The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-20
Special Dispatch to the Intclllgencer.
CHARLESTON. ". Va. Ian. fs.-0n

Special Dispatch to the Intclllgencer. (,
CHARLESTON, ". Va, Jan. fa,=-on
the eighteenth ballot at IL o'clock to.
night. Hon. N. D. Scott received the
Republican nomination for United
States senator. \,
It was n peculia: and interesting con-
test in many respects, and the greatest
enthuslasm was manifested by men OF
ail parties. Probably no senatorial
caucus ever held In this state was pro-,
ductIve Of so many surprises and com
4 spllcations. Governor Atkinson's vote
starting at fourteen on the first ballot.
dwlndled to three on the; last. his
strength going largely to Goff. whose
name was introduced contrary to his
fcxpressed desire that he should not be
mentioned.
The caucus, which was strictly. Sc
Scrct, confined exclusively to the mem
hers Of the house and senate. convened
at o'clock, Senator Fast being chosen
chairman. Some delay occurred In the
prelimlnarlcs. There were three ab-
sent, two not signing the caucus
call. and one, Mr.. Asbury, or Putnam.
being at his homo. But all these nb-
sentecs VIII vote for the nominee. who
Will have the united support of the.
party. On this account. rule was
adopted requiring majority Of all the
Republican members, whether. pres
cnt or not, to make q nomination. This
would require twenty-six votes TO NOM
inate. ,'s;ssTE5 ~ -
Rule Not Known Outside.
The rule was not known outside the
caucus chamber. and when on one bal
lot Scottreceived3 3twenty-f0ur votes to
Atklnson's twelve and one, scattering,
it'was thought he was nominated, as
there were but forty-six members pre-
sent. The. first ballot stood a. loft, 81
Poffenbarger. G.. Atkinson, IA: Scott, 49,
Caldwell, .: Gaines. 1..t{ ss.s5ist (
4 Mr. Scott vas receiving the news by,
telephonetat the Ruffner. and remark
ed: THAT Is just what expected OH
the first ballot. I should receive the
required number, twenty-four. on the
third or four ballot" He sized 1T up
pretty well. for when the result Of the
fourth ballot was announced he had
twenty-four votes: Atkinson. 12. and 1
scattering. The. rule not being known.
1t WAS regarded as settling the case.
but the news of the rule came shortly
nfier and 1t was found that Mr.. Scott
would need twenty-siN votes. 1t was 4
peculiar and unusual rule, but 1t went.
The balloting continued up to the
eighteenth. Scott maintaining his
strength nll the way through save
once. when he dropped to twenty-three,
but pulled up again 10 twenty-five.
Governor Atkinson having for a while
in the nelghborhood, OF twelve 20 fifteen.
Nomination Made Unanimous.
Toward the last his strength began
to so TO Goff, and so did that of the
others, until the last ballot. when the
vote stood: Scott. IS: Goff, 10; Atkin-
son, o. Scotts nomination was made
unanimous.
When the news was received outside
the caucus chamber there was great
enthusiasm mt the hotel. Mr.. Scott. who
had been In The rotunda all evening and
had Just retired to his room to tnkc a
slight rest. was overwhelmed with the
congratulations OF his friends.
One striking incident occurred during
the evening ut the hotel just after the
fourth ballot, when Charley Caldwell
came into the rotunda from the capitol.
He had dropped out OF the contest and
was the first OF tho opposition to pub
llcly congratulate Mr.. Scott on the GER
tainty OF his nomination. All the cam
didates Joined In these congratulations.
The eighteen votes received by Judge