Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-08

Al CdAILESION, IN AN1IOlfA-
TION OF THE BIG BATTLE
WHICH BEGINS ON WEDNES-
DAY-CANDIDATES FOR THE VA
RIOUS PLACES IN THE GIFT OF
THE HOUSE AND SENATE, ARE
ARRIVING AND ARE HARD AT
WORK - INTERNAL REVENUE
COMMISSIONER SCOTT AND Gov
ERNOR ATKINSON HOLD AN
OTHER CONFERENCE - SCOTT
DENIES A STORY.
Special to the Register
Charleston, W. Va. January T.
Members of the Legislature and promi-
nent politicians of the State have been
arriving on the trains to-day.
Almost the first on the ground was
Hon. 0. S. Mckinney, of Fairmont, who
appears to be in the lead for the Speak
ership. Mr.. Mckinney expected TO ar
rive here last night at $3.50, but his
train was delayed five hours, and did
not get in till after midnight. He has
rooms at Hotel Ruffner. He says that
while he is confident of his election, he
cannot give any details as to the num-
Der of votes he will get in the caucus.
OF the thirty-nine Democratic members
of the House of Delegates, thirteen. or
one-third. are from McKinneys Con-
gresslonal district. Presenting that
most of these will be for Mckinney. it
will give him quite prestige as a can
dldate. The friends of Mckinney re-
gard him as the best equipped man for
the Speakership that has been elected
to this Legislature, being thoroughly
conversant with the rules of the House
and man of cool and good Judgment.
The other candidate for the Speaker
ship is Maj. E. A Bennett, of Cabell.
The fact that he has not yet put in an
appearance seems to indicate that he
will not make a vigorous canvass. Mai.
Bennett is regarded as one of the most
valuable members of the House
j. B. Peyton and c. w. Young, of
Kanawha; Geo. l. Neal. of Cabell, and
Holly G. Armstrong, of Jackson, are
candidates for the clerkship of the
House and they are all here interview
ing the members as they arrive.
o. S. Marshall. of Brooke, a holdover
Republican Senator from the First dis
trict, is candidate for the Presidency
of the Senate. He arrived yesterday,
and has been pushing his canvass with
vigor and enthusiasm. Senator Whit
aker, of Wheeling, and Senator Cole,
of Weston, are said to be candidates
but neither has arrived
A. r. Campbell, of Wheeling, is
pushing the canvass for Senator Whit
aker with the understanding that he is
to get good position as an officer in
the Senate if Whitaker is elected.
The candidates for the clerkship Of
the Senate are John T. Harris of Wood
who was clerk of the Senate two years
ago, and S. r. Hanen, of Marshall, the
Speaker of the last House. Harris will
probably be elected.
Commissioner N. B. Scott arrived to-
day from Washington and went imme-
diately to the Capitol, and was closeted
for several hours with Governor Atkin-
son. A statement having been made
to the effect that an agreement had
been reached between Mr.. Scott and
the Governor whereby the one who
should develop the most strength in the
Senatorial caucus was to be supported
by the other to the exclusion of any
other, the Register representative call
ed on Mr.. Scott to get a statement
from him. He denied emphatically that
any such agreement had been reached.
However, a number of leading Repub-
licans here are reluctant to believe that
there is not some such an understand
| ing between the two candidates for the
| Senatorship. They charge Messrs.
Elkins, Scott and Atkinson having
formed a ring by which other Sena-
torial candidates are to be shut out.
The two recalcitrant Republican
members of the House who have de-
clared they would not vote for either
Atkinson or Scott are giving these gen.
tlemen a great deal of concern. The
Republicans having only claimed ma
jority of one on joint ballot it is re-
garded as of the utmost importance to
| get these men into line.
Mason, the Republican candidate for
the House of Delegates in Barbour
county, has withdrawn his contest
against Bowman, the Democrat, and
will not come to Charleston.
Prominent among members Of the
Legislature who arrived to-day are SEN
ator R. E. Fast, of Morgantown. and
Col. T. NJ. Davis, member Of the House
Of Delegates from Mineral.
A considerable number of prominent
| politicians and members of the Legis-
| iature arrived on late train tonight
Among them were Col. John T. Nc
! Graw, and his private secretary, John
| B. Mccoy; r. B. Ash and James e.
| Mccoy, of Fairmont; r. w Morrow, of
Charles Town; ]. G.. Garland Hurst, OF