Evening star., 1898-12-21
REPI BLICANS IN COUNCIL.
West Nirginians Discuss the LeEisIa-
tive Middle i'm Their State.

There was a meeting Of representative
republicans Of West Virginia held Nester-
day at the residence of Senator Elkins in
this city to discuss the threatened legis-
lative complication involving the politics OF
the coming United States senator from that
state. There We're present Senator Elkins.
Representatives Dovener, Dayton and Mil
Ter. Representative-elect r. H. Freer.
George c. Sturgiss former United States
district attorney; John w. Mason, former
commissioner of internal revenue: +. p.
Rucker, state attorney general; y. b.
Scott commissioner of Internal revenue,
and Governor George w. Atkinson, both
candidates for election to the Senate W.
NJ. o. Dawson, secretary Of state and
chairman of the state republican executive
committee; James ii. Huling, former rep
resentative in Congress; T. +. Houston,
chairman of the third congressional district
committee; George NJ. Bowers. fish COM
missioner; s. W. Matthews state senator;
A. Il. White, collector of internal revenue;
J. X Thompson. United States marshal;
State Senator o. S. Marshall. and about
twenty others. every section Of the state
being represented.
The senatorial situation was thoroughly
canvassed. and the conclusion reached that
personal ambitions will be subordinated TO
the harmony of the republican party. II
was conceded that the democrats in the
state, on the face of the returns, will con-
troll the house of delegates by a ma jOrity
of one but, on the contrary, il was shown
that the republicans will have a majority
of eight in the Senate-a majority of seven
on joint ballot.
CognizaGce was taken of the alleged
threat of the democrats Of the state To
seat q sufficient number of republican
members of the house, after organization,
to insure the election Of a democrat to the
United States Senate, and it was declared
that revolutionary proceedings will not he
tolera led. The fact that the senate branch
a the lGpiSluTllll would have the yar tn
retaliate-that ii is possible for the repub-
licans as an offset. to unseat democratic
senator's on contest-was deemed TO be a
sufficient bar to any such methods.
There are several seats in both branches
of the legislature under contest. Those in
the house are mainly the result of re-
counts, the democrat profiting in each
case. Those in the senate are in close dis
tricts. where illegal voting and frauds are
alleged. Two republican members Of the
senate-Nessrs. GetZendanner and PierSon
hold commissions in the volunteer army,
and the democrats claim they are ineligtbles
in consequence. The republicans cite prece-
dents to prove the right of these members
to hold their seats, but ii was developed at
the conference yesterday that one of the
alleged 'ineligibleS" had resigned, and il
Is believed the other will resign prior to
the assembling of the Legislature. This. it
is said, will remove all quibbles over the
matter, since the pay of legislators is only
for the term. at a stipulated sum per day.
The republicans. however, do not concede
that an army commission is bar TO the
participation of members in the legislative
proceedings.
The members of the conference were con-
fident of the election of a republican to
succeed Senator Faulkner. IL is understood
the democrats concede a ajority of one
for the republicans on joint ballot but
claim TO be able to profit by the detection
of three members of the majority. who will
refuse to vote for either of the present
aspirants on the republican side.
The name of Judge Goff, il is said will
not be before the republican caucus, he
having declined absolutely 10 enter the
lists.