Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-09
From a STAFF Correspondent.

From Staff Correspondent
Chicago. Ills, July S.-This afternoon
the West Virginia delegation is sail
very much at sea on the Presidential
question. and few of the, delegates can
agree as to what will happen, once a
vote is reached.
To understand this, the reader must
remember that although the delegation
is solid for silver, there are several
shades of feeling for the white metal
For instance. six or seven delegates are
extremists and keep step with men Oh
that class from the IVES. and South, who
are largely in the majority and who
are running things without mucn re-
spect for the opinions or feelings CT the
minority. This remainder OF the dele
cation Are for silver, but with the we'll
marked disposition to be conservative
and to treat the sound money mlnCr.ty
with such consideration as will ultl-
mately result in a peaceful acquiescence
in the viii of the majority, and are IN
c.ined toward a Presidential candidate
of moderate views, Stevenson, for IN
stance, or perhaps Morrison.
This feeling was shown Monay might
in the conclusion, afterwards reversed,
to support Hill, and was further Illus
trated i'm the three votes actually cast
for him in the convention yesterday
afternoon.
| asked john McGraw this afternoon,
after the adjournment OF the conyen-
ton. how he thought the State delega-
ton would divide as to President, and he
promptly said he did not know, but
added: IF Stevenson were an ayoWed
candidate, | think he would pol tbs
votes of jim Miller Howard, st. Clair,
Talbot Cornwall and myself. Perhaps
he would get three-fourths of the State.
If Morrison were a candidate, he might
do nearly as well. In other words, half
the delegation faycrs a conservative sill
YER course while the other half are
more extreme and favor some man ike
Bland or Boies. | think we will cast
complimentary vote for Blackburn, but
after that all is uncertain"
This represents the feeling OF the del
egates al. nearly a. it can be gotten at.
| DO not believe st. Clair, McGraW or
Howard will ever vote for Band, and
Talbot may not either Hostility to
Judge Jackson as a Vice Presidential.
candidate cropped up in the Fourth dis
trict to-day. and the movement toward
presenting his name to the convention
may sop right where it is. The eX-
IRENE silver West Virginians like Kim
caid in the delegation and Ex-Governor
Wilson outside of it, are jubilant and
enthusiastic over the preliminary VIC
tories already won by the silver people.
Their joy is apparent as far as you can
see them. The murmuring and mutter-
fugs Of the sound money West Virgin
ians are still to be heard and there are
many shakes Of many heads as the news
oOmes OF each succeeding step by the
majority in their steady march towards
certain ultimate victory.
S.. Clairs speech in the convention
yesterday is highly spoken of every
where and gave the State much promin-
ence.
No meeting of the State delegation
was held to-day, and none is scheduled
for tonight In faot, one appears 10
be useless, for even after a policy Is
agreed upon the delegation falls apart
because of the shades of sentiment al
luded to at the outset of this telegram.
Late this afternoon the news that Ill
inois was in rebellion against Altgeld
and might go solid for Stevenson, after
a complimentary vote for Bland, spread
among the West Virginia delegation
and the sentiment quickly developed
confirmed the prediction | have hereto
fore made that would be rush to the
Vice President at the first opportunity.
The sentiment of six or eight of the
West Virginia delegates was well voiced
by Mr.. 81. Clair, when he heard the
Illinois news. "TTnis is the best and
most important event of the conven-
ton" he said illinois now has the
ear opportunity. If its delegation will
stick 10 this Stevenson idea, il will result
in his nomination. We want a man for
whom the people will vote and Steven
son is the man. | honestly believe the
entire New York delegation will vote
for him, and the South and West will
follow
Many other delegates ana hundreds
of prominent men concur in General st.
Clair's views. Tonight may develop
great things and Stevenson stock is
away I'D. There is tremendous under
current for the great and so far silent
man from Illinois,
caught delegate Cornwell at $50 on
mis- way to the convention hall. What
ahor- Stevenson ?" I asked.
ut looks like he might be the coming
man. Sentiment for him has been
choked off, but it bursting the bounds"
How do you feel towards him per-
sonally?"
well, don't know fear he is not
I quite satisfactory to the extreme silver
men. and | rather think | shall stick
to Boies at least for a time. suspect
st. Clair Howard and McGraw, and per-
haps some others are favorable TO Stew
enson, but my people are very pronounc-
ed as to silver, and Stevenson has been
silent so long that perhaps they rather
! ia Alton1I mo no