West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-06-25
HOKE VS.. FORTNEY.
Famous Case Now on Trial In This
Judicial Circuit.

discord and dlssensions in the Re.
publican party OF the Eve counties
composing the-circuit than any 9th.
or fight for spoils ever recorded in
tins section. The Journal, of this
place, published four column ar
ticie last week giving the Fortney
side OF tho fight, and this week
promises TO give the other side.
The Journal is IN bad fix and be-
tween the devil and the deep sea.
While Its editors arc Fortney men
the Hoke faction have equal claims
upon 1T as the party organ, aud
some of the Hoke leaders can bring
very strong pressure to bear upon
the Journal. This situation was so
grave that the whole ticket was left
out of the Journal columns last
week. The readers of that paper
were watching to see whose name
would appear as having been nomi
mated and added to the ticket, and
as the paper couldn't add both,
and did not dare to add either one,
they left the whole ticket out, and
that brings kick from the other
candidates already named. All the
papers in the circuit are publishing
more or less matter about it, and it
makes interesting reading. Over
at Philippi the Democratic papers
even are fighting over the fracas
and the Plaindealer espousing
Hoke's cause, while the Democrat is
for Fortney, and 1t seems that the
Democrats over there favor Fort
ney's side Of the matter.
Here is some interesting news
from the Barbour Democrat:
Had Charles f. Teter been sup
ported loyalty, as he should have
been, by the Barbour county dele
CATION TO Elkins, he would have
to day been the nominee for Judge.
But few Republicans, headed by
Very feW all for.self Democrats,
cried out "sfop thief" until many
people were prejudiced against Mr..
Teter, by reason of being made be-
lleye that the Democrats were for
him because he was the weakest
man. The fact is, the ring leader
OF the Hoke men who denominates
MIR. Teter's Democratic friends as
"the gang is looking out for the
Democratic nomination for Judge
himself.
And here are some notes from
the Beverley Enterprise that make
good reading
According to Secretary Cunning
hams announcement Hoke had 43&
votes and Fortney 435 votes in the
united convention, not counting
the four contested seats from Tay-
lOr county.
The Hoke men claimed a majori-
ty Of ten or twelve before the con-
yention met, but the voto showed
majority Of only one.third Of vote
after throwing out four Fortney
delegates.
Mr.. Dawson, chairman of the Re.
publican State Executive Commit
tee, stated in his speech before the
convention, that the Republicans
had never carried West Virginia.
That knocked Dan Baker Silly"
for he always contended that Goff
was elected Governor Of the State
over Fleming. The question IS now
settled by good authority. Dan is
wrong.
Secretary Cunningham is an ex-
pert in figures. With 80 delegates
voting, be tailed the result 80; be
was promptly "calied down." made
another attempt, and announced 81
votes, which was still wrong, when
he gave up in despair and would
not try again.
The Hoke men had "slafed" Jim
White, Fortnoy man, for perma-
nent secretary, but fearing be would
be better in figures than Cunning
nam, and count FOrtney in, they
concluded It was not safe % give
the enemy little chance, so he was
turned down.
The whole trouble seems 10 have
started over the contest in West
Grafton, and from all the evidence
We can get on both sides, it seems
that the Fortney men controlled
that convention and elected the
four delegates. The Hoke faction
set tho example by boiling then
and setting mp rump convention.
It rs evident that the Fortney
delegates from West Grafton we're
entitled TO admission ~ the Elkins
Convention, but the question is
whether their vote should have
affected the general result or not.
The Fortney men claim these four
votes gave them the majority, while
the Hoke side declare they had