The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-24

Special Dispatch to the Inteillgencer.
PETERSBURG, Sept. 2a.--The Popo-
Gratis know full well that they stand on
the brink OF the most Overwhelming.
dlsaster ever suffered by political
party In this state. and In their mad
desperation they are resorting to whole
sale and systematic nlsrepresentations
of political meetings and OF the ques-
tlons at Issue In the campaign. This
was exemplifieh In striking manner
BY the Register report OF the Mason-
Dayton and Wntts-Chilton Joint discuss
sion at this point last Friday night The
Register statement OF the discussion Is
simply the direct opposite OF the truth,
and the people about Petersburg, both
Democrats and Republicans have been
laughing over the extended fabrication.
and the indlscreet "nerve" OF its author
In trying to make It appear that Mason
and Dayton were worsted, when rs a
matter OF fact the other side was so
badly beaten that the crowd present
almost laughed the silver orators out OF
the house.
while Mr.. Dayton WY replying to Joe
Chiffon he struck him such verbal
,sledge-hammer blows time after time
that Major Joe" could not sit still In his
seat, but Jumped up repeatedly and
went about the room talking 10 va
rious people and whispering to General
Watts, showing every evidence OF man
who had lost his head. When Watts
was speaking he was not interrupted,
but when Mr. Mason got up TO reply
Watts interrupted him nineteen times
by actual count. in an excited school
boy STYLE" in u hopeless effort to break
the thread of Mr.. Mason's argument.
All the time the crowd cried out to
Watts, Take your medicine" Take
your medicine" Not content with
these Interruptions, Watts had to get
some of his "henchmen" to assist him,
and one or two of them put in" with
questions to 31r. Mason In an attempt
to help Waite out Of the pitiable plight
Into which he had been thrown by Mr..
Mason's answer to the free silver propo-
sition.
In the Register report OF the speeches
the extracts from Mason and Dayton's
speeches cunningly gave but parts OF
their answers to Watts and Chiffon, in
which were omitted the salient points
wherein the free silver orators were
routed in the -clearaat and most direct
way that the English language can
convey. s.,5sl E ~ n
This was particularly true OF Mr.. Ma
sons masterful argument that was
.clear-cut refutation or the free silver
argument that no Popocratic paper
would dare publish In full. AS instances
OF other direct Inaccuracies" Ito speak
kindly In the Register report, 1t is al;
legged that Watts and Chiffon were bill
ed before Mason and Dayton. and the
;inslnuatfon made that the Republican
speakers were brought In afterwards to
+! try to break up the Popocratic meet
Z ing. The reverse Is the truth. The
Republicans were advertised first, and
three weeks before the meeting 1t had
been arranged for Dayton and Mason to
make this appointment. gH ~
The alleged decllnatlon OF Mason and
Dayton for further discussion Is
another fake" And now comes the d.
rect and conclusive answer to the whole
of the Registers fake story, In which
the Register and its silver orators will
either have to take their medicine and
be held up to public contempt or prove
their good faith by deeds and not words.
~. To this effect your correspondent Is
authorized by the Republican commit
tee to say that II Messrs. Watts and
iChilton will meet Messrs. Mason und
Dayton again at Petersburg In the same
way as before, in Joint discussion, they
can have the meeting any time they
please between. this and election day;
that Mason and Dayton will be ready
to receive them and all Of their cx-
penses vii be paid. .t
Now let the silver. gentlemn either
come on or confess they dare not meet
Mason and Dayton again. II such a
melting Is arranged there will be a ste.
lnOgrapher present to take down every
word OF the dcbaters and the'publlc can
Judge OF the result from the verbatim
language Of the opposing speakers. and
without the Intervention of any news
ipnper correspondents on either side 10
give his version OF the affair.
The gentlemen cannot plead previous
tengaSements"a as preteXt to avoid the
meeting. Mr. Dayton Is engaged from
this time on until election day. Mr.. Ma
( son has also many appointments out
Both Mason and Dayton vii cancel any
existing appointment they now have
to suit the convenience Of the other gem
tlemen.