concluded that discretion is
tho better part of vaIor. They
wisely withdrew to avoid defeat,
promising to themselves the undis-
puted right to the nomination for
the sue :eeding term.
Mr.. Capehart was reelected by
over 1000 majority. The politi-
clans did not understand this re-
markable run then, nor do they yet
understand it. They are inclined
to interpret it as indication of sta
BILE Democratic majority of 1000 in
the district and few medium sized
and larger lot of small fry politi-
clans are in the saddle to claim their
own again.
If by any political chicanery or
legerdemain one of them should get
the nomination, they will get their
eyes open. They have not analysed
or studied the vote cast in this dis
trict at the last election or they
could read the hand writing on the
wall. Mr.. Capehart as the Demo-
cratic candidate for Congress, with
the endorsement of the Peoples
party, carried the Fourth District
by over 1000 majority.
AT the same election, Warren
Miller the candidate of the Repub-
lican party, for Judge of the Su-
preme Court of Appeals, with the
endorsement of the Peoples party,
carried the Fourth district by about
600 majority.
The third party which is compo-
sed of all the independent elements,
had the balance of power in the dis.
trict in 1892. They will have a
still larger balance in 1894 Do the
aspiring politicians want to dash
their heads against the solid wall of
certain defeat? Will they persist in
kicking against the pricks with bare
feet2
The bulk of the vote in the Fourth
district is in the country and is not
controlled by the politicians nor
dominated by the larger towns.
The red brushes and one gallused
brigade are getting tired of defeat
resulting from nominating men for
congress who "can make speech. .
Nine out of ten of them at some
time in their life has said too much.
The people are decidedly in favor
of nominating men who can be elect
ed. They find that their interests
are safer in the hands of solid
4.