Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-10-03
THERE'S WAR IN CAMP
Andy EdmIston and the Watts
Chilton-Statehouse Gang.
H0STILITIES BEING RESUMED.

the warning Democrdts - Edinfston
Sincere "a PopuIist Answers the Oaes-
tion-LiveIy Reading From tho Battle
Ground.
Special Correspondence State Journal.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Sept. l9.-The
war, which has been raging in the
Democratic camp between the Kama
wha- Watts Chiffon statehouse gang and
the Democracy at large for so long. had,
it will be remembered, a short, spirited
and exciting battle at their National
convention, which resulted in a victory
for the Edmiston- NJ Graw-Ohle crowd,
or in other words the Democracy at
large, better known as the anti-state-
house crowd.
The next call to arms was when the
different forces met at their State con
vention; but, contrary to the result at
Chicago. the other forces won, the
Watts Chiffon Irish MolF' crowd
achieved a great victory and ran the
convention to the queens taste and won
with hands down.
But this victory was short lived.
Again these forces met at Parkersburg.
The battle was fierce and raging. When
the newly elected State committee got
together William Chiffon, the former
chairman, was there as a candidate for
his old job, the choice of the chief,
Watts. 1t was urged by his crowd that
the chairman of the committee should
be not only a political friend of h can
didate for Governor but a personal
friend as well. These pleadings were of
no avail, however. Chiffon was turned
down and a statesman from Lewis was
selected in his stead-one who led the
Bennett forces, one who has denounced
and damned loud, long and publicly the
statehouse gang-one Andy Edmiston.
Is there anywhere on record In modern
politics u situation of this kind?
Andy first decided that the campaign
should be run from Parkersburg but,
after taking a trip to Charleston, the
Chiltons by their bewitching smiles, or
in some other more practical way, cap
tured Edmiston. He reconsldered, cap
itulated, accepted the terms of the
charmers and, ON the surface, all APP
peared smooth.
But all these engagements and
troubles are insignificant when COM
pared to the volcano now ~slumberlng,
which bids fair to pour forth its "hot
stuff at any time and overshadows
past troubles as the mountain does the
mole hill.
Doubts Edmiston's Sincerity.
1t is now fully demonstrated that Ed.
mission is either a failure or hat his ef-
forts are fainthearted and insincere. 1t
is noticed that Democratic headquarters
are quiet as death; that Edmiston is
sleeping while on duty; that the forces
are not being organized and that w l.
Chiffon is in charge of headquarters in
u local way (mind you. in a local
() way.
AS Edmiston's ability is well known
as an organizer and worker, the cry
that he is incompetent and a dunghill Is
laughed at by the wise ones and the lat.
ter position credited him, i, O., that he
Is insincere.
1t is now called to mind that Edmis.
ton, as a member of the board of direc-
tors of the Weston Asylum, has de-
nounced this same gang repeatedly n
openly declared that he would dance
over their political graves. Edmiston
again appeared as al avenging angel at
the Populist State convention held at
Parkersburg and threw the harpoon into
Watts deep. He labored long and per.
sistently to get the Populists to denounce
Watts and said to them and publicly.
too, | am informed that he (Watts) was
not a sincere silver man; that he was a
chronic office seeker, a heeler for he
statehouse gang and. in fact, worked
like a bound boy at a husking match to
induce them to give Watts the dose
which he got.
Once more he appears on the scene at
the Democratic State convention, lead
ing the Bennett forces and the most bit
ter foe of Watts and the '~'statehouse
gang as he termed it.
These sins might be overlooked and
forgiven, but the last act in the drama,
and the greatest of all, was his miser-
able failure to capture the Populist party
at the late Clarksburg conference.
Whether or not Andy is working III
good faith is hard for an outsider TO de.
termine; but that mis- every action is be-
ing watched with IN eagle and sus-
picious eye we are sure and that he is
practically in the position of ''bill poster
and hired man" is evident to all.
A well known Populist explained in
part to your correspondent why Edmis-
ton made such a miserable failure at
the Clarksburg conference as follows:
Edmiston, he said, had been a well
known silver man with strong Popu-
listic leanings and was in favor and
/, good standing with them; hat he was
/, at the Populist State convention, dur
ing the entire time of their deliberations,
/ and strongly denounced Watts as a gold
/ bug or wolf in sleeps clothing, a tool
/ for the gang and a dangerous man 70
silver and Populism. Great was our
surprise. indeed, - said Mr.. Pop, when
t Mr. Edmiston met us at Clarksburg, as
chairman of the Democratic State com
t mittee. and begged and implored US &c
5 endorse those of whom he had so lately
o denounced. Andy Edmiston as a pri'
go l-TE--- - Al lTI