The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-11-21
HOW NELLY WON, AND WATSON LOST,
IN RECENT ELECTION IN WEST VIRGINIA
INTERESTING STORY OF THE IN
SIDE ELECTION HAPPEN
NGS.
FRIENDS OF COL. WATSON THINK
BE GOT THE WORST OF
IT.
RAW DEAL IN INTEREST OF Nicely
ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN
MADE.

The Fairmont West Nirginian has the
following suggestive comment on the re-
cent election in Ohio county:
WHEELING. W. Va. Nov. l6.-NoT
that the election is we'll over. the war
is won and Colonel Watson Is not 10
En To tho United States senate from
West Virginia, his friends in this sec
lion have been looking around amid 'he
ruins and have made some interesting
discoveries One seems TO he that Inc
very liberal. not To say lavish support
which Colonel WatSonS friends gave 10
the campaign in Ohio county apparently
got switched in its course OIL ProEr"SS'
and when il was finally applied, nper-
alcd to make Nicely votes instead OIL
Watson votes The Democratic organ
izatinn of Ohio county has not been so
literally financed in years as 1t was
this time. 1t had money 10 purn anu
burned IL good deal of 1t. There are eish-
ty-scven precincts in tho county. ana
each ono was manned with from five
TO eight paid workers. and some or THESE
paid workers operating III certain wnros
and precincts Of the city were llocra!y
supplied with expense money.
Conferred on Nicely.
Early in the day. however, Republic
an workers learned that the effort or the
Democratic contingent was concentrates
on securing votes for Congressman NJ
NJ Nicely. Offers from Democrats To
trade vote for Elk!ns for u vote for
Nicely wcre not uncommon. and the rank
and file Of the workers, SO Tar as they
had Instructions from their captains
were instructed to work for Nicely and
to forget everything else. Ritter, the To-
cal Democratic candidate for county
commissioner. who was Thought 10 nave
q chance, was lost sight Of. AZ was PAUL.,
| the Democratic candidate Tor state SEN
, ator, along with Watson. Some Demo-
! Gratis who profcsscd to he on inc inside
alleged that two or three Democratic
leaders, particular friends TO Mr.. Nicely.
/ got control of the organization and de-
! cdcd early to get the votes for Ncely
and to let Watson pay the bill.
Deal with Socialists.
A deal was made with certain So
cialists and labor leaders for Nicely
votes with the distinct understanding
| that these men should not support wat
! son, but should have free rein to cut him
as much as possible. A rather curious
| spectacle was presented OF men riding
around In automobiles paid Tor by Col
! oncl Watson and getting their roiowcrs
! to vote for Nicely and Elkins. 1t Is ru-
! morcd that at least one or two OF the
! Democratic leaders VINO had the hand
ling of NStSnn money have been sum-
moned to Fairmont to explain what they
did and how 1t happened. Exactly the
kind Of an explanation they had made
would be Interesting. and perhaps the
comments Of Colonel Watson would be
interesting should they be heard. 10
what extent Mt. Nicely was partner in
the double-cross given Mr.. Watson is
not. of course. known. His supporters
here made their headquarters In and
about the Federal building. and nom the
Federal building the inspiration went
out. particularly to the second ward and
the fourth and fifth wards. which re-
suited in a large Nicely vote. but which
! failed 10 add materially to the Watson
column. 4 careful analysis Of the re-
suit would indicate that Colonel Wat
son had the privilege Of paying very
high price for the cart in which mr..
Nicely rodo nome.