Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-17
bright OUTLOOK
FOR DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS RE-
PORTED FROM A PARKERS-
BURG STANDPOINT.
CHEERFULNESS AT
HEADQUARTERS
GROSvENOR DID THE DEMOCRATIC
CAUSE GOOD.
He Utterly Failed to Arouse Any
Enthusiasm at Parkcrsburg-His
Audience Early Showed Signs of
Wearincss-Hfs Silly Line of Talk.

16-Tlhe outlook in this section for
Democratic success grows brighter as
the campaign progresses and every
body interested in the election of the
Democratic ticket is feeling particu-
larly good at this time. About the
branch. headquarters of the Democratic
State Executive Committee there is an
air OF cheerfulness and enthusiasm
that tells better than words of the
feeling that prevails among the man
ayers of the campaign.
1t is a common thing for those inter-
ested in one political party to claim
that a speech made in advocacy OF the
other has had the opposite effect from
what was intended. still at the risk OF
being thought commonplace, | feel i'm
PEELED to say that the speech delivered
here on Tuesday evening by Congress
man Grosvenor of Ohio, has done the
Democratic cause actual good. One
feature of that speech was the most
remarkable that has ever been wit
messed in this city, at least. Mr.. Gros-
Venor began his remarks by referring
to Mr. Bryan as the false prophet, and
passed on from that to the full dinner
pail issue which the Republicans are
trying to make paramount. He drool-
ed and drooled, in listless, not 10 say
stupid, manner for full thirty minutes,
utterly falling to arouse the people
to any show of enthusiasm even by
his repeatedly and coarsely denounc-
ing Mr.. Bryan as a liar. The audience
first showed signs of WEAKNESS by
yawning and stretching and lounglng
on their seats and finally took to talk
ing and moving about in such man
ner as to make hearing difficult.
FINALLY Mr.. Grosvenor said: Ladies
and gentlemen, l will now tell you
something about Imperialism
effect was electrical. If every individ-
uai in the audience had been arranged
on springs and Mr.. Grosvenor could
by pressing button have thrown them
in the air at one time, tne scene would
not have been more remarkable-Wlth
one impulse the audience sprang to its
feet, every one yelling at the top OF
his voice and almost every hand way
ing it or some other object IN the air.
The demonstration was one of the wild
est that has occurred in this city, or
perhaps in this State. during this cam
paign. The cheering and applauding
lasted for several minutes, during which
time Mr.. Grosvenor stood on the plat
form like one in trance, and at the
end of that time he realized, if not
other leading members of his party
did, that imperialism was the para
mount issue in this campaign. That
was an unmistakable sign that imper-
ialism was the question these people
desired to hear discussed. Mr.. eros
venor launched into what proved to
be the weakest, not to say silliest, line
of talk concerning that matter that
has been heard here or elsewhere. AS
q sample of his argument, | mention
the illustration he gave of how the
Constitution does not follow the flag.
He described a vessel floating the flag
of the Republic, which might anchor
on the coast of some cannibal island
where the natives, seeing an object
they did not understand. would go out
in their small boats to investigate it..
while investigating the ship in their
heather curiosity said Mr.. Grosvenor,
these people would be under the
United States flag. Do our Democratic
friends mean to tell us that the Consti-
CuulOu VIII CAICuQ " l4lNLh'
The remainder of the speech was as
dull and uninteresting as the beginning
and a more thoroughly disappointed
audience never left a public meeting
than that which filed out of the wig
wan at the end of the Governors
speech. The performance has been
thoroughly discussed since, in almost
every crowd of men from two up, that
has gathered at any place in the city,
and the feeling of gloom, not to say
disgust, that pervades such gatherings
when they are Republicans, contrasted
with the look of ghoulish glee which
animates the faces of Democrats, tells
more plainly than words the regard in
which it is held by members of the two
parties. One thing is sure, nobody is
found hereabouts denying that i'm
periahsm is the paramount issue.
There is perhaps one exception to
the above declaration, but he came late.
Senator Elkins arrived in the city
Thursday night and Immediately
sought an interview with a local paper
to rehabilitate the full dinner pail in
the garb of the star performer, and
give it the middle of the stage. With
the impending strike in the anthracite
coal region, where on next Monday 147,-
900 miners are expected to cease work
because of the fact that the pay they
get for days work will not serve to
fill the dinner pail, Mr.. Elkins has
found 1t hard to make the people take
stock in his declarations.
By the way, it is said that the big
boss is very much frightened by the
outlook in this State; that he is going
over it with an eye to having that done
which is necessary for the success of
his party and the salvation of himself
in the Republican counties where the
dissatisfaction with "bossism" so
largely prevails. OF course, MIR. Ell
kins is not going to tip his hand TO
the opposition, but the earnestness with
which he is adjuring his friends to do
their utmost and the activity which he
demands from his lieutenants, are
pretty good evidences that he is badly
frightened.
From those counties in the interior
Of the State which lie in the First dis
trict, come cheering reports of the
satisfaction given Democrats by the
mond on the Congressional ticket.
MIR. Raymond is a man of high char
acter and also of great ability, a splen-
did lawyer and gentleman in every
way worthy to represent his people in
the national legislature. While his
DerSOnal acnlaintanca with the VOTERS