The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-16
! REPUBLICAN, CAUCUS
Will be Held Thursday Night.
Strength OF Senatorial Candidates
will not be Known Until the Ballot.
ling Begins.

Ing Begins.
Special Dispatch 10 tho IntellIgencer.
CHARLESTON. W. Va, Jan. 1J.-By
an agreement among all the .Republl.
can candidates for United States SEN
ate caucus has been called for Thurs
day night, 10 choose the party nominee.
This united movement does away with
all differences as TO the date OF the
caucus, and insures harmonious action
whatever may be the result. The agree
ment on the date was reached after a
brief consultation between Hon. n. 3.
Scott, Governor Atkinson and Afessrs.
Gaines, Fast, Poffenbarger. Caldwell
and Floyd, and the call will be signed
by the entire Republican membership
OF the house and senate.
The situation. from being at first
somewhat complicated, by reason OF the
uncertainties growing out OF the con-
test Tor scats. now presents clearer
aspect, and while these matters have
not been finally determined It Is no
longer doubtful that the Republicans
VIII retain their majority on joint
ballot: and 1t Ia a safe one, safe enough
to insure that Senator Elkins will have
Republican colleague. The Demo-
Gratis virtually concede this.
Until the balloting in the caucus be-
gins the precise vote that each candl-
date Will have at the outset only the re-
cord OF the caucus will tell.
~ Factor In the Fight.
What has been known and referred
TO In the dispatches as the Third and
Fourth district movement. on the part
those who think that the portion OF the
state embraced in these districts
should have the senator, has met It's
chief difficulty in, the lack OF ability
for any one TO see just how nm agree
ment could be reached on such a cam
didateat ISOLATE Il day-one on whom all
could unite. q large proportion OF the
members being from the other districts.
This phase OF the situation Is the sub
1ect OF considerable discussion to-
night. While the number OF votes
which can be controlled by the Third
and Fourth districts movement, which
does not include all the senator's and
members from those districts. Is an I'M
certainty tt must be admitted they
Will be factor In the choice of SEN
ator. .. (
1t Is argued that should the caucus
think 1t wise to choose senator from
the lower part OF the state that the
probability Of the election of Congress-
man Warren Miller would not be re-
mote possibility. This outcome is
discussed mainly by some Of the. Scott
men. who would vote for Mr.. Miller us
their second choice. This is devel-
opment that would not surprise many
should such 4 contingency. arise. How
ever. there Is n growing confidence Wis
ible that the most likely result OF the
caucus will be the choice OF one OF tho
candidates who. has borne the brunt OF
the campaign. has made the fight TO re-
tain and uphold the victory even at the
polls.
Vicious Assaults ON Scott.
Since Mr. Scott has been In Charles
ton he seems to have been the chief
target for the assault of certain ele-
ments, SOM, OF them, inspired and ma
nipulated. by the, Democracy, and 9TH
ers by q newspaper here sailing under
Republican flag, which Is doing about
not succeeded. The publisher of the
Herald has filled his columns daily
with the most vicious and untruthful
libels against Mr.. Scott, while he has
as strongly and inconsistency been
protesting to appeal for harmony. The
alleged grievance against Mr.. Scott, Is
that he bore some important part in
the selection Of man to fill cross
roads postoAice somewhere over in
Fayette county. The effect of these
assaults, as well as certain "petitions''
that come from Wheeling. misrcprc-
senting his attitude toward labor and
trade unions have undoubtedly react
ed In Mr.. SCOTS favor. They arc
roundly denounced on all sides. and
have worked 10 make his friends stand
more firmly by him. This. in itself has
had considerable effect. Mr.. Scott has
no reason TO regret these assaults.
How the Governor Feels.
Governor Atkinson, between whom
and Mr.. Scott there is cordially OF feel
Ing, but no deal. rs our Democratic
friends have tried to make out, states
that lie has no reason 10 feel discour-
aged ut the outlook, that he has strong
confidence in his friends, and that he
believes every one Of them will stand
by him. fIc says he has confidence also
that whoever is the choice OF the cau-
Gus, whether It be himself or Mr.. Scott.
or anyone else. will be supported by
the united forces, and that there is not
shadow OF Il doubt that Republican
senator will be chosen. -.
There are many rumors ailoat about
every other thing. All are without n
particle OF foundation. Between now
and Thursday the atmosphere will clear
up, and there Is no doubt OF n harmo-
NOUS session OF the caucus. I cannot
see. however. In the signs any indica-
tons that dark horse will be entirely