Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-27
TROUBLE ON HIS HANDS.
IIwardS' Task of Harmonizing the
Waning Factions
Emong Kanawha County Republi-
cans = Notwithstanding Many
Concessions by the COMPRESSION
al Candidate, He is Evidently
Making But Little Roadway.

Making But Little Roadway.
S9ecial 10 the Register
CHARLESTON, W. Va, June 2e-Hon.
William Seymour Edwards, who was nom
iauted for Congress by the Republicans
of the Third dis5rict last Wednesday, and
who imposed upon himself the very diff
cuit task of harmonizing the Republican
factions of kanawha county, is having
greater variety et troupe upon his
hands than an outsider can well imagine
After making concession after concession
ID The opposing elements of the party,
the breach seems TO grow wider and wild
a. and the opposing elements seem to
grow more and more clamorous and UNI
reasonable day by day. The friends of
Mr. Edwards claim that he is a good or
ganizer That may be true, when every
.hug is going his way, but he is a very
indifferent harmonizer when his ears are
full OF discordant clamors for party lead
ers.
The present trouble of Mr.. Edwards
began on the day of the convention when
he undertook to arrange the Congresslon-
g.. committee. He had selected ex-Sheriff
Peter siman as the member from Kan
osation learned of Mr. Edwards choice.
there was vigorous kick on the part of
tae friends of o. A Petty. who wanted
1lr Petty to go on the committee from
tas county Petty had fought Edwards
and had fought the Mcdonald faction. 50
j, was thought suicidal to let Petty into
the committee, but the Petty men were
clmorous and threatened to raise a kick
in the convention if Petty was not put
ON the committee. Mr. Edwards defied
them and invited them TO kick if they
dared TO do So He claimed it as the
time honored right of the candidate for
Congress TO select the member of the
committee from his own county But the
Petty faction would not be bluffed but
made the clamor hotter than ever, and it
looked as if the Congressional convention
would break up in a row if the difficulty
was not smoothed over in some way be-
fore the meeting. Edwards succumbed
at last and at a meeting Of the Kanawha
delegation held in his office few hours
before the convention met, made the mo-
ton himself to make Petty a member of
the committee, being determined to APP
pear to be the boss of the situation, if
he was not in fact.
The placing of Petty on the Congress
sional committee has stirred up the Nc
Donald faction, and they have announced
their intention OF boiling the Congress
sional ticket because of the presence of
Mr. Petty on the committee.
The fractional disturbance in the county
committee of Kanawha is even worse
than it is in the Congressional committee
Here the Petty crowd, being in the ma
jority have evinced utter contempt for
the minority represented by Mcdonald.
Contrary to all precedent and the pro-
tests of Edwards, Mcdonald and their
friends, they appointed o. A. Petty and
1phn b. Floyd, neither of whom is a
menber OF the committee. to act with S.
r. Avis, chairman of the county commit
tee As chairman Avis is captain of one
IF the companies of the Second regiment
and has finally decided to go to the front.
his absence will leave the interests of the
Republican party in the hands of Petty
and Floyd, neither of whom is mem
Der of the county committee. This high
handed proceeding has incensed the other
faction, who have started out on the war
path and vowed never to cease the fight
I'LL they can return with the scalps of
Petty and Floyd dangling from their
belts.
1t is said. with the utmost confidence.
that Petty is to be postmaster of Charles
ton as soon as Congress adjourns IT will
be remembered that the President sent
the appointment of Petty to the Senate
many months ago, and it has been hung
up in the Senate committee ever since
The Senate desiring to retain Mrs Kenna
as postmaster, refused to act upon Pet
tvs appointment When Congress shall
have adjourned the President will re-
appoint Petty and he can take charge of
the office without being confirmed by the
Senate.
Anticipating this action, Mcdonald and
his friends are getting up a petition to
the President protesting against the APP
pointment of Petty If Petty should be-
come postmaster, it is understood that
Mr.. Floyd will become his chief clerk, 50
whatever strength or weakness there may
be in Mr.. Floyd, it will be shared by Mr..
Petty.
Senator Elkins has written John s. Nc
Donald, offering to give him almost any
thing in the way of a federal office that
he may desire if he will withdraw his hos
Titles to the new bosses in Kanawha and
help elect Mr.. Edwards to Congress. He
is offered a military commission or a civil
position, which ever may best suit his
taste. He has sent a very cordial invita-
tion to Mcdonald to come to Washington
that they may talk the matter over. Nc
Donald says that he will so to Washing
ton and see the Senator according to his
request. but he will not accept any little
office. The reward of his neutrality In
kanawha county affairs hereafter must
be something that is worthy his standing
sud dignity
A PLOT DISC0VEPED