The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-06-10
Big Bosses Give the Order TO
Knife Every One for
Frank Bland.
FIGHT AGAINST FRANCIS
Edict Goes Forth That He Must
Be Defeated Either at
Convention or Polls.

The gang set out to play come
easy-go-easy politics this year in or
der to hide its hand. The game
went smoothly for some time. but the
acute stage has arrived and the jack
pot Suddenly looms up in the bal
ance
The cappers threatened to take the
entire pile. They got SO bold that
the fellows who have held the high
hand all these years in the gangs
game suddenly saw their grip relax
ing and the cappers walking off with
the pile.
Up to a certain stage of the. game
the big fellows were settled on Perry
Williams for sheriff, but they saw
the little ones getting so strong for
Francis that they took fright and i'm
medtateiy set out to turn the tables.
And this is another tale to add to
the row Monday night, at which there
was wrangling over the candidacy of
man for circuit clerk, who 1t Is
claimed by some of the bunch, has
obligated himself to give Repub-
lican half of the revenues of that Of
fice, IL nominated and elected.
AS We have said the row did not
stop there. 1t went so far as the
candidates. for the high office Of
sheriff of the county. But, the sit
uation became so acute that it was
necessary for the big fellows in the
gang to resort to strategy, it is claim
ed by some who were at the melee
strategy in drawing aloof from the
commop rabble as the little fellows
are looked upon, with the hope that
the latter would become panic strick-
en- and return to tha others for ad-
vice and counsel and humble them
selves to do the bidding OF the bosses.
The bosses, that. is the exclusive
set, those in high authority. settled
on the candidacy of Perry Williams
at first and winked the other eye,
when the little fellows went trailing
after Francis. They regarded the act
of the little fellows so foolish that
they thought they would let them
romp awhile and then call them in
from their child's play, give them a
spanking and tell them to be good.
But, the more they turned the wheel
and romped the better they liked 1t.
And, then, by soEe agency not vet
explained, the big fellows concluded
Williams was not the man. So.
they turned their eyes and hearts to
Bland, forgetful that Elliott had ever
done party service or was In any wise
fitted for the empty honor. Williams
turned down, the next move was to
get the little fellows away from
Francis, and this intensified the
melee spoken OF previously.
Common report has it that the lit
tie fellows refused to come in off the
romping ground or to surrender their
cards and let the main part of the
gang carry of the Jackpot, Further
report has 1t that the big fellows then
and there separated themselves from
the ordinary and repaired themselves
to their exclusive halls, where many
star-chamber plot has been hatched,
and holding themselves aloof from
that other rebellious crowd. they re-
solved then and there to issue the
edict:
Knife Francis for Bland; knife
everybody and every thing for
Bland!"
The edict went forth but may have
to be recalled before convention day
as the high men of the gang will sub
init, If they have to.
But, the declaration has gone forth
that Francis shall not be the nominee.
and, If the nominee, he shall not he
sheriff. The gang has its reasons for
this as every one knows by its past
and it is not necessary here to say
more in this respect
But few days remain to patch nm
the differences and with the knife
blade plunging around in so many d.
rections, the public may expect to see
good many political scalps, when
the convention is ended. The gang
proposes to carry off the jackpot.