Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-17

James Kelsey Hall, of this city, has
made formal demand for the Office
made vacant by the election to the
State Governorship of A. B. White.
This demand was in the shape of tele-
graph dispatches to both the Senators
from West Virginia They were sent
out from Charleston by Mr.. Hall on
Wednesday night last. Mr.. Hall might
stand some chance to dictate to the
voters of Ohio county, but no one
knows better than Mr. Hall that he is
not in a position to even ask any
thing from Mr.. Elkins. who is in real
ity the supreme distributor of all good
things in the political realm of the
State, much less to dictate.
In this same connection it might be
stated just why Mr.. Hall ought to
know better than to ask for anything
much less demand it, since he must
know that Mr.. Elkins is in possession
of these facts and many Others to the
same end.
When the county convention con-
vened to choose the nominees for
Legislature, one of the first meas
ureS introduced was a resolution in.
dorsing Stephen B. Elkins for re-elec-
ton to the United States Senate. One
of the first delegates to speak against
such a measure was at that time a
clerk in the city collectors (Mr. HalD
office The next speech against it was
made by a clerk in the sheriff's office.
The Hall faction was not strong
enough to force the measure out, but
it did go so far as to effect a change
in the resolution so that it read rec
ommend," instead of Endorse"
Mr.. Elkins is said to have smiled
when he read the dispatch, since he
knows that Mr.. Halls influence is on
the wane even in his home county
and there is nothing to fear on his ac-
count except perhaps the wrath of the
Wheeling Intelligencer. 1t is known
that Judge Reese Blizzard is slated
for the position unless the bosses can
find some good excuse to turn him
down, as his appointment is not ac-
ceptable to many prominent party men
in the State.
Mr.. A. R. Campbell, deputy collector
for the Wheeling district, was an as.
pirant for the office, but it is under
stood that he has drawn off, under
| promise of something almost as good
at Washington.
Mr.. Hall has asked that his request
for the appointment of Internal Revenue
Collector, on the strengtlsof past service
| in the interest of the party. Through
| the influence of the Intelligencer. Mr
Hall was given a $1,000 Office which
he has held for the past six years. Ou
! of that Office, by his own statements
he leaves the impression that he made
| $4,000 and living expenses. And ther
| comes the cry that his late campaign
| for Auditor cost from $4,000 to $15,.
| 900. The amount is considered more
| than anyone could spend legitimately
and sets a very bad precedent.
This last demand on the part of Mr.
Hail is thought to be by some few
ooate politicians to whom it is known
! a monstrous bluff. They read between
the lines and interpret that the gent
leman in question is on his last leg:
| politically speaking-and every one
| who knows of it at the State capita
regard it as one of the greatest jokes
| of the session.
Just exactly what effect the demand
will have is to be watched with inter
est, but those who are inside leave the
impression that the star of Hall is
waning with alarming rapidity.