The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-17
MAHDuH'S HISTORY /.
From the Tavern to the
Senate.
The Career of the new Sena.
tor from the Old Dominion.

From the position which he may take in
the Senate, it Is OF interest to know exactly
what manner OF man William Malone is.
He is the son of wayside tavern keeper;
was born on the southern border of Vir'
GINA. and, from his childhood. was looked
down upon by every well to do slave as
being poor white trash" In his early
boyhood. however, in spite of the oppres-
sion practlced upon him by the sons of rich
Bourbon planters. he developed remark
able ability, and, at a competitive exami-
nation. he won. a scholarship in one of the
| best academies IN the state
La due time he graduated with high
honors. During the war he served in the
Confederate army, winning much destinc-
| ton and rising to the rank of General
When the civil struggle was over he
was one of the first to recognize the
supremacy of the North. although he was
one of the last to surrender, and being an
accomplished civil engineer, he at once
| set about reviving the shattered railroad
system of his State. He was made Presi-
dent of the Atlantic. Mississippi and Ohio
Railroad Company. which, by his infiu-
ence, was consolidated into one grand
trunk line, running from Norfolk, Va, to
to Bristol, Tenn. distance of 42o miles.
Controlling this immense property. he soon
began to exert a most powerful influence
upon the politics Of the State, not to gra
tify his own abmition, however but to
secure positions for his friends. When
the Democratic party was at its wits ends
aud by every means possible was attempt
| ing TO overthrow Republican rule
in Virginia, it was Mr.. Malone who sug
gested that the Bourbon should indorse
Walker, Northern man, and an avowed
Republican. as Governor. He knew very
we'll the character of person he had to
deal with, at least he thought he did, and
as the event proved he was not mistaken
Walker was a traitor to his professions,
and as Malone predicted would be the case,
he betrayed the state into the hands of the
Democracy, His success: IN this mareu-
vre gave the railroad king Of the Old
Dominion still greater Influence than he
had before, and it was mainly through his
exertions that Whithers was made Sena~
tor of the United States, and sKemper
Governor of the State, Little by little,
however, Mr.. .Mahone discovered that
politics was an expensive business. The
resources of his road began to grow less
and to carry his point with various legis
lators, as the story goes, he was obliged to
spend large sums of money. Al all events,
his company failed. and by a number
OF English bondholders who were
largely interested. the road was forced into
the hands of receiver. Being in this way
deposed from his influential position. Ma
hone Immediately turned his attention to
politics, not in the interest of his
friends as before, but to benefit
and gain position for himself In
1877, accurately apprehending public sen
tinent, lie placed himself at the head of
the soealed readiustment movement. in
reality movement to repudate the legal
debt of the State. and, supported by the
repvdiating element, demanded st the
hands of the Dem ocratic convention the |
nomination for Governor. He controlled |
absolutely 400 OF the delegates. but was
unable to receive votes enough for the |
nomination. BsiGg assured of this, he |
east all bis strength for Governor Hoii |
day, as against John W. Daniels. one Of
personal and political enemy So Holiday |
secured the nomination. and was ultimate
ly elected to the Chief Magistraey,
When Malone took the action describ |
ed, he had every reason to believe that |
Holiday would, after the election, act as |
his friend, and aid him to secure any
position which be might desire. This |
proved to be great mistake. Instead of
aiding him, Holiday. Immediately after |
his Inauguration. entered into close rela- |
tionship with Johh w Daniels, one of the |
most bitter enemies of Mahone. Seeing
this, many of the shrevdest and most in
fiuential politicians in Virginia predicted |
that Mahone's influence was drawing
te an end. 1t was under these
circumstances, betrayed by those
whom be had served and without
any hopes of consideration from the De-
mocraey, that he entered into the last
campaign fer the Legislature. Il was ap-
pGrently an uphill fight from The first.
All the best Republicans il Il State
united with the honest conserv-
atives in the effort to eioct only debt pay
Ing candidates to the General Assembly.
Last July Mr. Malone admitted 10 a
prominent politician, now in Washington
that the most the Readjusters could hope
for was that they might hold the balance
of power between the Democrats who
were for the payment of the debts aud
those who desire to readjust it. After the
election was over, however, much to the
surprise of every one, il was found that re
pudiated candidates nominated By Ma
hone had been elected 10 large numbers,
and that there had also been elected
number OF eolored men and SD called Re"
-pUblieans who were, Tor all practical pur
poses, absolutely under his control Sup
ported by these two elements. Mr.. NJ ahone
was elected to the United States Senate
He is now practically the dictator of Virs
ginia; he holds the Legislature absolutely
and. without being under any obligation
to the Democracy
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