Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-23

last fall looked past him to Canton
and saw what they believed was q
pleasing perspective, this year see
nothing in the political landscape but
this mans gross figure in the fore
ground. Bushnell and the remainder
of the Republican ticket are hidden
from view and the voter knows that un-
less he lends his strength towards re-
moving this INSCRIPTIONS self-server
from power, Hanna will soon be as
completely the master of the remain
der of Ohio as he now is of the State s
representative in the presidential chair.
Then there are not few working
men who belong to labor unions and
who know how Hanna looks upon or
ganized labor as an element in the
country's citizenship. These men feel
resentful and will not hesitate to
avenge the insults and hardships which
Hanna has from the earliest days OF
organization in Cleveland heaped upon
wage workers who have displayed the
audacity to seek safety and better con-
ditlons in union of interests. Organ
lied labor did not oppose Mckinley
because Hanna was the manager of his
campaign, although there was much
discussion Of Hanna even as chairman
OF the Republican committee. Now
Hanna is in the fore front of the fight;
in fact, is the whole issue, and organ
lied labor will see to it that he does
not get its solid support. It is hard
for one to believe how unanimous the
opposition to this man is among labor
ing people till he has discussed the STU
alton with them and has heard the i'm
precautions they heap upon him. OF
course, many Republican workingmen
will vote for him On the score that the
party's principles should be maintain
ed without regard to the personality
or the candidate, but even these bewail
the fact that better representative OF
American manhood, a truer ideal OF
fair dealing and honesty, less dicta-
torial and less selfish seeker after
power is not the candidate.
But the very lack Of enthusiasm
among the rank and file of the Repub-
lican party here is creating all the more
vigor among the men who expect to
gain most by Hanna's elevation. The
men who expect personal profit by
political success and who have been
given to understand that the success
Of Hanna's interests means the ad-
vancement of those who can give evil
dence that they contributed to that
success are leaving no stone unturned
to make creditable showing in Bel
mont county. They not only want
Hana'S representative to the Legisla-
ture elected, but they want him to have
a respectable majority. They know
that Hanna is vain and easily piQued,
and that to get Belmont county's votes
in the Legislature will not be entirely
satisfactory. Hanna's ambition is to
go to the Senate, not by bare major
ity, but as a popular hero; a party idol,
as it were
With view of getting the best work
out of the Republican politicians, and
keeping as nearly as possible all fac
lions interested, Hanna has arranged
in Martins Ferry, as in many other
towns, that the postoffice shall remain
in the hands Of Democrat till after
the election, and that no hint shall be
given out as to which Of the Republf-
can aspirants will secure the plum
when it is fully ripe after November's
frosts. And to very large extent, it
is generally belived, the selection OF
the postmaster here depends upon the
result of the election.
There are two men who seem now
to stand chance CT handling the mail
of Martins Ferry people the next four
years.
One of these is John W. Crooks, a
comparatively young fellow who has new
er done very much for the Republican
party except to be a member of it, AMI TO
'holler" at election times. Nobody has
ever attempted to compute the votes he
controls. John is alleged to have a pull
with the President, personally, through
the fact that he claims to be the originat-
or of the now moribund and detestape
button fad. Crooks is alleged to be the
inventor, original promoter and pusher
of the American tin plate Mckinley but
ton" worn by Republicans in the guberna-
torial campaign of 1891. 1t is also alleged
that he once got licked during a political
discussion because he was an Original
Mckinley man.
But he'd be all right as a postmaster.
He has ability enough, mental and phys
ical, to lick a postage stamp, and would
give the office his attention and care He
is courteous, and no one has been found
who opposes him except for personal in
terest
The other leading candidate is G. G..
Sedgwick. That Sedgwick is a candidate
for the postoffice will surprise no one in
Belmont county. 1t would be surprising
If there was really lucrative, easy Of
flee for which a Sedgwick was not a cam
didate. About the only thing the Sedg-
Wicks have not done to get Office in Bel
mont county is to leave the Republican
party but there are Republicans mean
enough to say that the reason for this is
that Republicans get the bulk of offices
always in this county. How long and
how often the name Sedgwick has been
on the official roster of this county and
the towns and townships in it, living
man remembereth not, but it's a long time
and big number.
Generally the Sedgwicks have been as
tute politicians, and their schemes have
been of the winning sort, but it is limited
that the well laid plans to place G. G. in
the Martins Ferry postotfice may go
awry. G. G.. got his application in early