Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-31
COL. CLARENCE /. SMITH
THINKS WEST VIRGINIA WILL re-
TURN TO THE DEMOCRATIC
FOLD.
THE OUTLOOK VERY BRIGHT
On of Dissatisfaction with
b Administration Policy and Re-
publican fractional QuarrcIs In
the State-something About Cam
didates-Other Political Matters.

AOOuL Sans
d-idates-Other Political Matters.
Col. Clarence L. Smith, of Fairmont.
was in the city yesterday for the pur-
pose of being present at the mastering
in of Company A, of the National
Guard. Col. Smith stated that no
trouble would be experienced in having
q new company equipped in time to
participate in the Dewey demonstra-
ton on Washington's Birthday. He
also stated that the people of Fair
mont are manifesting great interest in
the visit of Admiral Dewey and wife
to this city, and will send a big crowd
here on the 22nd.
Col. Smiths many friends through
out b State will be glad to learn that
he has almost entirely recovered from
fecent illness, in spite of the medi-
@#opinion that he would not live six
months. He has lost considerable
weight, but otherwise is in excellent
health and spirits. Col. Smiths name
was very prominently mentioned some
months ago in connection with the
Democratic nomination for Governor,
RQt tAO COAQltlOA VI ulo llCdlIu DlduC
1t imperative that he take no active
part in politics. In a chat with a
Register reporter last night, he ex-
pressed the hope that his strength will
return in a sufficient degree to permit
him to offer his services to the party
In some capacity during the next cam
paign.
Il was present at the meeting of
the Democratic State Committee in
Charleston" he said, 'and l never saw
a body of men more determined and
hopeful. We have every reason to
look for the success of the State ticket
in the next campaign. Democrats are
harmonious and united, while the en-
envy is split into factions which will
get farther apart during the next few
months. From present indications
Judge Freer is making a bold fight
against the machine and even if he is
not successful over A. B. White, the
bitterness engendered during the fight
will not have healed by election day.
Another factor which will contrib
ute to Democratic success is the dis
satisfaction openly expressed by
many Republicans with the policy of
the national administration. On State
issues the party will go before the
people very strongly fortified. indie
pendent of many other evidences of in
capacity and gross mismanagement on
the part of the present administration,
1t will be found that the policy of
wastefulness has left a deficit of from
q quarter to a half million dollars in
the State treasury. The Republican
s~pellbinders who endeavor to explain
this to the satisfaction of the plain
people of the State, will undertake a
truly Herculean task"
What about candidates, Col.
SMITH"
There is an abundance of excellent
material for every place on the State
ticket, and if the strongest men are
named it cannot but win. Judge l.. N.
Tavenner, on.Andrew Edmiston, Prof.
Virgil A. Lewis, Judge John H. Holt
and others are talked Of, and | think
the disposition to select the strongest
and most available material will con-
troll the nominating convention"
How about Hon. o. S. McKinney's
candidacy for GOVERNOR"
Many of Mr.. McKinney's friends,
myselm among the number, think he
should be nominated for Congress. He
Is particularly strong in his own dis
trict, and il Dayton is re-nOminated,
l feel certain that Mr.. Mckinney can
be elected. Mr.. Dayton will have a
very strong fight for the nomination.
Friends of Scott Meredith, Grant Pit
ger and Judge Holt are exerting hem
selves in behalf of their respective
candidates, and it would not be sur
prising if some combination to defeat
Dayton for the nomination would be
the outgrowth of the opposition to the
present Congressman"
For years and with a degree of per-
sistency worthy of a better cause, Mar
shall county has been rolling up big
majorities for the Republican ticket.
Party leaders have figured out that
Marshall is an imperative necessity in
Senatorial, Congressional and State
elections. Heretofore the faithful par
tisans have been content to go to the
coils, vote straight and then jollify or
grunt a little, as the result might be.
Recently, however, a spirit of mischief
seems to have ~pervaded the Republi-
can camp in Marshal. From the ex-
treme of modesty and b~ashfulness,
they have leaped to the other extreme
of audacity and porkishness. Some
body has spread the word that Mar
shall has not been receiving her share
of the spoils. When this idea settled
itself with the force of conviction up
on the rank and file, there rose a
number of political martyrs who de-
clared, and are still declaring, their
willingness to sacrifice more or less
good things" for State and district
offices. Marshall stands ready to fit
out almost an entire State ticket, and
the Marshall county plan is com
mended to the bosses for its simplicity
and gall. They have no Gubernatorial
timber down there, but can supply it
on short notice. Edgar M. Lewis,
county clerk, is being boosted for
Auditor, and the cry for ''spoils" ap-
pears to be in the very air, for Warden
S. A. Hawk, of the ~penitentiary, has
inhaled copious draughts of it, and is
hustling for the place coveted by
Lewis. Attorney ]. E. Hooten, wants
to be named Attorney General, and
s. R. Hanen thinks the position of
State Treasurer would just about fit
him. Then there is Ben Meighen,
who proposes to give Capt. Dovener
another chase for the nomination for
COncreSS hut MIGHT he satisfied with