The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-27
s,.cInl pIspntch 70 the IntellIsencer.

T.
PARKBRSBURG, W. Va, Feb. 90
To dLStuterested observer at the DEM
osrae.c conference held here yesterday.
an account of which telegraphed last
night. several Important features were
aunsrsnt. Not ,ahe least interesting
r,tss thefact that there wasan almost to-
.al Rnsence from the meeting OF the
faction OF the pnrty which Is the most
lutlve On making trouble for the lead
ems who were present. The leaders
ysre disposed to congratulate thernsel-
YES that this was So for u guaranteed
comparative harmony from The begin
ming. but when considered in fts prac-
tIoal NstSt by som eof the more thought
ful ones, st was not at all comforting.
I asked one gentleman who was pre-
ssnt representing the tree silver ele-
meDt OF the party. why Il was that
his faction was not more numerously
repFeseuted at rhe conference, and his
Tspiy was that he did not know what
oould be gulned by having them there.
This IS q regular meeting OF the COM
mIttee, called for specific purpose"
said ne, ''and that purpose is ito fix on
q sine and place for the state con-
Yeu,lon. II was not called to formulate
a platform or to arrange campaign
policy. The conference of party lead
ers can do no more than discuss intor-
traIly the state of the party; they can
arrive at no conclusion. Thai can
only be done in the conversation next
August.
sentiment OF The rank and file OF the
party. In the matter OF framing plat
form will have our say at the conyen-
Al 10 NfFt1A
elected at primary elections or by mass
conventions. and will. presumably. cor
rectly represent the West Virginia
Democracy. You can readily under
stand that an expression OF views re-
Gariing party principles, before the
conmsttee, would accomplish nothing.
The committee has done Its duty In
calling the convention, but the real work
Is VET TO come. We will see that the
convection Is composed OF men who are
after something more tl11n the mere
construction OF a ticket. II may turn
out that such men will not be In the ma
3oFity. but they will be there IN sum
cSOHt number 20 make rheir influence
felt.
VIII Make n Demand.
There will be demand, coming d.
rect from the Democracy of the state,
for an expression favorable to the free
and UNLIMITED coinage OF silver. be-
lIeye a big majority OF the West Virgin
ia Democrats are for free silver and u
their demand Is not listened to the con-
vantlon would do well TO adjourn with
out nominating ticket. The gentle
men VINO spoke before the committee
to-day sang but one song. the burden OF
which was yharmony at any price.
merely for the sake OF redeemlng the
F,a,e. Now what we propose to do ls
10 name tfle price. II Il Is not accepted
then do not see very clearly how we
are going to have the much talked
abouf harmony.
1T is all right for such men as Colo
nei Smith, Mr.. Ohley. Senator Faulk-
neF and others to talk about getting
together. stopping quarreitnS among
ourselves, etc. but their advice is not
worth n picayune when u IS tendered
with the mental proviso that the mar
mony will be conditional on the rank
and file Of the party surrendering their
principles.
III You will take q glance about you
and note bhe personnel OF fto-day'6 con-
ference. you will be struck wlththe fact
that nearly every man present Is either
@ federal or state Office holder. past or
present, or is after m Office In the fu-
ture. Party principles and vital ques-
tIohs which have 90 do with the well
fare OF the Country Gre secondary con-
alterations with them. NJ is the old
crowd snat Is and ever has been after
the spoils. Their policy " TO steer
clelg ~ party Issues and obscure eV-
erythlag for the slke Of party success
aad getting control OF the Offices. WIN
= very few exceptions, every man here
belongs to the administration crowd
and ~ talrr.nd with the Clevelandism
w.l!ch has we'll nigh ruined the party.
What tfIe Democracy OF West Viz
Epla needs and must have ls ne"
deal on Democratic lines. The men
who believe 1enrt and soul In Demo-
cradle principles GnuEt be placed on
guard on platform which Is uncom-
pFOnis.nEiy Democratic. We want no
more Cleveland DGmUcracy in this
s'a,c. This Is just as Eood a year as
any 20 impress that fact on the minds
ot the ring that Is In control Of our
pa.ty machinery. The free silver peo-
pls 94lI be represented At the Wheeling
convention and viii see 70 u tina; they
are given n chaUcd TO be heard. III
there is trouble over the adoption OF n
Platform It viii be because those Dem.
Jsratd who arc Democrats from prln.
cplr will refuyo to be dictated 10 by
te c-ow,I that seeks to cortrOl matters
f,r .tI own selfish purposes. We
s7Ii demand dcciar0i.lon for free Bii-
yer and flFh; foF It. There viii be no
Surrender"
Wanted Primaries.
Tao gcntleman who gave u,teCnnce
g. these sentiments cited the fact that
lcldirE Democratic papers IN the riRtc
are igAn8 on similar lines and tha'
bley arc WELDING mighty lniluehce
watch will he feN IN the convention
lie also declared th0t he was opposed
81 q convention, bus nos because he
w1l 1'raid OF n row He wanted
primary Dtnte election because he
though, ;hna was the only way that
Che rank nnd Rlc" would receive a far
rIrW
In ono other respect the conference
was Disappointing 10 the leaders, II
was desired 10 hold in connection with
4 convention Ot tiie Democratic cdl-
tors VI the stat. and form 0tnte Dem
oaipIc editorial association. There
|ls 2 vlirual coil Tor SuCh gathering
20 M" PhHpc Of sulsgesiion published
30 several papers Cnly four or ave of
~" hrHhr"n put In an appearance.
'.'v"vcr urNl .ho whole pchctnc had to
h" aIlWiOnci Some Of thf lpldcrS cX-
"a81rd disappointment alIGs Hie Demo-
nlic editors. many o. whom are hold
if postoiiicr5 under fhc nIminiEtrh-
NYH. showed such Indifference In ahls,
'hn hour OF DcmGcrttlc gloom.
fnt