Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-22
Special to the Register.


WASHINGTON, April I.-since Capt.
Dovener returned here a few days ago he
and Judge Miller, of the Fourth district
have had several mysterious and pro-
longed conferences. They have met at
Judge Nlluer's rooms on New Jersey ave-
nue. They have met at Capt. Dovener's
rooms on Columbia Heights, where you
get all The breeze that IS blowing in its
park freshness and unbroken force, as well
as a fine view of the city, the monument,
the Potomac, and the blue hills of Virginia
beyond. They have met at table which
they take care 10 have all 10 themselves,
in the House restaurant. and they have
met in secluded corners OF the chamber
of the House OF Representatives itself,
sitting always close together far removed
from other members, pages, newspaper
men and visitors. When, during their
conferences on the floor OF the House,
they were approached by other persons,
the two statesmen from West Virginia
would stop talking and act in a way that
left no doubt in the minds OF the intruders
that an important private discussion had
been broken IN upon and would not be
resumed until all outsiders were beyond
hearing distance again. FINALLY these con-
ferences attracted the attention Of Con-
gresham Dayton. who began 10 wonder
what it was that brought his two COL
| leagues into close contamination so fire.
quently He called Congressman Dorr' 3
attention 10 the matter, and the repre-
I'll oil ",
to wonder. From wondering, Messrs
Dayton and Dorr began winging as the
thought struck them simultaneously that
the many and mysterious talks between
Dovener and Miller could only relate to
tho distribution Of the three big Federal
offices In the State, the marshalship, at
torney goneralship and collectorship.
They began TO fear that the statesmen
from the First and Fourth districts were
Matching a deep, dark plot TO grab off the
three places for their own districts leav-
ing the Second and Third districts out in
the cold. This thought filed Dayton and
Dorr with uneasiness and grief-the latter
because they hated 70 believe their col
leagues could be so cruel as TO calmly con-
ta,,nlate shutting out the numerous can
djdates for the big Federal offices who
fairly swarm all over the Second and
Third districts. But then they reflected
that II was suspicion, after all, and that
thew had no right to think Dovener and
Miller would do such a thing. The latter
might be comforting about an altogether
different matter so Dorr and Dayton de-
cided to suspend judgment until the real
facts should be developed. But they con-
tjnued 10 feel uneasy, just the same, I'M
III to-day. when the cause of the prolonged
conferences was made known.
The conferences were all abou; the post
mastership at Oxford. Perhaps the reader
doesn't know where Oxford Is. Well, it
is town which has the unique distinction
Of being located partly in Doddridge coun-
~ which is in Capt. Dovener's Consres-
einoal district. and partly in Richie coun-
~ which is in Judge Miller's Congress
sional district. This is why, although OK
ford consists of but dozen or two houses
and noys its postmaster but about 500 a
vear IN salary. the congressman from
the First and Fourth districts were inter-
sstad in l. so deeply and held so many
executive sessions together trying to de-
eide who they should endorse for the post
rnas+ership when the term of the present
Democratic incumbent expires. The result
~ the conferences is that the two states
men have now about agreed on the man
,,ho shall be the next postmaster az OK
ford bur they are not yet ready TO give
out his name.