Wheeling Register

KANAWHA CANDIDATES.

That County Has Lots of Them, and They Will Be Before the Conventions of Both Parties.

CHARLESTON, W. VA., December 12.

To the Editor of the Register:

As a rule, modesty in politics is presumed to be an unknown quantity. The average West Virginian readily accepts the political modesty of Kanawha county as a thing of remote, if not proverbial possibility. Nothing is more thoroughly consecrated in her history than the fact that she never thrusts herself forward, so long, at least, as any one else can be induced to do the thrusting for her. Seriously (and yet there is no jocoseness in what precedes), whenever there is a demand for party candidates, Kanawha county is ever ready to furnish her quota. Let it be understood, the remark applies said of the entire Third district; but, in a general sense, the same may be and ever has applied with special and peculiar force to Kanawha county. Always famous for the richness of her catalogue of candidates, it is but fair to say that success more often than failure has, in the past-time, come within the measure of her aspirations. Did you ever know a State convention, Democratic or Republican, in which the trained statesmen of Kanawha failed to have a picnic, or the next thing thereto? Admittedly poor in agricultural lands; deservedly boastful of mineral probabilities, and, by the last census, statistically classified as the most populous county in the State, there never has been in my memory, any question of doubt as to the fact that, on occasion of any general State election, Kanawha can muster more candidates to the square mile than any other county in the State. It is already known the coming year will prove no exception. As the quadrennial harvest of the American politician, State as well as national, it presents an arena full of aspiring expectants even here in West Virginia. We have Governor, Treasurer, an Auditor, an Attorney General, a School Superintendent and many other officers to elect next fall. Amid this dash of contending forces, what of Kanawha? Are her gifted sons to be silent? Nay, by the beard of the mighty Achilles, by the yellow hair of the doubly-wronged Menelaus, they are not to be silenced! Their potent voices are already heard in the field. The valiant chieftains, scenting the battle from afar off, are even now ready to march toward Ilion's towery height. Any candidates for Governor? Of course she has them; candidates to suit any and every exigency, as well as any and every party. Alive! Of course she is alive, buoyantly alive to the fact that Governor Fleming must have a successor, and that successor must be elected next November. The candidates! Aye, who are they? or rather who are some of them? And, just here, something warns us to be a little cautious. Mistakes in this connection are dangerous things. Private gentlemen don't care to have their names thrust into the ungloved hands of the public. But he who would dance must be prepared to pay the fiddler. The political aspirant in this free America of ours cannot afford to be overly modest. But who, I repeat, are some of them? Well, on the Democratic side, it is likely, if not almost certain, that the county will present two competing candidates. Others are spoken of, but the best prophetic spirit points unmistakably toward two names, both belonging to Charleston, gentlemen of high personal character, of established fealty to Democratic principles, and of State-wide reputation. It is no secret that the Hon. Wm. A. McCorkle, one of the gentlemen referred to—yielding to the importunity of numerous admirers, has intimated a willingness to allow his name to be used in connection with the Democratic candidacy of Governor. The intimacy and business relations known to have existed between this gentleman and the late Henry S. Walker, naturally induce to the belief that had the latter lived he would in all probability have conducted a brilliant canvas for his friend, or, at any rate, by one of those magnetic nominating speeches that only Walker could make, placed McCorkle as a prime favorite in the race. They were warm friends and no doubt existed in the minds of the people here as to the great orator's preference. It was thought by some, the wish perhaps being father to the thought that just as in 1884 at Wheeling, he largely contributed, through his matchless eloquence, to the success of E. W. Wilson, so in 1892, by the same potent spell, he might peradventure win a crown of triumph for another gifted Charlestonian. But why speculate on things "that might have been." McCorkle has many friends, strong and active friends, who are still living and working for him. An absolutely perfect picture of physical health and manliness, he is mentally well equipped for a splendid campaign. But he has by no means, as the case now stands, a walk over in his county. A formidable competitor, as already hinted, looms up in the person of General Watts. This gentleman has been phenomenally successful in his political aspirations. His arduous and successful efforts in behalf of West Virginia coal miners, in the Senate last winter, are still warmly appreciated. He is without doubt a prime favorite with the working men of the Kanawha Valley, and very popular here in his own county. With Watts in the field, the friends of McCorkle or any other Kanawha candidate will do well "to divide honors," to say nothing of the "old trick." It is whispered, a little slyly just now, that Judge Snyder of our criminal court would raise no objections to additional Democratic honors. How true this is, I cannot speak of my own knowledge. He makes a capital judge; but that very reason, I opine, will work against him as a gubernatorial candidate. The Democrats of Kanawha know when they have a good thing and are in no hurry to get rid of it. They recognize a first-class criminal judge in Snyder, and are going to hold on to him if they can. The special admirers of Malcolm Jackson—a brilliant member of the Charleston bar, better known at home than abroad—occasionally suggest his name among the possibilities. But Jackson, fortunately for himself, is a lawyer per se, and not a politician. He can handle cases better than men; convince judges more readily than he can the masses. I don't propose wasting much time or space on this topic. It matters but little whom the Republicans nominate for Governor in West Virginia. They can't elect him, even though the man be Steele Hawkins himself. Postmaster McWhorter has been spoken of, but it is a reflection on that astute gentleman's intelligence to suppose for a moment that he would surrender the tangible flesh pots of Egypt for an idle dream of glory. Now, it might happen, that in the even of Steele Hawkins taking hold in earnest, McWhorter might be induced to surrender the postoffice and take a personal hand in vanquishing the redoubtable ex-janitor. There is no love thrown away between the two. They hate with a hate that is neither child-like nor bland. H.