Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-30
Hon. J. v. Blair, Democratic Can
didate for Congress. and Hon.
John A. Howard. Addressed the
Voters at the City Hall, and Had
q Large Meeting.

1t has been proven that frosts at
political meetings this campaign do
not apply to the gatherings held by
the Democrats. Another illustration
of this fact was shown at the Blair
| meeting at Benwood last night 1t
proved that the Democrats of Benwood,
as well as those of Wheeling and else
where, are alive, active and interested
in the campaign. There is no apathy
! in the Democratic ranks in Benwood,
and there is no trouble to get a crowd
at Democratic meeting in that town.
The meeting in the city hall last
night was one of the best ever held in
| Benwood. 1t was big in numbers with
plenty of enthusiasm. The hall is ca
pable of holding between four and FIVE
hundred people and there was no space
that was not taken up. A half hun
dred people or more stood up and the
stage was fully occupied. On it were
seated prominent Democrats of Ben
wood and Marshall county.
Benwood is a manufacturing town
and an audience in that place is always
representative of this class. The in
terest taken in the present campaign by
the voters of that locality and the en-
thusiastlc greeting given Hon. J. v.
B.air, the Democratic Congressional
candidate, last evening, was significant
The meeting was called to order a
few minutes before eight O'Clock by
County Chairman Joseph r. Mahood,
who selected Councilman James e. Bar
rett as presiding officer. Mr.. Barrett
promptly< intr oduced Mr. Blair, who
was given a royal reception as he step
ped to the front of the stage. Mr.. Blair
spoke for al hour and half, and
made an able, logical speech that was
attenuiyely listened to and frequently
applauded.
In stating the issues of the present
C" mpaign, the speaker took the grounds
that if THE good times and general
prosperity promised by the Republican
party in 1896 had been secured by
Republican administrator, and legisla-
tiCn, that the Democratic party could
present no issue in this campaign en-
titled to receive the consideration of The
voters. He did not think, however,
| that the gorgeous and widIe-sweeping
promises made by the Republican party
in the campaign two years ago had
been fulfilled, Judging by events since
and present conditions Under the cir
cImstanceS there was no reason for
turning the meeting into Republican
Qualification, but On the other hand
there are issues which should be seri-
ously considered. Referring to the
tariff question, Mr.. Blair said that there
is not now the great difference between
the two parties on this issue that there
was in campaigns before. The Repub-
licans five years ago advocated the pro-
hibition of foreign trade, confine-
ment of home trade to home markets
and America for Americans" had era
| their cry. Now they want to bring
in the Philippine Islands and other
islands to increase cur trade, and the
| markets fer our goods. The Republi-
cam party no longer commended that
the consumer did not pay the tax, a.
this theory had been amply demon
strated to be false. AS in the pros
porous and progressive period from
1850 to 1860, under Democratic admin
istration, when neither a free trade or
high protective tariff was in force,
the Democratic party is in favor OF
a moderate tariff. The speaker cor
rected the idea advanced by Republican
orators that the depression Of 1893 was
due to the Democratic administration,
for the country was governed by tie
Mckinley law until 1894, when it was
repealed for the Wilson tariff measure.
He also noted the failure of the Ding
ley tariff law to provide better times
for the country, and mentioned some
of the dire results that had followed
the enactment of this measure into
law
Mr.. Blair also spoke at some length
on the money question, and produced
some strong arguments in favor of the
double standard He gave some atten-
ton to the question of territorial ex-
pansion. declaring the annexation of
the Philippines or other islands as
contrary to the spirit Of our constitu-
ton, the ideas of the founders of our
government, and opposed to the best
interests Of our country. He brought
I'D Capt. D0vener's record in Congress
and showed that it was not an unusual
occurrence for the Captain to be absent
from the sessions when votes on i'm
portant measures were taken and
when present generally managed to cast
a vote against the interests of his con-
stituents and country His vote in
favor of the Pacific Railroad Funding
Bill, which appropriated s62. 100000 of
the peoples money uselessly, was a
point in evidence. Mr.. Blair promised
that, if elected, he would always en-
deavor to serve his constituents hon
estly on all matters pertaining to their
interest. His motto would be, equal
justice to all, and special privileges to
none.
Mr.. Blair ended with an eloquent per-
Grafton and was enthusiastically cheer
ed and applauded.
Hon. John A. Howard followed Mr..
Blair, and made an eloquent, forceful
and stirring speech that impressed his
hearers and aroused frequent demon
STATIONS of approval Mr. Howard
spoke almost exclusively in regard TO
the question Of territorial expansion
ard made an exhaustive and unanswer-
able argument against bringing in the
phiIinO;nc- Do-fo Pico C1,I,a