Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-06

Men of all parties appear to believe
that West Virginia will be good fight
ing ground in the next campaign, and
there are therefore many candidates
for places on the State tickets OF both
parties, with indications that they will
increase and multiply in number as the
time for the convention approaches.
Geography will, as usual, be a factor in
the personnel of the tickets, and al
ready there are rumors of deals and
attempted deals, one of which is noted
below. The Office of State Superintend-
ent Of Free Schools is not so i'm
portant, from the standpoint Of emolu-
ment, as Auditor or Governor, but there
will nevertheless be a very lively
scramble for the nomination.
: On the Republican side, for example,
it is generally understood that J. Rus
sell Trotter, the present Superintend-
ent. is extremely anxious to succeed
himself, and it is also generally under
stood that there is strong element an
tagonistic to him in his own party.
One of his strongest opponents for the
nomination will be Prof George M
Ford, principal of the Concord Normal
School, and for a time principal OF the
Benwood public schools. He has a
large following throughout the State.
Another avowed candidate for the
place is H. C. Lockney, of Wood county
Prof. Miller, of Morgantown, who was
defeated by Virgil A. Lewis, would also
like to have the nomination again.
One Of the strongest prospective
candidates on the Democratic side of the
fence is Howard L. Swisher, of Morgan
town, who is a University graduate,
and the author of a book of poems
which has attracted considerable at
tention.
Monongalia county, it may be re-
marked parenthetically, is not very
modest in political way. In addition
to two candidates for State Superin-
tendent of Free Schools, the. county
asks for one of the Supreme Judge
ships ON the Republican ticket. and
Hon. R. E. Fast aspires to the Guber-
material chair. Senator Fast is I'M
: .u.u4 - ~ Io n roooptiva candidate
He is a man of recognized ability, and
but for the fact that his health is poor,
would probably enter actively into the
fight against A. B. White, ct al
From Charleston comes an interest
ing political yarn, which contains all
the evidences of authenticity. 1t tends
to show, what everybody firmly be-
lieyes, that Senator Elkins made his
recent trip through the State on
political, rather than a social mission.
A. B. White is the choice Of the bosses
for the gubernatorial nomination, and
because of their support he is opposed
by the Atkinson faction Senator Elk
ms is reported to have endeavored to
harmonic matters, by offering Akin
son the United States District Attor-
neyship, conditioned upon his with
drawal of active opposition to White,
and promising also to exert his inffu-
ence to have him appointed Federal
Judge in the event of vacancy. Joe
Gaines, the present District Attorney,
WILL it is understood. make the race
for Congress in the Third district. At
kinson is reported to have spurned the
offer, and to have stated his position in
such terms as to leave no doubt in the
mind of Elkins as to his attitude to-
ward the dominant faction of the party
in this State. State Treasurer Kendall,
who has been fighting White in every
possible way, was also approached,
and was offered a comfortable berth in
Washington as the price of his with
drawal of opposition. Kendall also
declined. The breach has been widen
ed as a result Of the Senator's effort to
close it.