Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-18

AND RESOLUTIONS LAUDING
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SUP
PORTERS NOT so CONFIDENT
AS THEY MAKE BELIEVE.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WILL BE
HELD TONIGHT.
Special to the Register.
Charleston, w. Va, January H.
Governor Atkinson is anxious to break
into the Third and Fourth Districts
Club" which was organized to elect a
United States Senator.
The Governor has all along claimed
Ohio county as his place of residence,
but has been willing TO promise to
write Charleston" after. his name on
d Washington hotel register if such a
promise would establish this eligibility
to membership in this club. Leaders
in the club movement anticipated the
Governors position, however, and in
serted the words bona fide resident
in their published statement. This
was intended as a polite notification
that Atkinson's application would be
black balled.
This club movement is more imperl-
Gus to Atkinson's candidacy than
to SCOTS; hence a movement to es-
tablish another club which material
lied to-day.
A meeting was held in the Cover
nor's reception and it was really
a representative body of men who as
sembled there. But members of the
Legislature were painfully conspicuous
by their absence. 1t was given out
that it was a meeting OF prominent
Republicans from the Third and Fourth
districts, but all were from Kanawha
and Fayette counties, except a num-
Der of ~appointees of the Governor, who
came from every part of the State.
Ohio county was represented by C.
P. Hamilton, w. w. Rogers, Jere Mead
and l. V. Barton.
The presence of so many persons
from Fayette county is explained by
the fact that the delegates from that
county are anti-Atkin1n' and
pressure is to be brought to bear upon
them.
Col. Joseph Beury acted as secretary,
General George Washington Curtin, S.
w. Atkinson, President If the State
Board of Agriculture, DR.. J. E. Robbins,
of Fayette, Labor Commissioner, l. V.
Barton and several others Lade
speeches extolling the Governor for his
personal probity and mental qualiica-
tons for the S~enatorship. 1t was a YER
liable indoor picnic, and after it was
all over the Governor looked as happy
as a youngster with a new pair of red
topped boots. Most men have to wait
until they are dead to have so many
nice things said of them.
A resolution was adopted p~ledging all
present as a committee of a whole to do
everything possible to aid the Governor
in his candidacy. The button holing
and moral suasion department was en-
trusted to a committee of twelve com
posed of railroad magnates, coal opera
tors, merchants, and labor representa-
tives. C. P. Hamilton is on the COM
mittee.
These extraordinary efforts two days
before the party caucus indicate a de-
termination on the part of the Cover
nor and his friends to warm I'D the
fight. AS a result Atkinson stock has
gone up several points.
Try as they will, the Scott people can
not conceal the fact that they are wor-
ried. Statements that the Scott strength
is weakening are denied with such per-
sistance and vehemence as to throw a
shadow of doubt upon the expressions
of general confidence emanating from
the Scott quarters.
IF not Scott nor Atkinson, whom"
ask that question of ten Republicans
and you will get as many differnt
answers.
The strongest candidate IN the race
is a dark horse. His other name may
be Caldwell or Poffenbarger, or Gaines
or Campbell, but it isn't.
1t is Nathan Golf.
The instructions Of the Republican
convention, in Marshall, and the in
fuenee of Congressman c. P. Door,
appear to constitute the Golf boom in
embryo. 1t will develop through a
caucus deadlock and mature through
his personal popularity among Repub-
lieans of every faction and clique.
The Democratic caucus will be held
tomorrow. The first session of the
Republican caucus will be held on the
following night. H. v. ARKLE.