Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-21
some POLITICAL VIEWS.
THE DEMOCRATS SEEM DETERM-
INED TO WIN A SWEEPING VIC
TORY THIS YEAR
SAYS HON. W. E. R. BYRNE
He Says h Democratic Party in
the Southern Fart OF the State IL
In Better Shape Than Ever Before.
Other Political Notes.

Hon. W. E. r. Byrne, Of Charleston, in
all probability our next Secretary of
the State Democratic Executive Commit
tee. is in the city on professional busi-
ness. Mr.. Byrne has been for years one
Of the ablest leaders in the cause of De-
mocracy. He was visited at the Mcclure
by a Register reporter and asked 70 ex-
press his opinion of the chance for DEM
ocrauo victory in the coming elections.
Mr.. Bryne said:
Q course, this early in the campaign,
1t is very hard to make an accurate es-
innate of the political situation, but the
indications in the southern part of the
State, and all over the State, so far as 1
have been able to learn, are that the
Democratic party is in better shape than
ever before in the history of the State.
The party is united and is to-day entirely
and absolutely without any dissension or
factional contentious. There seems to be
a united determination on the part of
every Democrat to bring about the sue
cess of the party this year and rid both
State and nation of Republican misrule.
The convention held at Parkersburg was
but an earnest of the enthusiasm and de
termination which will characterize the
coming campaign. 1t was by far the
largest and best representative assem-
blase have ever seen in the State. The
ticket nominated by that convention is
universally regarded as a very strong
one. Its strength is conceded by the Re-
publicans. Gentlemen connected with
the present Republican administration
claim that the Republican party is not
! going to be put on the defensive in re-
gard to their conduct of affairs In the
past four years, but all other persons,
both Democrats and Republicans, realize
that they are already on the defensive,
and that there is much in connection with
that administration which cannot be de-
Tended; and the defense thereof will not
be attempted by any one outside of those
Immediately connected"
DO you think the usual Republican
methods of corruption will be much in
evidence in this campaign
"Of course. Mr.. Elkins is determined
to go back to the Senate if the lavish use
of money and the employment of any or
all of these other questionable methods
will bring about thai result. You will
find, however, that the Democrats will
~ va SAS oiO " DiOCh lHtS llllle game,
and to see that the result of the elections
is a fair expression of the legally qualified
voters of the State, and hone other. To
obtain such a result will demonstrate the
fact that the State of West Virginia is
Democratic by a good, round majority"
will the Virginia debt question be an
issue in the State campaign"
The Democratic party does not want
the debt question agitated, because the
agitation of hat question is the breath
of the nostrils of the New York crowd
who are holding the bonds. Some Demo-
cratic legislator will put a quietus to it
just as Andy Edmiston did by his reso-
luton in 1895, the very moment the ques-
ton is brought up for discussion In either
branch of the Legislature. AS long as the
Democrats control the Legislature the
people of West Virginia need nave no
fear of this debt being saddled upon
them"