The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-28
JUDGE CAMPBELL TALKS
Of the Congressional Contest he is
Waging with Captain Dovensr and
Does not concede the Claims Made

ny L4l9 Yong EGHSu1AAs
Judge John A. Campbell passed
through the city yesterday morning en-
route to the interior counties Of the
First district to see about his fences.
The Judge does not agree with Captain
Dovener's summary OF the congress
slonal situation, in which the present
representative in Congress intimates
that he. the judge, is not sin IT. for the
nomination. In discussing his chances
with an Intelligencer reporter, Judge
Campbell said:
II see Mr.. DoVener furnished state
ment for the Inteiiigencer Of Monday
last in which he announces to the be-
nighted Republicans OF this district
that he Is already practically nominate
ed. The reserve that would charac-
terlze u candidate who felt secure and
safe in the strength Of his candidacy,
would leave that important personal
announcement to be made at the proper
time by the honorable chairman OF the
Republican convention that meets at
Weston June c. He swoops down with
instructions from the old time Demo-
cratic counties and says, See there!
This settles 1t. and Judge Campbell Is
out Of the contest. Mr.. Dovener has
the faculty OF rushing into print, and
having himself interviewed. He did
that in the campaign of 1898 and claim
ed his nomination early and loud In
the same way he does now. He is
seeking to overwhelm me again by the
unanlmlty with which the Wheeling pa
pers announce his triumphal march to-
ward the nomination. It would be in
teresting for the Republicans in the
other counties to know how these
vaunted instructions were procured.
They were secured by packed conven-
lions In the interest of Dovener, called
without sufficient notice and without
any notice that they were called for the
purpose of electlng delegates to con-
vention called for the purpose OF NOM
mating n candidate for Congress. 1t is
unprecedented in the Republican poll
tics of West Virginia that county
convention to name delegates to con-
gressional convention should meet for
that purpose before June or July.
II said they were packed. They were
QlTGClEu anu llliAlAlhlehNNA W ANNNA'AA
appolntees and their retainers, who
have been and are the recipients of the
political pap which constitutes such a
large part Of the campaign merchan-
disc and stock in trade OF the present
congressman. ! charge that the census
appoIntees have been made C1nd are
held IN to be made. with many applica-
lions for appointment pending), in the
Interest Of DOvener, and with view to
procure delegates that would support
him. 1t is against this prostitution Of
public office. degrading alike to the can
dIdate and the citizen, that the masses
of the Republican party protest. The
results of this system and method made
It necessary in order to prevent STAN
pede OF hundreds Of Republican voters
that in 1898 the strong men Of the par
ty we're called upon to make a special
plea In his behalf.
at partIcularize and say that In one
of these counties where he claims In
structions, the pretended notice issued
by the county committee was suppress
ed for five weeks. and then twice pub
iished and afterwards withdrawn be-
fore the time of the meeting Of the So
called convention and simultaneous
with Its publication, in paper edited
by Mr.. Dovener's appointee. notice was
given to all the world that the delega-
ton was settled and fixed for Mr. Dove
ner. and where. in this same county
for lack Of notice. made no effort, nf-
ter weeks Of great work on the part OF
postmasters and other appolntees to get
out the Dovener vote, they got together
about 100 DoveRer supporters and in
getting that number together tho"
found themselves confronted, without
any effort on my part, with nearly 100
voters In favor Of my nomination.
''He says. He is willing to leave his
candidacy to the people and yet under
the methods OF himself and managers.
100 men in the county Of Lewis elected
nineteen delegates to the Republican
congressional convention. What n ira
vesty on popular representation! 100 is
a llttle oyer s per cent OF 1900 voters.
Where are the 1.74O Republicans Of the
county Of. Lewis practically disfran-
chIsed? And yet It is by instructions
such rs these that nominations are
sought to be forced upon the party and
the Republicans Of other counties are
to be stampeded to Dovener Is this the
way to unite the Republican party and
solldify It for the coming battle? II
need be. can particularlze and spcci-
fy methods that are n disgrace to
American politics. These prellminaries
had all better be settled before the
nomination.
"Mr Dovener says. 1T Is settled
Judge Campbell viii make no fight for
delegates in this county When In 1898
without any organization on my part,
with his own committee refusing me
single teller to count the vote, and In
tlrnidated as some Of them were sought
to be, nearly 1900 Republican men cast
their ballots in my behalf, It may
we'll be that Mr.. Dovener does not want
any contest in this county. The great
Republican counties have not responded
to his demand for immediate conven-
lions. The command Of his political
benehclarles Of the congressional COM
mittee land Mr.. Dovencr himself was
on tho ground) that the time Of the
congressional convention be fixed for
Nav list. did not materiaifze.
''Unler the methods adopted in Lewis
and Gllmer / expected no support, for
could make no campaign. Five weeks
vet remain for the canvass. In every
county have asked for n primary vote.
1t has been declined by the Dovener
managers. He sneers at my candidacy.
reply by challenging him to discuss
before the Republican voters from
1Iarrlsnn N Hancock the Issues In