Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-10-03
BLAINES STARVED MINERS,
His Hooking Valley Coal Stock and
When He Bought It.
POSITIVE PROOF THE REPUBLICAN,
Candidate for President Was Part Owner Of
the Ohio Mines, Where Wages Were
Cut Down and
ToILERs TURNED OUT TO sTARvE.

NEw YORK, October 2.-The papers here
publish the following:
Mr.. Blaine is singularly unfortunate in
being detected in falsehoods. Every denial
ofthe numerous charges of his monopolistic
tendencies has been met with documentary
proof When the Hooking Valley miners
and their families were thrown out upon the
cold world because the companies working
the coal mines in Ohio scaled their wages
down to starvation rates and then intro
duced foreign workingmen to take their
places, it became known and the fact was
published that James G. Blaine was one Of
the principal owners of the
Hooking Valley Mines.
Mr.. Blaine sent the following despatch from
Bar Harbor:
BAR HARBoR, Me-, July %, 1884.
"HOR. H. s. Bmdy:
I'm answer to your recent favor | beg to
say that am not and never have been the
owner Of any coal lands or iron lands, or
lands Of any character whatever, in the
Hooking Valley, or in any part of Ohio.
Nor have | at any time owned share Of
stock in any COAL ion or land company in
the State of Ohio. Five years ago loaned
Sl2,500 to a member OF the Standard Oil
Company, and took the bonds Of the com
pany as collateral. shall be happy to
transfer the bonds to any gentleman who is
ambitious to pay the debt. / am interested
in coal lands in Pennsylvania and West
Virginia, but there has never been the slight
est trouble with laboring men in any enter
prise with which have been connected.
This, | believe, covers all the points Of your
inquiry. Very sincerely,
JAMES G. BLAINE"
A writer in the Evening Post of this city
furnishes the following corroborative testi-
mony 10 prove that Mr. Blaine made will
fully false statement when he penned the
above letter.
You will observe from thorough exam
nation Of this letter that if it was intended
10 mean anything at all, it was especially
forcible in its effort to convey to the public
the impression that the writer was never in
ano sense, form or manner, directly or indl,
rectly at any time interested in the Hook
ing Valley coal and iron region Of the State
OF Ohio.
would state in this connection that in
the autumn of 1880 articles of association
we're formed under the title of the " Proprie.
tors cf the Hope Furnace Tract" and dated
November 20, 1880, to which the subscri-
bers became parties thereto, and Mr.. }. n.
Denison was financial agent OF the assOcia'
iion and was the trustee in respect TO the
title Of the
Lands Purchased,
The object of the said association was TO
purchase of Mr.. William ID. Lee, of New,
ark, O., an undivided twothirds interest in
the uact of land, consisting of, l0,sl0 acres,
rich in timber, coal, and iron ore. This
land was situated in Vinton and Athens
counties, O., and the purchase was made as
oil the lst November, 1850.
These articles Of association also pro,
vided that the property should b" represent
ed by thirty.three blocks, each ofthe value
of $25 900, eleven OF which blocks repre-
sented Mr.. Lees undivided third. During
the latter part of November Mr.. Lee inform
ed me that he was acquainted with Mr..
Blaine and that he would like to have him
interested and through Mr. Lees solcita.
ton the Hon. James G. Blaine signed said
articles of association, subscribing for
One Block
in the association.
On the Sth of December, 1850, Mr.. j. n.
Denison, Of this city, wrote to Mr.. Blaine
as follows:
"Bosroy, December 7, 1880.
"Hon. J. e. Blaine:
DEAR SIR:-I learn from Mr.. Lee that
you stand ready TO pay your subscri ption ot
one share in the Hope Furnace land prop,
erty.
If so. should be glad to receive it, with
interest from November |, in conformity to
the terms Of the subscription.
Yours truly, 81. n. DENISOS,
"36 Scars Building
Fearing that Mr.. Blaines remittance
might have miscarried, the following tee,
gram was sent:
"BosToN, December Is, 1880.
James G. Blaine, Washington, D. C.:
Have you received my letter of 7th2
~ n DENIsOY"
Later on the same day letter was re-
ceived from Mr.. Blaine (Which was dated
enormously the 3Oth Of December, which
should have been dated Dec. ~, the follow
ing being copy:
SENATE CHAMBER, WASHINGTON,
Dec 80, 1880.
"DEAR Sir: Find inclosed my draft for
s25, 900 in payment of my subscription to
the Hope Furnace enterprise.
Touching the interest, have to ask that
whatever il may amount to you will permit
its payment TO be postponed until some mat
tiers between Mr.. Lee and myself are def
nitely adjusted. Very respy,
JAMES 6. BLAINE.
"Mr Denison."
On receipt of this letter Mr.. Blaine was
immediatly telegraphed as below
"BosToS, December Is, 1880
Hon. J. G. Blaine, L. S Senate, Washing,
ton, D. c.:
"Your letter of 18th received since tele-
graphing you this forenoon.
J. n. DESIsoS."
The draft inclosed in Mr.. Blaines letter
was upon lns IlOu -. ID Lihlus' vi Nu -
Wall street, n. Y, and when Its collection
was reported through the customary bank-
ing channels, Mr.. Denison issued voucher,
similar to what was given other subscribers
when payment was made. which was as fol-
lows:
"BOsroN, December II, 1880.
Received from Jemes G. Blaine S25,-
1880, being payment in full for one share
in the association formed for the purchase
Of lands known as the Hope Furnace Tract,
situated in Vinton and Athens counties,
Ohio. This receipt to be exchanged for a
certificate when prepared.
~. \ DENsoS, Agent.
Early in 1882 the Standard Coal and
Iron Company combination was formed for
the general consolidation Of the smaller