Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-07

Nominee for Clerk of First Branch.
After all the boasts Of the strate-
gists and office seekers, that the in
surgent Councilmen would be back
into line last night, the Republicans
held a meeting and did-nothing.
The mountain labored and brought
forth a mouse.
The story of compromise was re-
hashed so often that the "ringsters
really believed it themselves. 1t was
told with variations, as the Register
stated yesterday morning, but there
was one important feature in all the
reports, that the insurgents would lay
down their arms.
During the day there was circulated
a call for a caucus. When the hour
for the meeting arrived, the names OF
the insurgents were as consplcu-
ously absent from the paper as the
insurgents themselves from the meet
ing. They declined to afix their au-
,tographs The only inference possible
is that they have not receded from
their original position, and that the
idle boasts Of the Republican leaders
were made for effect, just as the re-
port of a deal with the Democrats
was. The wish was father to the
thought.
Whether or not all the regulars"
signed the call could not be learned.
The absence of some Of them from the
meeting may, or may not have been
significant.
. When the Councilmen and office
seekers swarmed into the corridors OF
the public building last night there
was anything but happiness depicted
upon their countenances. Messrs.
Chew, st. Myers and Marshall were
not present They divided into little
groups and talked over the situation.
Then the First Branch members de-
cided to hold a caucus on the selection
Of clerk.
There were four names before the
caucus-Fred Danvers, Edwin Dwight,
Chas. O. Roemer and Walter Worls,
the present clerk. Some compliment
IdEy FOlcS HClO tCtoG OlA IllO III DC
lot, and Worls was chosen on the
second. This reelection OF present
incumbent would not appear to indi-
cate any disposition to yield to the
demands of the insurgents.
A little later the Republican men,
bers of both branches who were pres
ent, entered the First Branch chamber
for conference. Walter Worls was
admitted and acted as clerk. 1T is
understood that no balloting was
done, as the regulars realize that tney
can accomplish nothing unless they
make allies of the insurgents,
The situation was talked over in a
general way, and the conference re-
solved itself into sort Of experience
meeting" the members contributing Of
their knowledge about the plans of the
insurgents. There was no attempt to
cover UP the fact that cold, hard
proposition stared them in the face,
and the situation was deplored by sew
eral speakers. 1t is also intimated that
some further complications were
brought to light, and that the situation
is more badly mixed than the aver
age Republican politician would care
to publicly admit.
After being in session a short time,
Walter WORKS was sent as an emissary
TO Col. Morris Horkheimer. That ro-
tund statesman and diplomat was ush-
cred into the meeting, and presum-
ably asked to give a detailed story of
his negotiations with the enemy Col
Horkheimer said nothing to cheer up
lhe regulars, and frankly admitted that
the whole matter looked mighty bad"
H. C. Richards and Col. Horkheimer
both skilled in the art of diplomacy
and thirty-third degree strategists,
having failed to accomplish the desired
end, the gentlemen conceived the idea
Of trying the force of numbers. Ac-
cordingly, they selected a committee of
five ambassadors to the court of the
insurgents, placing a limit upon their
authority in the matter of naming con-
ditions of surrender. There being no
information concerning the location of
the insurgent camp at that hour, the
conference adjourned.
A resolution of absolute secrecy was
adopted, and the members were careful
to prevent any leak. To-day the am
bassadors will carry out the mission
for which they were appointed. Furth-
er meetings will depend largely upon
the nature of the reception they get,
and the disposition of the two sides in
the matter of concessions.
1t is not believed, however, that the
Insurgents will yield. A gentleman
who is close to them said to a Regis
ter reporter last night, that the effort
of an evening paper to convey the i'm
preston that they hold lightly the
obligation Of an oath, has only served
to strengthen their determination to
stand firmly upon their original prop
osition. He admitted that the STRIFE
lures upon the three might have been
justified if they had surrendered, but
insisted that no such course was con-
templated. The rank and file of Wheel
ing Republicans commend the insur-
gents for their bold stand, and it is
really the politicians alone who CEN
sure them.
Republican leaders are responsible
for report that there are four Dem
ocrats who will join with them in fill
ing all the offices. when the word is
given, in return for one office. The
source from which the story emanates
is sufficient to discredit it.
M'MECHEN.