The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1896-10-02
ITHERE'S'WAR INCAMPI|
Andy Edmiston and the Watts-
chiIton-stateho house Gang.
HosTILlTIEs BEING RESUMED.

4
AReyisw of the Bitter struggle Between
the Warning Democrat. rs Edniston
Sincere IA ropuil.t Answers ne CUES
sion-Iiysiy Heading From the Battis
| Ground.
Special Correspondence State journal
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Sept. 10 4 he
war, which has been raging in the
Democratic camp between the Kama
wha- Watts. Chiffon. statehouse gang and
the Democracy at large for 50 long. had,
it will be remembered, short, spirited
and exciting battle at their National
convention, which resulted in q victory
for the Edmiston. McG Crawl hiey crowd,
or in other words the Democracy ut
large, better known as the anti-state-
house crowd.
The next call to arms was when the
different forces met at their State con-
vention; hut, contrary to the result at
Chicago. the other forces won, the
Watts Chiffon. Irish Molln crowd
achieved great victory and ran the
convention to the queen taste and won
with hands down.
But this victory was short lived.
Again these forces met at Parkersburg.
The battle was fierce and raging When
the newly elected State committee got
together William Chiffon, the former
chairman, was there as o candidate for
his old job, the choice Of the chief,
Watts. It was urged by his crowd that
the chairman of the committee should
be not only u political friend Of the can
didate for Governor but q personal
friend as well These pleadings were Of
no avail, however. Chiffon was turned
down aud o statesman from Lewis was
selected in his stead-one who led the
Bennett forces, one who has denounced
and damned loud, long and publicly the
statehouse gang-one Andy Edmiston.
Is there anywhere on record In modern
politics situation Of this kind
Andy first decided that the campaign
should be run from Parkersburg but,
after taking trip to Charleston, the
Chiltons by their bewitching smiles, or
in some other moro practical way, cap
tured Edmiston. He reconsidered, cap
itulated, accepted the terms Of the
charmers and, on the surface, all up
peared smooth.
But all these engagements and
troubles are insignificant when COM
pared to the volcano now Numbering,
which bids fair to pour forth its .hot
stuff" ut any time aud overshadows
past troubles as the mountain does the
mole hill.
Doubts Edmistons Sincerity.
1t is now fully demonstrated that Ed
mission is either u failure or that his eff
forts are fainthearted and insincere. 1t
is noticed that Democratic headquarters
are quiet as death; that Edmiston is
sleeping while on duty; that the forces
are not being organized and that w. E.
Chiffon is in charge of headquarters in
q local way tmind you. in d local
ca way.
AS Edmiston's ability is well known
as an organizer and worker, the CRY
that he is incompe tent and d dnngi,i ~
laughed at by the wise ones and the Int
ter position credited him, i, g., that he
Is insincere.
IL lis now called to mind that Edmis-
ton, as member Of the board Of direc.,
tors of the Weston Asylum, has de.
nounced this same gang repeatedly and
openly declared that he would dance
over their political graves. Edmiston
a nc nv -
the Populist State convention held at
Parkersburg and threw the harpoon into
Watts deep. He labored long and per.
sistently to get the Populists to denounce
Watts and said to them and publicly,
too, I am informed that he (Watts) was
not sincere silver man; that he was o
chronic Office seeker, heeler for the
statehouse gang and, in fact, worked
like o bound boy ct husking match to
induce them to give Watts the dose
which he got.
Once more he appears on the scene ut
the Democratic Suite convention, lead
ing the Bennett forces and the most bit
ter foe of Watts and the "statehouse
gang" as he termed it.
These sins might be overlooked and
forgiven, but the last act in the drama.
and the greatest of all, was his miser-
able failure to capture the Populist party
at the late Clarksburg conference.
Whether or not Andy is working in
good faith is hard for an outsider to de.
terinine; but that his every action is be-
ing watched with an eagle and sus.
picious eye we are sure and that he is
practically in the position of bill poster
and hired man" is evident to all.
Awell known Populist explained in
part to your correspondent why Edmis.
ton made such miserable failure at
! the Clarksburg conference us follows:
Edmiston. he said, had been well
known silver man with strong Popu.
listic leanings and was in favor and
good standing with them; that he was
ut the Populist State convention, dur.
ing the entire time Of their deliberations.
and strongly denounced Watts as q gold
bug or wolf in sleeps clothing, a tool
for the gang and a dangerous man to
silver and Populism. Great was our
surprise. indeed" said Mr.. Pop, "when
Mr. Edmiston met US at Clarksbure. us
chairman Of the Democratic State COM
mittee. and begged and implored us to
endorse those of whom he had so lately
denounced. Andy Edmiston as a pri.
vate citizen we believe, but Andy Ed.
mission, chairman of the Democratic
Il E,raCufiyya no,1,n,&kar z..i. !. !,