Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-16
Special to the Register.


Charleston. w. Va, May 15.-The Wis
it of Col. Clarence l.. Smith, OF Fair
mont, to Charleston. this week has been
a matter of mora than ordinary inter-
est 10 the local politicians in Democrat
ic circles from the fact that the Colonel
has been spoken Of as a suitable can
didate on the Democratic ticket for
Governor. A Register representative
saw Col. Smith this morning and got
his views on the general outlook for the
party in the State. lie says that as far
as his observation reaches the Demo-
Gratis are united and are confident OF
success at the election next fall. AS
TO his own opinion, he believes that II
the State convention should be con-
Quoted in a fair and decent manner;
that II there is no unseemly scramble
for places on the ticket and no unfair
ness or injustice done TO any candidate
or any section of the State, and a strong
ticket is placed in the field, there will
be no doubt about the Democrats being
able to carry the State by decisive
majority.
But there should be no dead men
left on the field after the convention is
over, as there were two years ago. said
Col. Smith. I'VE should not be under
the necessity OF going home from the
convention to try and heal fresh wounds
and pacify constituencies that have been
unjusty dealt with. This is the thing
that has brought the Democratic party
in West Virginia TO the verge Of de-
feat, and it must be stopped II the par
ty hopes TO succeed"
Your name has been mentioned, Col
onel, in connection with the Democrat
ic nomination for Governor. Are you
candidate for that honor?"
mo, sir, l am not, nor have I been
heretofore. Some of my friends have
been kind enough to mention my name
in that connection and have asked me
TO consider the question OF accepting
the nomination. have never declined
because the nomination has not been
rendered me. AS to my being a candi-
date for the nomtns,ion, can say to
the Register frankly shat's,, .Oi.. -.----s- -.
only not done an@spehg TO secure the
nomination. but We discouraged my
friends from dog anything in that di-
rection."
Il am opr )sed to that kind of thing.
There should be no scrambling for the
nomination. / think the Democratic
State convention should look with sus-
picion upon any man who seeks by any
means. direct or indirect, TO promote
his candidacy for any office. We have
seen enough Of that kind of thing and
we should seek to avoid it's disastrous
effects in the future. The Register may
say 10 its readers that | am not can
didate for the nomination for Governor.
In my opinion. no true Democrat who
has the interests OF the party at heart,
will seek to force himself upon the
party before the convention meets to
deliberate upon the important matter
OF making up State ticket"
Hon. Rankin Wiley, OF Point Pleas
ant. formerly President OF the State
Senate, was in Charleston this week.
He is a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for Congress in the Fourth
district, and his chances for the nomin-
alton are exceedingly good. His only
opponents so far are Walter Pendleton,
OF Calhoun, and Holly G. Armstrong,
of Jackson. Senator Wiley says that,
Judging from the way in which matters
are shaping up in the Fourth district.
the Democratic chances for success are
better this year than they have been
for long time. He even believes that
the Democrats will carry Mason coun-
ty. a Republican stronghold.