Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-06
Sneclal 10 thu Register.

Woods, of Barbour county who was on h!s
way to the National Democratic Conven-
ton at Chicago, was seen to-day by rep
resentative OF the Register, and in response
TO questions talked freely of the political
situation in his county, and in the Second
Congressional District. In response TO the
question as to whether he would be a can
didate for Congress in this District, Mr..
Woods said: "lf the Democratic National
Convention should declare for the restora-
ton of silver money to the place it occu-
pied prior TO 1873. and for free and uniim-
tied coinage of gold and silver at the ratio
of 16 to l. l will be a candidate for Con-
gress in this district. 1 have been urged
to become a candidate for Congress by
Democrats from every section Of the dis
trict west of the Alleghaney mountains,
in the past two months, but my mind
was not made up on the subject, because
could not tell. and cannot tell now what
position the Democratic National Conven-
ticn may take upon the money question.
Moreover, l think the delegates 10 the Con-
gressional Convention ought to be left as
free to make the best nomination in their
power, without regard TO the candidacy Of
any person.
This excited discussion of the money
question is not, as many persons-partic-
ularly in the cities-erroneously suppose,
the work of politicians, but in Barbour
county and 1 believe throughout the Second
district. 1t is d deep seated honest convic-
ton, which pervades all classes Of people
in the rural districts of the country, with
out any regard to political affiliations. The
people are determined upon the restora-
ton of gold and silver as the standards Of
value, as it stood prior to 1873.
This is no new idea. II is not radical
and not likely TO work any great wrong,
The decentralization of silver, L believe,
has never been defended by any political
party, and If my memory serves me cor
rectly, the Democratic National Conven-
ton has always declared in favor Of gold
and silver. and particularly in June. 1892.
The silver people insist that the platform
of 1892 is in accord with their present po-
stion, and that the Secretary of the Treas
ury in redeeming the coin obligations of
the government in gold money makes an
unwarranted discrimination against the
use of silver money and thus compels the
government TO sell bonds in time of peace.
81 see by letter written TO the Register
a few days ago that you are receiving a
boom for Governor. What have you 10
say about that?"
"Oh, that is some kind friend who flat
ters me, but do not mean to say. how
ever, that I would not like to be Governor
of this State; that is an honor to which
no man can be Indifferent"
what do you think Of the prospect Of
the Democrats carrying the Second Con-
gressional District this year?"
"I believe that the Democratic party can
carry this district if we nominate a first
class campaigner. We want a man wHo
has the courage Of his convictions, and who
is not afraid to declare them. The people
in this district are red hot for free and
unlimited coinage of SILVER, and they do
not intend to tolerate any straddling.
please state your position on the money
question:"
AZ am for the free and unlimited coinage
CT gold and silver ait the ratio of 16 to l,
without regard TO the action of any foreign
nation. 1 am in favor of the repeal of all
legislation which has been enacted for the
debt-paying and purchasing power. l am
opposed to the payment of the coin obliga-
tons Of the United States in gold, to the
exclusion Of silver. 1 think the coin cbli-
cations of the nited States ought to be paid
in gold or silver as may be al the time
most convenient for the Secretary. of the
Treasury. 1 never supposed that coin
meant gold coin only. because L know that
coin means gold or silver coin, and l am
for the payment OF silver certificates in
silver coin, except where the Secretary Of
the Treasury may elect to pay them in
gold. when gold is most convenient"
What is the sentiment of your county
on the money question:
THE sentiment of my county is Think,
overwhelmingly for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at 1G TO 1. In the Repub-
lican convention on the 7th of June, am
told that the Republican nominee for the
House of Delegates in Barbour county,
Who was re-nominated by reclamation, re-
fused to allow mis- party to adopt gold
standard PLATFORM and, declared that if it
did so. he would decline the nomination
which had been given him, and sever his
party connections, and one of the candi-
dates for sheriff, l understand, did the
same thing This will give you some idea
of the feeling among Republicans in that
county"
Marked Down Sale of Muslin and