The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-02
From a sun correspondent.

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HUNTINGTON, w. va. April IL
Tomorrow Huntington indulSp5 IN Q
municipal election. That,it win be an
exciting, hard fought contest goes
without saying: were It otherwise It
would be so unusual as to be really mo-
table. The people OF the Second City
are born political fighters, and as the
two great parties are evenly divided,
there Is always "fun" as they call Il
here. To-morrOw's election win prob
ably develop more FUN" than either
party organization win relish.
Probably nowhere In the country are
city election campaigns taken up with
the interest that is always seen here
The Importance Of the Offices cuts no
figure; they fight Just as hard over 2
cemetery trusteeshfp as IN national
and state contests. The office, In TACT
IS not considered; the Innate combat
tiveness Of the opposing parties ~
aroused and the little side show game
OF win or lose" goes on with all
enrnestnesS. Three months after cleo
tion the "boys" begin figuring on the
next election-they have them annually
here.
This years contest Is given even un-
usual significance on account OF the
rank steal OF which the Democratic
counciinen were guilty last spring,
when "Dnvy" Mathews and the others
on the duly elected Republican city
ticket were given an opportunity 20.
whistle that sweet refrain Where are
we at?" to the enticing strains OF rhe
RazEle Dazzle" A great deal was
heard OF this shady political job Just
after It occurred, but the Democrats
have never been able to give q defense
that DEFENDS This coundng-out Of
Republicans In '95 has been made the
principal issue In the presnt campaign
and It is claimed very many Demo-
Gratis who denounced II at the time
are going to vote their condemnation
OF such proceedings tomorrow.
The opposing tickets are headed BY
Mayor Eli Ensign. Democrat ana
General" James Booth, Republican
the candidates for mayor. Mayor En-
slTn h a man Of unblemished character
and integrity; has been Identified with
Huntington. since It's start, almost, hay
inE come here In the early seventies
at the head Of what has since becofne
the chief enterprise OF the town-the
Ensign car building works. IL he y
able to do what his more ardent sup-
porters claim-get the bulk OF the vote
Of the Ensign Works men-he will ph-
doubtedly be elected, but this the Re-
publIcans say he cannot DO.
The Republican standard bearer is
General James Booth. Mr.. Booth y
comparatively a new man In Hunting
ton, having come from Bramwel, OUT
the Norfolk & Western road, where ne
was very successful as coal operator.
He. too, Is q man Of character, tntes-
Tity and ability, and would make an
enterprisinE chief executive II elected
But the contest Is not one Of men.
The possibility of trouble Of serious
nature on election day Is admttted ny
mittees say 1t win be avoided II pos
sible. The cause Of trouble Is the col
onizatiop" tactics pursued by the Detn-
ocrats undoubtedly, and claimed 20 pc
put In use by the Republicans, too Tae
Third ward Is full Of recent Democratic
importntions, taken there In the hope
OF turning that usually reliable Repun-
llcan ward into the Democratic column:
These men are occupants Of "shanty
boats along the river front, and many
aro cinimed by the Republicans % pe
residents neither Of Huntington nor o.
West Virginia. In the First ward,
slightly Democratic the Democrats al
lege the Republicans have colonlAea
one hundred negroes from outside the
city.
The great danger win be in attempts
to vote one OF both OF these cfpWels.
Candidate Booth says there VIII pe no
resort to violence on the part OF the
Republicans. HIS lleutenauts VIII
strenuously object TO any and all llleBt.l
voting, but where their objection .
without effect, the matter VIII be ads
iourned over until a court Of law gan
determine the validity OF the pro-
tested vote.
II there Is a series Of disgracetul out
breaks here tomorrow It Is safe to eay
Republicans win not be the moving
cause.
Though the Democrats profess to pe
confident OF victory. It ig believed py
good Judges that enough Democrats
win, by their ballots, vote 70 rehuke the
steal OF last spring, to easily place 70
Republican ticket ahead. But the9e
Barnum club Democrats are the best
workers In the stae, and they win un-
doubtedly make last ditch stand.
that may land them victors by tair
means on foul, R. n. A
senator Chandler 'sIsxpIalns,''