The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-18
TIE CONGREsSiONaE2CONTEsT.

I'LL sNOLlONLSolUNAE lIUAl ESl.
ondent.t rss their Irrespective ra.
vorite,-,rwoi Opposite Views from one
Por,ion OF the Lt.triet--A Word for Capt.
Doytner. ta wv *
To the Editor OF the 1n,elligeneer. f
sir:H Although the war news g abb
sorblps much Of the attention az tho
people in this portion OF the Flrst con-
gresslonal district. considerable discus
sion Is being INDUCED in concerning the
coming Wheeling convention which will
nominate a successor TO Congressman
.Dovcns4s- u would be strange II there
were not some opposition to the renoni.
nation OF the captain, for that Is ALWAYS
the fate OF the congressman WHO has
had patronage at his disposal under an
incoming administration, and, OF course.
the captain Is no exception 10. the rule.
l do not believe. however, that this sort
OF opposition is effective enough 10 ma
tcrially affect the party vote should he
be renominated. y. III
What desire 10 say. Is shat among
many men with whom have talked,
the congressional record OF the captain
seems to count for more than the mere
fact OF recommending his choice for
oilices-a duty. imposed upon him fy our
peculiar system of politics, and one
which Is embarrassing to herpoint that
often a man so placed Is Obliged TO Sc
lect but one person out OF possibly ten
applicants at the risk OF offending the
remaining nine,
\. Seriously speaking, with the wi:h-'
drawal OF Mr.. Meighen, OF Marshall
county, the contest, so far as our people
are concerned seems TO have narrowed
down u Judge Campbell, OF Hancock
county. and Captain D0yeIier, With a
possibility that Major A.. G. Moora may.
yet become more active candidate
than ne has ben up to date. Without
dlsparagement OF judge ,Campbells abil-
tiles and worth. or those OF any other
candidate who may be now or hereafter
In the field, there are reasons why so
many conservative. thoughtful and ar
dent Republicans favor the return Of
Captain Dovener TO Congress. One rea-
son In particular is that the captain,
during his service us our representative,
has succeeded In doing some very etIi-
client work which had been petltimcd
for by a large portion OF the district for
years. but had never been accomplished
by any Of his predecessors b
The value Of Dovener's position on the
rivers and harbor committee to this DIS
trict NOR than warrants his return to
Congress. that he may finish out what
he has beSlin.i We all know how II was
through him. backed by the remainder
of.West Vlrglnia's delegation, the menu
bers of which give him due credit. that
the work OF rendering the Monorgahela
river navlgable from Morgantown to.
Fairmont. and the survey from: Fair
mont to Clarksburg with a view to
water outlet for theivast and rich coal
products OF this portion OF the llstr!c.
are assured. while the president Of the
Ohio Valley Improvement Association
has In numerous speeches and news
paper articles. credited him with tie
valuable aid he has given to the great
plan TO make the Ohio river navigable
the year round. work, already being
prelImlnarily surveyed for. which means
so much not alone to the upper Ohm VAL
ley. but for the development of the vast
coal industry. and other commercial re-
sources OF this portion OF the district.
am told by colleagues of Captain
Dovener that he Is one Of the most in
dustrious and effective workers In
Washington in matters OF legislation in
the committee rooms OF Congress,
wherever there are any interests affect
ing his district. Like some Others"
say they, "Dovener Isn't wasting time
filling the pages OF the. Record with
speeches for campaign use. He Is tnde-
fatigable In the committee rooms, and
let me tell you something that laymen
do not know: 1t is In the committee
rooms that ninety per cent OF the work
Of Congress Is done, and no. on the
floor OF the house" -.':i
I do not think the Republicans OF the
First district will lose anything by
keeping n Working Congressman in
Washington now that we have one.
Whatever private. Or any other Sriev-,
ance any body, or community may have,
should not be brought into q convention,
nor should personalities enter ipto a
canvass to render Democrats election
possible. 1t Is n question OF personal
choice, but for one believe. In counting
material work and the performance Of
duties affecting the industrial and gen.
eral welfare of the district as against
fac.lonal disputes. And that Is what
the people Of the districtwaRt. q
Why change a representative Just as
the one we now, have has; In hand a
work that new man cannot take up
and carry out to completion? Are we 10
continually handicap Our interests in
this way? Whatever else may be
urged. this Is a practical proposition. and
mt ONE nv n nersOn moved nv fnctional
feeling or influenced by misrepresenta-
lions Of a faithful public servant. Who
ever we nominate let, 1t, be only after