Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-11

The Republican candidates for coun-
" offices held an exceedingly lively
meeting at the Court House, yesterday
afteroon. EloQuence was on tap from
start to finish, and the proceedings as
a whole were unpleasantly like a meet
ing Of the City Council.
The most important matter before
the meeting was what should be recon-
mended to the County Executive Com
mittee regarding the manner OF con-
Quoting the primary election, on the
25th inst. The majority of the candi-
dates wanted the primary held under
the election law, no tickets to be given
out until the voter entered the polling
place to cast his ballot, and the sixty
foot line drawn outside the poll. There
was a respectable and leather-lunged
minority, however, which wanted
everything thrown wide open, tickets
distributed before the polls were open,
and electioneering right up to the
mouth of the ballot box, and they made
things exceedingly lively in Voicing
their sentiments. At times as many as
twenty candidates appeared to be talk
ing at once. and often the remarks of
speakers approached the unkind and
harsh and some things were said in
the heat of debate which were deprecat-
ed by the more conservative element.
An instance Of this sort was when Mr..
Robinson charged that candidates then
in the room already had men hired to
influence voters at the polls. and he
sOlemnly warned all such that they
stood in peril Of arrest and Indictment.
Why, said Mr.. Robinson, with an
eloquent sweep of his arm. I'll
bet even money that you all
stand better chance of be-
ing indicted than YOU all do OF
being nominated" At another point
in the row Mr. Robinson charged that
arrangements had been made by GER
tain people to vote Democrats at the
Republican primary. and added that he
knew what he was talking about If
any gentleman present had made
any such arrangement he kept discreet
~ quiet about it. and let the remark
go. One or two of those present ex-
pressed the thought that the candidates
ought not to attempt to influence the
Committee in these little matters. while
others thought the Committee would
do just as majority of the candidates
wanted, and Mr.. Meyer held to the view
that as the candidates were putting
up the money" they ought to regulate
the whole affair.
After something like an hour of talk.
much Of it very interesting. Major J.
V. L. Rogers got a resolution before
the house. declaring it the sense Of the
meeting that the Australian system as
modified here in West Virginia. be
recommended that no ballots be given
but at the polls and that the sixty foot
limit. etc. be enforced. This was talk
ed into a state of collapse. and various
substitutes and amendments shared the
same fate, but finally a recommended
ton went through virtually coincident
with Major Rodgers idea.
There was also a good deal of warm
discussion over a resolution recon-
mending TO the Committee the method
to be pursued in making up the names
on the ticket, but it was finally settled
by asking the Committee to decide the
arrangement of the names by lot. A
committee was appointed TO lay the ac-
ton Of the meeting before the Execu-
tive Committee, which body. it is IN
derstood, will meet next Tuesday.