Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-09-12

Wilson'S Success, But Yarns AgatHS'
Orer- Confidence.
Special 20 tbe Wheeling Register.
GRAFTON, W. VA, September 6.-Ihe
Registers representative called to-day at
the Office Of Col. John T. McGraw, Chair
man of the Democratic Executive Commit
tee of the Second District, and requested his
opinion as to the strength of the Republican
candidate FOR Congress.
81 don't concur" said Col. McGraw, in
the generally expressed opinion that Day
ton is a weak nomination. regard him as
one of the strongest men who could have
been named by the Elkins convention
AGAINST lh-. Wilson. The nomination Is
essentially strong in its negative sense
The nomination Of one of the more conspic-
nous persons discussed before the conven-
ton such as Elkins, Mason or Sturgiss,
would have been an open declaration OF
war. and as such would be accepted by
every Democrat in the district. With eth
er of these as the Republican candidate the
Democrats would have a chip on their
shoulders. while with Dayton there Is moth
ing TO arouse them to any great degree Of
aggressiveness, but on the contrary there Is
much to make our people feel that success
is already assured.
"The marked contrast in the relative
standing and abilities Of the two candidates
ono the most commanding figure in Ma
tional politics, and the other quiet, unas-
Stunning young lawyer of good ability-may
lull our people into sense of security,
and cause them to feel that there is no ne
ee.sity for anything beyond ordinary party
exertion. In this sense of safety lies our
gravest danger
"You. therefore, regard Dayton's nomi-
nation as a strong one ?"
81 certainly do, against Mr. Wilson, prob
ably with the exception of Mason the strong
est that could be made. He possesses a great
degree Of energy, which was demonstrated
by the fact that at the convention his actiy-
ity secured him a majority of the delegates
whilst NJ. Surgiss aud his friends rested
quietly on the strength of their candidates
superior abilities and expected the nominal
ton to come their way
"You will find Dayton at the heads of the
hollows and at the cross roads personally
soliciting votes, aud our people must be on
their guard, and at the polls command their
full party strength to make the success OF
our candidate assured.
Have you any doubt about the election
of Mr.. Wilson p"
''Not the least, and only warn the Demo
Gratis Of the district that they must not depend
either upon the popularity Of Mr. Wilson
or his superior abilities and splendid record
to bring about the desired result. Wilson
has done his duty, and it is now for US, in
diyidually and collectively, to do ours. To
supersede Wilson with Dayton would be
burning shame, a sad trayesty upon rep
resentative government and a reflection up
on the intelligence and good judgment of
the people of this district Our only dan
ger lies in over confidence. Dayton will
have the earnest, aggressive assistance Of
Mr.. Elkins. and, l imagine, all the money
from the protected interests of the country
he may want. 1t looks like a repetition of
the Morrison campaign, when that sturdy
champion Of tariff reform was stricken down
in Illinois, at the instance of the iron and
steel trusts and by the brutali=ing use of
corrupt agencies. Wilson has aroused the
yiruience and animosity of the protected
industries beyond any public man in recent
wears, and I look for a tremendous effort to
retire him to private life It can't succeed
in this district this year, unless l am badly
mistaken"
Have you accepted tine Craftsmanship of
the Executive Committee
81 have. What else could Democrat DO
when asked by his party to share part of the
burdens
do you expect to have an active cam
paigu 2'
I'VE certainly DO. The campaign in this
district will be pushed by our committee on
earnest, aggressive lines, and ifGordon Day
ton gets to Congress as Wilson's successor
be must go in the front door after stand
up and knock down fight, and not be per-
mitted to slip in under cover while Demo-
Gratis are asleep. This will not be a good
year in this district for such line of polit-
ical procedure
Since the new tariff bill went into opera
ton an Ohio wool grower sold his stock of
wool at twenty-six cents a pound 1t has
turned out as the tariff reformers-and fore
most among them our own William L. Will
compromised, domestic wool has gone up
in price and imported wool gone down
And the result is the operation of mills all
over the country that have been imperative,
and the employment of thousands and thou
sands of persons who have been idle. We
saw gentleman in our town on Thurs
day negotiating Tor property here that he
might establish a knitting factory The
man who buys his suit of clothes for the fall
or winter wear will obtain IL at forty or fifty