Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-11

Hospitality, Talk it Over and De
eide that Fish is Really the Only
Man for Governor.
Albany, March 1O.-Speaker Hamil-
ton Fish has developed a brand new
scheme for booming himself for Gov
eruor. 1t is the highest form of the
art of political advancement. 1t has
aroused the admiration of the Speaker
friends and has caused the Speaker
rivals poignant anguish.
The Speaker has been for years a
close student Of politics and political
methods. More than six feet tall, with
an aquiline nose and an eagle eye he
suggests the hardy Norseman. His
hair and pointed beard are light brown
ia color and luxurious in growth. lie
affects plaids in clothes and secures a
jaunty effect by wearing a short sack
coat always buttoned. No one would
I take this man of almost fifty for more
than thirty-iye years old.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Fish are ambit-
ious and, like two sensible persons,
they are planning for results. The first
goal is the Governors chair. There Is
no presumption in the Speakers efforts
to attain il. To-day he occupies the
second highest place in the State. I'M
| fortunately for the Speaker, he is not
particularly well known among the lie
pu5Hcans throughout the State. His
father was celebrated. and being the son
of his father is an advantage. But per-
sonal popularity among local leaders IN
all parts is necessary. and this the
Speaker is obtaining by his bnand-ne"
/ system. This is how 1t works:
Hiram, says the Speaker, approach
/ ing one of the rural legislators, come
over TO the house tomorrow and nave
a little lunch with us.
Hiram is Uuaccustomed to being ad-
! dressed by the Speaker in this pleas
a1tlv familiar manner. He is surprls-
ed and confused. He looks at his tr0u-
sers which have an awkward tendenH
10 bag at the knees, thinks Of his shiny
coat and the two buttons missing from
Now. Hiram" says the Speaker
/ throwing one strong arm over the
/ shoulders of the rural, its TO be en-
tirelv informal. just a little lunch Win
the family. JabeZ is coming.
Hiram'knows that Jabez has the Du'
collie qualities suggested by the first syl,
/ liable Of his same in an eXagsera'eu
sense. Hiram feels that II JaDez car
go to a little family party at the SPEAK
er's house certainly Hiram can, aho
consents. And the next day the little
luncheon is had. en- famille. The Al
banv boarding house steak, hanked DS
/ LITTLE wad of mashed potatoes ana 3
snoOnfuI of succOtash, is forgotten 1ol
/ the moment by Hiram and Jabez, while
thew revel in the delicious soup, the
crisD celery. the glass of claret ana Jhe
NesselrOde pudding. The thought nj
ters into the mind of Hiram ana JaoeZ
that they are the objects OF special at
tention from 4 cultured, weil-reao gen,
tleman and his accomplished WIFE ano
~ the conclusion Of the luncheon the
legislators come to the conclusion ina
the Speaker is a pretty good man &c
tie to. udi.
There's lots Of gubernatorial candl
dates saws Hiram to Jabez, but there
amt any so pleasant as Fish.
THAT'S so" replied Jabez. There
Charlie Saxton, but he can't afford &c
/ Give dinners. There's Comptroller
| Roberts: he's frosty and l guess uon
stand any too well with Plat. mere
, General McAlpin, but he caters 10 th'
military and the milliOnaires ana mas
mo use for us. There's Ben Odell, OIL
| Rocklard. He's a Congressman anC
hasn't time TO talk TO hayseeds. Ihere
warmer Miller. who's teetotaler anC
Too much of a statesman to get down
IN Garth. Then, there's LeXOw, but ne
Kinks his services to the State justify
his nomination and wouldn't bother
with us -,
the best candidate; he believes IN get
ting close to people, Jabez' says III
ram. r7,..., ., 70
joins Jabez. NJ,
Wei I'm going to work for Fish
/ in NV county" says Hiram.
"PlI be darned if l amt remarks ia
And thus the yeast works. Three
weeks ago the Speaker began to play
his system. There are 1OS Republican
Assemblymen in the House. Thirty-siXH
ir is understood. have had lunch VIII
the Speaker and his family. Before
the session is over all of the Republican
Assemblymen will have been brought
within the magnetic influence OF the
/ Speakers family circle.
Can YOU beat that?' Queried a FRIEND
/ of one of the rival candidates the other
/ day. Isn't it the greatest politica
/ game that was ever played? Wonder
who thought of il. Mr.. or Mrs. Fish,