The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-03-22
MALONE.
The New senator from yirginia-His
Remarkable Career.

The New from His
Remarkable Career.
From the position he has taken
In the senate, it is of interest to know
exactly what manner Of man William
Malone is. He is the son of a wayside
tavern-keeper, was born on the south
ern border of Virginia, and, from his
childhood, was looked down upon by
every well TODD slave as being ''poor
white trash" In his early boyhood,
however, in spite of the oppression
practiced upon him by the sons of rich
Bourbon planters. he developed remark
able ability, and at competitive exami-
nation, he won a scholarship in n of
the best academies In the state.
In due time he graduated with high
honors. Daring the war he served in
the confederate army, winning much
distinction 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 shat
tered railroad system of his state. He
was made president of the Atlantic,
Mississippi and Ohio railroad company,
which, by his influence, was consolida-
ted into M grand trunk line, running
from Norfolk, Va, to Bristol, Tenn, a
distance OF 420 miles. Controlling this
immense property, he o o began to
exert a most powerful influence upon
the politics Of the state, not to crafty
his own ambition. however, but to Sc
cure positions for his friends. When
the democratic party was at its Wits
ends, and by every e possible was
attempting to overthrow republican
rule in Virginia, 1t was Mr.. Malone
who suggested that the Bourbons should
indorse Walker, a northern man, and
an avowed republican, as governor.
He knew very well the character of the
person he had to deal with, at least he
thought he did, and as the event proved
he vas not mistaken. Walker was a
traitor to his professions, and as Ma
hone predicted would be the case, he
betrayed the state into the hands of the
democracy. His success in this man.
euvre gave the railroad king Of the
old dominion still greater influence
than he had before, and it was mainly
through his exertions that Withers was
made senator of the United States, and
Kempor governor of the state. Little
by little, however, Mr.. Malone discov-
cred that politics was an expensive bus
mess. The of his road began
to grow less, and to carry his point with
various legislators, as the story goes, he
was obliged to spend large sums OF
money. At all events, his company
failed, and by a number of English
bondholders, who were largely interes-
ted, the road was forced into the hands
Of a receiver. Being in this way de-
posed from his influential position,
Malone Immediately turned his atten-
ton to politics, not in the interest of
his friends rs before, but to benefit and
gain position for himself. In 1877,
accurately experimenting public senti-
ment, he placed himself at the head of
the ~so-called readjustment movement,
in reality a movement to repudiate the
legal debt of the state, and, supported
by the r%epudiatiDg element, demanded
at the hands of the democratic conven-
tion the nomination for governor. He
controlled absolutely AGO Of the dele
gates, but was unable to secure votes
enough for the nomination. Being
assured Of this, he cast all his strength
for Governor Holiday, as against John
w. Daniels, his personal and political
enemy. so Holiday secured the NOM
nation, and was ultimately elected to
the chief magistracy.
When Malone took the action des-
cribed, he had every reason to believe
that Holiday would, after the election,
act as his friend, and aid him to secure
any position which he might desire.
Thin proved to be a great mistake. In
stead of aiding him, Holiday, immedi-
ately after his Inauguration, entered
into close relations with John w. Dam
iels and the most bitter enemies of
Malone. Seeing this, many OF the
shrewdest and most influential politi-
clans in Virginia predicted that Ma
homes influence was drawing to an end.
It was: under these circumstances, be-
trayed by those whom he had served
and without any hopes Of consideration
from the democracy, that he entered