Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-19
Special to the Register.


tonight in the Supreme Court room.
Hon. John T. McGraw was virtually
its unanimous choice After organic
ing by electing w. L. Mansfield, of
Wayne, chairman, and Senator Beaver
secretary, the members went into
executive session.
Campbell and Stephenson. who were
chosen to succeed the army Sen
ators,' and the Democratic d~eleg4,es
from Taylor and Monroe participated
in the proceedings.
Raymond, Bee Hayes and Bennett
were unable to be present on o
of illness.
taken, stated that he would support
the aucus nominee. The numDer
voting was 40, and the ballot resulted
/as follows:
McGraw, 50; Watts, 6: John D. Al
derson. 2; Judge w. D. Bennett and
E. Willis Wilson, one each.
WITCH lDt hOJt was d~ll41OuuCtu, MI.
Stephens, of Wetzel, moved to make
the nomination by reclamation, which
went through with a whirl amid great
enthusiasm.
A committee of three was then ap-
pointed to find Mr.. McGraw, and escort
him TO the hall of the House of Del
N a+o- - -rbsoA -ho -,o,,bo-- 49,,
paired.
Mr.. McGraw arrived in a few min
utes and made a splendid address, in
which he heartily thanked the caucus
for the honor which it had conferred
upon him. He was several times i'll
terrupted by applause. and when lie
concluded every member pressed for
ward to extend personal congratula-
lions.
The ~balloting was preceded by a dis
cussion as to the ACCESSIBILITY of max
ing a nomination before the Republic
can caucus is held. 1t continued for
about an hour. and was entirely
friendly throughout. While there was
a division of sentiment as to the best
party policy 10 pursue in this respect,
it left no bitterness. No nominating
speeches were made. The members
voted for their choice upon roll call,
and the votes cast for candidates other
than McGraw we're intended to be conf
plimentary.
In the Republican Senatorial fight.
there has been very little change.
There has been more buttonholing and
more private chats than ever, and gen.
orally it has been one of the busiest
days of the campaign.
The probability of a deadlock in the
caucus and the consequent turn of
sentiment toward Judge Gof as the
most available compromise candidate,
necessitated prompt and decisive ac-
ton in the interest of other aspirants.
To-day Ed. Boggs, Atkinson's pri-
vate secretary, stated that he had
seen a letter from Judge Gof in which
the writer stated in the o positive
terms that he will not accept the eau
Gus nomination if rendered TO him.
The circulation of this report has aided
Atkinson. whose friends assert that the
Governor consulted Golf before decid-
ing to enter the race. So it appears
that unless Atkinson gives his consent,
Gof cannot accept the S%enatorship
without convicting himself of political
treachery. In view of the bitterness
of the fight between Gof and Atkin-
son, I'll o difficult to conceive a con
tingency in which such consent would
be given.
The Regieter reporter was given two
estimates of strength to-day from
close friends OF Scott and Atkinson.
The former gives Scott Is, Atkinson
13. Poffenbarger 6, Caldwell 3. Gaines
2. Golf 5, doubtful Z. The Atkinson
estimate gives Gof most of the doubt
full votes and claims IS for Atkinson.
These figures are given for what they
are worth.
From a disinterested standpoint it
appears that Atkinson and Scott will
each receive about the same number
of votes. There will be 49 votes il
the caucus. % necessary to a choice.
The leading candidates will fall nine
or ten short of the required number.
Harmony on the Republican side of
the fence is conspicuous by its absence.
Delegates Hughes, Haptonstall and
Hunt have so far refused to sign the
caucus call for Thursday night. 4
number who have signed hitched TO
their agreement the condition that they
will not be bound to the caucus nom
inee. The meeting may be a confer
ence instead of a caucus. The dis
Ltinction lies in the fact that the latter
carries with it a pledge to support the
pmiYIe {.
humber Of workers for the lead