Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-13
FIFIY-SIK BALLOTS,
No NOMINATION.
BATTLE ON IN SIXTEENTH DISTRICT
The Name of Hanna is Avoided as a
Thing to Be Feared.
WEEMS AND GILL THE BIG TWO

WEEMS AND GILL THE BIG TWO
WHILE HOLLdNGSWoRTH STILL.
HOLDS A STEADY HAND AND
FIMPLE WAITS FOR AN OPEN
ING FOR HIS TRUMP CARD
MILLIONAIRE SCOTT WON'T
HAVE THE NOMINATION AS A
PRECIOUS GIFT - A LADY
CREATES A STAMPEDE WITH A
SOLO-DELEGATES RESTING ON
THEIR ARMS UNTIL 10 O'CLOCK
THIS MoRNING-PRoCEEDINGS
IN FULL.
The Congressional convention of the
Republicans of the Sixteenth district
OF Ohio, which convened at Martins
Ferry yesterday, has not thus far been
disappointing to the prophets. Those
who delight in anticipating conclusions
before they mature have been con-
graduating themselves upon the cor
rectness OF their forecasts. Il was
expected the contest would be long
drawn out and full of hard knocks, and
the beginning at least has justified this
opinion After fifty-six ballots with
out material variation, the end appears
to be yet clouded in mystery as inn
penetrable as it was before the one
hundred and sixty-six delegates came
together. The clans are sticking obstin-
ately by their favorites, and Judging
from scores of individual expressions
made by delegates from each OF the five
counties, the situation will remain I'M
altered for many succeeding ballots.
The man who yields submissively to
the dictates of the county or ward boss
is yet in a good humor and has given
no evidence of taking the matter into
his own hands. He evidently expected
a long visit when he left home, and he
is rather enjoying the realization of his
hopes. How long this will continue
can only be surmised, but 1t would not
be surprising IL nomination was not
reached before tonight or even to-
morrow. Nothing but the balloting
will tell.
Rarely does one see SO much conf
dence, either real or assumed. but new
ertheless apparent, as Is manifested by
the three leading factors in this con-
vention. Mr.. Hollingsworth is certain
he will be the man of the hour, and
Mr.. Weems is sure of his mark. All
that can be said OF Gill is that he is
just as positive in his claim of victory
as either of the others, and his follow
ers are already carried away with the
belief that their favorite has the goal
already within his grasp. This Is all
told to the anxious interviewer with
slight variation, but when figures and
data is asked for there Is not a man
can reply with convincing proof The
basis for such claims when run to
ground are uniformly found to be vague
or wholly visionary.
1t has generally been conceded that
Carroll county with her u votes, or,
rather, John H. Fimple with his 10
votes, holds trump card which, II
properly played, would do much III de-
termining the result. But the time for
doing this Mr.. F'imple has reserved for
himself, and both Weems and Gill are
kept guessing. Monroe will 90 TO GIL
whenever he requires the full vote TO
nominate, but In the meantime five OF
the thirteen are supporting Holdings
worth just as though they meant It.
Gen. Hollingsworth said To a repre-
sentative Of the Register last evening:
81 am in the fight to stay and 10 win.
The only way to eliminate me is TO de-
feat me-" Although at some disad-
vantage In the race, the General evinces
no inclination to throw his strength TO
either of the other leading candidates.
There has been much talk Of the adj
ministration taking hand in the
fight for Gill; and there are said TO he
some movements upon the part OF GER
tain individuals upon the ground that
would indicate this is being done, but
the changes possibly emanate from
those desiring TO prejudice the cause Of
the Jefferson county man.
Twenty ballots we're taken before the
supper hour yesterday and thirty-six
others at the evening session. The
two Belmont county delegates who had
been voting for Hollingswortn since
the eighteenth ballot. returned TO tbs
fold after supper, and Mr. Weems re-
ceived the full strength Of the county,
81 votes. Il is significant that Weems
has not received single vote outside
Of Belmont county
During the evening session Judge
Mansfelds solitary delegate deserted
him for three ballots and voted for Gil,
making that gentleman county solid
for him.
At the evening session there was
notable incident that came near stam~
peding the convention. Weary OF the
HOMOGENEOUS balloting, some OF the DEL
egates asked for a song from the quar-
tette BY way Of variation. The latter
responded very aeeeptably, and then
Miss Grace Updegraf noted vocalist
OF Mt. Pleasant, o.. was ushered upon
the stage for a solo. Miss Updegran
has a superb voice. and she sang THE
Star Spangled Banner with such effect
that the delegates went wild with de-
light. In the closing line Miss Ipde-
graf waved a silver Gill badge and
the effect was 50 electrical upon the
delegates that the opponents OF gin
feared a stampede would be created
for him.
Millionaire Robert p. Scott, Of Cadiz,
was on the ground yesterday. but II Mr..
Scott had a surprise 10 spring upon the
convention he has changed his mind.