Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-06

u j
probably depend upon the course o
events elsewhere. | am Of the opinion
that there will be three tickets in the
field There may be hut two"
You think then, that from the pres
ent out look that the Democrats, Repub
leans, and the Greenbackers will have
each a ticket before the people in the
the next electiOn?' ..I.|
Il judge so from the expressions ot
/ prominent leaders OF each OF the par
! ties
Under what contingency do you
| think il possible that there may be but
/ two parties and two tickets
at is this. You are perhaps aware
| that there are two cOntending factions IN
/ the Democratic party in this State-the
Bourbon and anti BOurbon-each anx-
ions to stamp its policy upon the party
in the administration OF public affairs.
In the event that the Bourbon element
control and direct the policy Of the Dem
ocratic party, then there will be an OPP
position composed OF all independent
thinking men who are weary of partisan
restraint, and are willing to unite in a
commentaries for financial and indus
trial reform. and for Il broad spirit OF pO-
litical emancipation. This opposition
will present a ticket, and the fight in
the State canvass will be for Bourbon
or anti-BOurbOn supremacy.
"IOu regard, then, the Greenback
organization as anucleus Tor the Oppo-
sitiOn. ?'
Exactly. Ii will be a union OF
Greenbackers, Liberal Republicans and
Progressive Democrats. Each party
presenting an electoral ticket and max
ing the presidential canvass upon the
principles Of its National organization,
hut each merging its financial theories
in the State canvass, and making a COM
mon cause in elevating the politics OF
the State, I'm taking control OF State al
fairs from the Moss Backs and placing
them in the hands of progressive men
who will advance the State to the posi-
ton she deserves TO occupy,
"Do YOU regard the Bourbon element
as being strong enough TO control the
Democratic party of West Virginia.
IL am afraid 81. Ii Is stronger Il an Is
generally supposed, and is more lntol-
Grant and bigoted than that which con-
trolled the Spanish lnquisitiOn. You
remember when Governor Mathews
made an advance toward liberalizing
State politics by giving Republicans Il
representation on the State Boards what
a howl went up from the Bourbons:
YOU remember that when Davis and
Hereford were elected by the asl OF Re-
publican votes this same element want
rd to read them out of the Democratic
party because they didn't decline an
election under such circumstances and,
later. YOU remember when |, as Speaker
OF the last House of Delegates, appointed
Republicans and Greenbackers to
the Craftsmanship of committees,
they sat in solemn caucus and
passed resolutions OF accommodation
and still later they attempted to disor-
ganize the Wheeling REGISTER because
il failed To tOot for them. These are IL
luStrations OF how intolerant that ele-
mcut II.
Would YOU object, Mr.. Speaker, to
sav something about the much talked-ot
New Departure with which you were.
supposed To be prominently identified
laSt winter
Il know nothing of any new depart
ure. 10 was an old departure. 40 far a.
am concerned. 1 was elected To the
Legislature by the impartial suiirageS ol
NV constituents. After the election and
when nv name was being CanvaSSed IN
connection with the Speakership, a
newspaper, published at Lewisburg, de
manded tn know my political
siUiiU, whether l was
Democrat, a Greenbacker, or
Republican. My reply, as published at
that time, was that had been elected
10 the Legislature by an impartial vote
Of my fellow citizens, and that in
tended 10 work for the advancement OF
the interests Of my constituents with
out regard To what effect my course IN
doing so would have upon any political
party. After the publication of that
card | was nominated for Speaker by
caucus composed of Democrats, Green
hackers and Republicans and was elect
ed. In organizing the House | aimed
10 select tine best men for the various
positions, and in doing So | gave
DR.. Logan the chairmanshlp ot the
Finance Committee because | knew his
personal qualifications, and from hlS
experience as member OF the CITY
Council of Wheeling, was betterqualiiied
for that important position than any
other man in the Legislature. |
think that the appropriation bill
passed, which the Auditor pronounced
as the best every passed by any
Legislature since the organization OF the
State. is sufficient vindicatiOn as to that
appointment. | felt satisfied that L
would raise howl from the Bourbon
element when did it, | was prepared
for the storm. My sole aim was to dis
charge my duty to the public, with an
honest desire 10 promote the public
veal. That is all the new departure
there was in that.
"Bnt how about the talked OF COM
bination between YOU and Hagans, and
Others, composed of Democrats, Repub-
Grans and (ireenkackers, and popularity
known as the "MOifett League and
which il was said controlled Legisla-
tiOn2'
.Thc league which YOU speak OF, and
which was talked of about the capitol
last winter, was all Il myth.
No SUCH ihlllbAtAAAbh WV N+NANNN' ~
save i'm the minds of the fOiled Bour-
bons. That element made strong
effort TO capture the organization OF the
last Legislature for the double purpose
Of stamping its policy upon the state,
and OF fixing up states to suit themselves
in the next State election, and their OPP
position to NV election was quite bitter.
The morning after the caucus these
same gentlemen. who afterwards became
such sticklers for party discipline, made
overtureS To the Greenback members 10
bolt the caucus nomination and com
bine with them in electing 4 Speaker
over me. Their overtures were prompt,
lv declined. and they sullenly iell in,
hut were constantly on the alert, as one
of their number expressed it, "to get
even with me. The lines were not
sharply drawn until the Constitutional
amendment came up for action in the
House. Then the fight commenced
IL was a question OF high salaries
and numerous offices in the Judiciary
department. The farmers, who favored
low salaries and increasing the jurisdic
tion of iuSticeS. perfected a secret organ