Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-08

Red Hot Contest On Among Belmont
County Republicans.
A SCHEME TO TRADE A DEPUTY
SHIP FOR THE OFFICE OF COUN-
TY PROSECUTOR SAID TO HAVE
BEEN DISCOVERED = OTHER
TALK HEARD LAST NIGHT.


TALK HEARD LAST NIGHT.
There is much interest being taken
by Belmont county Republicans in the
convention to be held at Bellaire to-
day, and the contest over the nominal
ton for prosecuting attorney reached
the acute stage yesterday and last
night. The subject has been the lead
ing topic of conversation in the river
towns for the past few days and at
Bridgeport and Martins Ferry it has
been quietly whispered that surprise
is due when the convention gets down
to balloting.
All along it has been conceded that
H. S. Armstrong had the ascendancy
in the race, but the very thing which
has heretofore augured in his favor is
said to be proving an element of weak
ness. Personally he is an excellent
gentleman and nothing can be said
against his qualifications, but it has
been mooted about good deal lately
that he is the ring candidate, and as
such will doubtless encounter opposi-
ton from the independent class of del
egates that would not otherwise be
directed towards him. He is being
made to bear. as it were, the sins of
the professional politicians many of
whom are not any too popular with the
rank and file of their party. A prom
inent Bridgeport Republican went so
far yesterday as to affirm that the can
didacy of H. G. Pratt. who contested
with j. S. Cochran for the delegation
from Martins Ferry and Bridgeport,
was secretly a movement in the inter-
est of Armstrong. That Pratt had
no notion of going into the conven-
ton, and that the sole object was to
eliminate Cochran from the list of pos
sibilities. This the gentleman went
on to say, was proven by the fact that
some of the Martins Ferry clique car
ried the fight for Armstrong into the
country precinct, where they were
caught red-handed in an effort to beat
the Cochran delegate with an avowed
Armstrong man. At Martins Ferry it
is claimed the influence of certain
faction was secretly exerted against
Cochran, while at the same time it pro-
fesses friendliness, and there is an
open threat among the delegates TO
resent such double dealing by turning
down the alleged ring candidate to-
day.
1t is said there are several reasons
why the politicians who have been con-
trolling the offices in Belmont county
for the past term of years, do not
want j. S. Cochran or T. G. Ayers
nominated for prosecutor. In the first
place it would make a break in the line
of succession which is generally plann-
ed from two to five years ahead, and
second, it would induct into office men
who would not be easily controlled by
the self-constituted leaders. If either
Ayers or Cochran were nominated and
elected their popularity might prove a
menace to the ambition of one or two
officeholders and ex-officers who are
grooming themselves for Mr.. Danford S
shoes and who expect to control the
Belmont county delegation in the next
Congressional convention.
There is another argument which was
also being effectively worked by the
anti-ring politicians yesterday. Con-
gresham Danford, it is said, will soon
make a recommendation for deputy in
ternal revenue collector. which APP
pointment the faction represented by
the Sedgwicks at Martins Ferry are
anxious to control for one of their
friends. Bellaire also has an applicant
for the place, but he is to be given the
go-by in the swap. The Martins Fer
ry man is to get the deputyship and
Mr.. Armstrong is to be prosecutor, II
the alleged purposes and intentions OF
the clique mature.
Armstrong has 35 to 40 delegates to
start on, which leaves from SO to 81
to be distributed between the other
candidates. Pratt, according to the
original programme will throw his
strength to Armstrong, but 1t will hard
" be enough to nominate. BY coali-
ton of the Ayres- Cochran delegates the
slick scheme of the bosses could be
defeated, and there are many anti-ring
Republicans who feel certain this Will
be done to-day. One of these said to
the Register last evening: 1T is the
same clique that tried TO hold up Dave
Darrah and every other friend of For
aker at the Columbus convention, that
will try to parcel out the prosecutor
ship and the deputy internal revenue
appointment, and they will see that
the independent Republicans with no
mans collar on them will defeat the
first step in the deal at the convention
tomorrow"
The convention will be called to-
gether at II o'clock by Chairman
Henry NJ. Davis. of the county execu-
tive committee. and Hon. c. ]. How
ard. of GAINESVILLE, will be temporary
chairman. If talk heard on the river
front last night is any criterion there
will be some fun when the voting be-
gins.
You could live on bread baked by
Wheeling Bakery.
WEST LIBERTY STATE NORMAL
The following is the programme for