Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-19

litical situation in West virginia. The
revolt Of the Anti-ring Republicans has
grown to far greater proportions than
even the astute Stephen B. dreamed OF.
and the worst Of it is the Freer forces
are not only In dead earnest but un-
compromising. But the big boss is an
adept at political compromises and all
Of his agents are now engaged in a
supreme effort to compromise the diff
ficulty and harmonic the warning fac
lions of the Republican party which
endangers Boss Elkins's return to the
United States Senate-which is the
point that especially worries Mr.. FL
kins.
The big boss is willing to do almost
anything or offer any sacrifice-except
that of his own ambition-to secure
harmony. He is said to be- ready to
turn White down at any time the Freer
people indicate that Whites withdraw
al Will neal the Dreacn.
But inasmuch as the fight of the
anti-ring Republicans is not against
Mr.. Whites personality, but against
the Charleston ring which he repre-
sents, all. offers of compromise from
the big boss have been cody declined.
1t evidently is the object of the an
firing Republicans to down the ring
and put an end to the rule of the hand
full of b~loodsucking oficeholders who
have been milking the Republican
party for their own a-rrandizement. 1t
is only insofar as White is one of the
ring that. their hostility applies to him
personally. It not White they are after,
but the ring and ring rule and inso-
lent ring domination Of Republican
politics.
Probably no one understands the sit
.uation- better than Mr.. Elkins. Ger
tainly there is no one willing to do
more in the way of compromise. He
will sacrifice White in a jify, and, we
are told has so intimated, if by that
means the independents will be paci-
fed and in turn withdraw Freer.
1t has been circulated in ring organs
that James. H. Huling, of Charleston,
was acceptable to the Freer people.
All of which may be true, but the fact
remains that Nh. Huling is SO obnox-
ious to the ring that he would not
stand the shadow of a show in the con-
vention, as a compromise candidate.
| Moreover, it is as we'll to mention the
fact that Mr.. Huling has positively
declared that he is not a candidate for
the nomination and wouldn't have
it if it were rendered him. Which
would seem to settle it.
Meanwhile, the merry war goes on
with increasing vigor. The Freer
men as yet have not lost a kopje. A
| Charleston dispatch tells a different
story regarding the White end of the
fight:
vi liAi 10 " ACSdlQCQ as pa llSu-
larly strong in his own county Of Wood and
still less SO in this. For though the Wood
county convention instructed for him that
action, 1t Is said, was brought about by all
Sorts of ruses, tricks. and undetermined
scheming, carried to such an extent that
many old soldiers and others who were
for Freer a declared hat they will new
er vote for White under any circumstances
Down here in Kanawha they are pro.
ducing copies of the Parkersburg State
Journal published while 1t was still owned
and edited by Mr.. White, which show uI
his record on the Capital removal question,
They are also producing some of his ex-
pressions as to Charleston, which would
seem to Indicate hypocrisy on his part in
trying to get the opportunity to come here
and live. The disaffection OF this account
is said to be so great that the local ma
chine politicians lave been going around
among the compliments ~assiduousfy en-
deavoring to persuade them that Mr.. White
did not intend to convey any offense. The
anti White Republicans, however, are OBJ
durate, and are right now making arrange
ments to have Mr.. Freer here, to use a
theatrical expression, on a return date"