Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-18
n IRE FOURTH DISTRICT
The Political Activity is Very No.
ticeable.

MANY DEMOCRATS SEEKING THE
CONGRESSIONAL NOM NATION
AND BELIEVE TT IS EQUIVALENT
TO AN ELECTIONJTHE FIGHT IN
MASON COUNTY PARTICULARLY
WARM-oNLY THREE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES.
Point Pleasant, w. Va, July H.
The war has not monopolized public
interest here in Point Pleasant. Poll
tics is holding its own, and in the
Fourth district, as the time for nomi-
nations draws near the ear is assailed
by the clamorous voice OF the curb
stone politician. There is an abund-
ance of good Democratic material.
Among the candidates are James Cape
hart, j. b. Menager and Rankin Wiley,
of this county; H. c. Henderson, H. S.
Wilson and B. H. Butcher, of Wood;
Walter Pendleton, of Roane; Holly G.
Armstrong, Of Jackson; George /.
Neal and George ]. McComas, of
Cabell. They believe nomination this
year is equivalent to election.
There is considerable activity in
Mason. Mr.. Capehart is satisfactorily
prosecuting still hunt, 90 his friends
say. He has been nominated by the
Populists, and is laying his net to
catch the Democratic nomination. His
nomination by the Populists will give
him great prestige, his friends think.
Others believe it will injure his
chances. There is resentment against
the Populists' attempt to dictate to the
Democrats, in advance Of their con-
vention, who they shall nominate for
Congress, and if this resentment
should obtain generally throughout the
district, Mr. Capehart may suffer some
what from it. The most serious oppo-
sition to Capehart is because of his
withdrawal. after he had been nomi-
mated by the Democrats in 1894. Some
believe Capehart's withdrawal cost the
Democrats the Congressman.
Rankin Wiley is still ostensibly in
the race, but he has gone fishing, and
1t is assumed he is either sire of nomi-
nation or doesn't care.
The friends of Mr.. Menager asked
Mr.. Wiley to withdraw in Managers
favor, but he declined Mr.. Menager
believes with Wiley out of the race he
could beat Capehart and get the solid
Mason delegation to the convention,
but he will not make a fight as long
as Wiley is in the race.
Probably the most active candidate is
ex-senator Henderson, Of Wood. He
began early and went over the district.
He is now on his second round, beating
the bushes. He says his chances are
first class.
Ex-Mayor Wilson, Of Parkersburg, is
regarded as strong, and will make
good showing.
B. H. Butcher expects to show the
boys things when the time comes.
Walter Pendelton is not working
hard. 1t is even intimated that he will
not stand in the way of his friends who
may desire to go to Congress.
Holly G. Armstrong makes a friend
of every man he meets and he has
only to circulate freely to make his
calling and election sur-.
George l. Neal is an active candidate.
He is regarded as one of the best
politicians in the district, and a very
hard man to beat. 1t has been stated
that Neal is running In the interest of
Mr.. Capehart; that he will withdraw
and throw his support to Capehart but
Mr.. Neal vehemently denies this.
When Neal beat George McComas
and got the Cabell county delegation,
it was understood that McComas
would withdraw, but a gentleman
from Huntington states that McComas
is still in the ring.
The Republican convention promises
to be tame affair There are three
candidates, the present incumbent,
Warren Miller: Judge Romeo H. Freer,
of Richie, and Gordon Gibbons, O.
Wood.
Judge Freer is a splendid stumper,
and great hustler. If nominated he
would make things hum. But he will
not be nominated, because Mr.. Elkins
doesn't want him. The order has
come from Washington that Mr.. Miller
must be re-nominated. Mr.. Miller has
supported the administration and Ell
kins. Mr.. Miller has supported Elkins
because the Senator has been the archi-
tect and exponent of the Presidents
policy, and the real power at the White
House. Some Republicans go so far as
to say that Mr.. Elkins is the president.
and that Mckinley is only a figurehead
To nominate Judge Freer or any one
else under the circumstances would be
regarded as slap in the face of the
administration, and this Mr.. Elkins
will not permit.
But there is another reason against
Freer In 1896 he was elected Judge
of Tho Fourth judicial cirnu;t which