Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-04
WEST VA. POLITICS.
AN ACTIVE CANVASS BEGUN FOR THE
U. s. sENAToRshiP.
Joseph X. Chiffon, q G. d o. Ry.Attorncy,
Will Oppose Senator Casnden-His fihn
of Campaign Formidable Combine

of Campaign Formidable Combine
CHARLESTON, w. VA. March 3.--tspe-
cial) 1.-THE calamity howlers and those Oh
the weakened Democrats Of Vest VIZ
ginia who can prophesy nothing but eVh
for the Democratic party because the VIII
son bill puts coal on the free list seem
10 have no influence In dampening the
arior Of Democratic candidates Tor 'he
United States senatorship In the state.
The contest between Senator Camden, the
present incumbent, and Joseph Il. Chlitoh
has already begun. and Is going on Win
yigor, while there seems TO De niue OF
no interest shown In the matter by Re-
pubIica.ns. These gentlemen-the Repubn-
cans-who predict that their party VIII
sweep the State this fall. electng all the
congressman and both branches o, the
Legislature, seem to exercise but very
little faith In their own predictions. ana
there has not been a Republican found
I'm this State. so far. who Is Known TO
be a candidate for the United States
senatorship, while among Democrats there
are no less than a half dozen statesmen
who have stripped for the race. Some
OF them have not waited for the word
Go" but started some time ago. and
have been going ever since.
FORMING HIS PLANS.
Foremost among those who have mani
festd desire TO get the advantage Of
everybody else I'm the start is Joseph IL.
Chiffon a local attorney OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad. and brother OF
the Secretary of State. William Il. Chill
ton. He began to form his plans for
his contest for the senatorship in Janu-
airy of last year. when In his bout with
Mr.. Camden for the seat made vacant by
the death of Senator Kenna he WIS
knocked QUO, and thereuDon announced
his intention TO become a candidate again
when Mr.. Camden's short term should ex-
pire. Mr.. Chiffon Is now engaged in the
arduous work Of arranging his candidates
for the Legislature, who will vote for
him for the senatorship. Having his can
didates all listed and instructed as TO the
manner in which they shall manage their
canvass. the next step will be TO get
them nominated by the Democratic con-
ventions and the next step after that
will be to get them elected by the peo-
pie.
a COMBINE.
Chiffon and Anderson are TO work the
southern end OF the State, for members
of the Legislature favorable 10 his can
didacy, while Faulkner is 70 work the
northern and eastern sections. Governor
MacCorkle. the Chiltons. Congressman
John ID. Anderson. and Senator Faulkner
have formed n combine that contemplates
the control of the Democratic forces q
the entire State for their own benefit. IL
is to the interest Of Senator Faulkner
TO have some one in the southern part
OF the State elected to succeed Mr.. Cam
den, for the purpose Of giving hiil CDR
Faulkner better chance of sue =, ing
himself In 1899 If Mr. Chiffon should sue
coed Mr.. Camden it is dead moral GER
taillty that no senator will be taken
'fcrr the southern part OF tie State
wien Faulkners successor shall be
e.ttted, whereas. If Camden. whose home
Is about midway between the southe IN
ana the northern or eastern sections Of
the state. should succeed himself, the way
would be open for Mr. Chiffon or any,
one else to contest for the senatorship
when Mr. Faulkners successor comes 10
be chosen.
AFRAID OF WILSON.
Every one of the members OF the COM
bine appear to be afraid of William L.
Wilson, and the howl against free coal
OF discrediting the craftsmanship of Mr..
Wilson and degrading him In the estima-
ton OF the people. Governor MacCorkle,
Mr. Chiffon and Mr.. Anderson having COM
United themselves to the effort to secure
a protective tariff on coal, they feel that
they must now howl down Mr. Wilson in
order to save themselves from political
obloquy and criticism.
THE CAMDEN SIDE.
Opposed TO the NATURALIZATION
Anderson Faulkner combination are Sena-
tor Camden, General st. Clair, ex-Gover-
nor Il. w. Wilson, and generally the
supporters of Congressman William l..
Wilson. which comprises the rank and
file OF the party in West Virginia, and
nearly the entire Democratic press. Some
newspapers whose publishers are in
debted TO the State administration for
favors received or to be received, and
some others which have been bought by
the combination or subsidized by the
railroads are denouncing the Wilson bill
in vigorous language. but the Democratic
press of the State generally approves
the bill and warmly commends Mr.. VIII
son. Senator Camden is Il warm sup
porter of Mr.. Wilson
A BATTLE OF DOLLARS.
the West Virginia Central road. re-
marked few days ago that he had not
taken much interest in elections since he
left the United States Senate, but that
he proposed TO spend considerable money
IN the Second Congressional District this
year to defeat Mr.. William l.. Wilson
for Congress. Mr.. Camden, who was
present, said that for every dollar Mr..
Davis put into the Second District 70
defeat Mr.. Wilson he (Mr. Camden)
would put two dollars into the district
10 secure his election. 1t is evident that
a hard battle will be fought in the So
cond Congressional District this fall.
SHARP CONTESTS.
The contest for the Democratic nonina-
ton for Congress in the Third and the
Fourth Congressional districts will be
sharp this year. In this district (the
Third the contest will be narrowed down
between Hon. John ID. Anderson, the
present incumbent. and Ex-Governor Z.
w. Wilson, The contest between these
two gentlemen will be almost entirely
and alone upon the question of putting
tariff on coal. Mr.. Anderson being in
clined to favor the railroads by giving
slight protection to coal, while Cow
ernor Wilson Is an earnest supporter Of
the Wilson bill, free coal, and all. and
against giving any advantage to the rail-
roads in the way OF a coal tariff.
POPULAR MEN.
In the Fourth District Judge Thomas
II. Harvey. of Huntington. and Judge
McCluer. of Parkersburg. will contest
with Mr.. Capehart for his seat in the
House. They are both popular men, as
is also Mr.. Capehart, and the three-cor-
nered fight promises to be an interesting
one. There is a larger Democratic ma
jority expected in the Fourth Congress
eiorai Dietrict this fall than in any other