Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-26
West Virginia.

The division in the ranks OF the Demo-
cratic party OF West Virginia is to be de-
plored. but will result, we guess, only in
increasing CLRvELAND's majority IN that
State, whatever may be its effect upon the
| local elections.
The trouble is owing to the fact that
Governor JACKSON has taken 100 much in
terest in the scheme OF Mr.. MASON (who
spent so large part OF last winter in Rich
mond) 10 settle the debt Of West Virginia
latter fixing the amount that was to be paid
by that State). We always thought that
the quasi endorsement Governor JACKSON
gave 10 MAs0N's scheme was not at all TO
the Governors credit.
The Supreme Court Of Appeals OF West
Virginia some time ago decided a certain
exemption law to be unconstitutional.
Governor JACKSON and the Auditor there
upon ordered all the property thus decided
to be liable to taxation TO be listed by the
commissioners OF the revenue for that pur-
pose. This order caused much excite
ment in the State. The FAULKNER
men, Of whom the Wheeling Register is
charged with being the organ. denounced
Governor JACKsoN's policy. and let loose
upon the Supreme Court OF Appeals the
visls Of its wrath, expecting thereby TO Sc
cure the nomination OF Mr.. FAULKNER mot
the father bu. the sony for Governor. The
Baltimore SUMS correspondent supposss
that 1t was the decision OF the Court Of
Appeals in the contcmpt case OF the Wheel
ing Inteiiigencer that was used against
decision may have been alluded to also,
the decision that caused so much dissatis-
faction was the one declaring the State law
unconstitutional which exempted certain
property from taxation.
The Wheeling Register has been very
lavish in its denunciatiOns OF the State gov
ernment-the Governor, Auditor, Court OF
Appeals, and all. Our good friend GEORGE
II. MoYFErT. once Speaker of the West
Virginia House Of Delegates, is the prlnci
pal writing editor Of the Register. When
the Committee on Permanent Organization
proposed him for chairman OF the State
Convention, Bedlam broke loose. KENSA,
JACKSON, Lucas, &C., &C., all made redhot
speeches for and against MoFFErT, who
finally withdrew his name, saying. how
ever, that he knew he would be elected and
only withdrew in the interest OF harmony.
JOHN BRASSON was recommended for chair.
man instead Of MOFFETT. Every old Vir-
ginian knows the noble BRANNON-more
than twenty-five years ago chairman OF the
Finance Committee OF the Virginia Sem
ate.
We take IL that WILSON was nominated
for Governor as compromise candidate.
We quote some of the Wheeling Regis
ter'S offensive remarks:
"But for the tough tmbers Of which the
Democratic vessel was constructed itwould
long ago have been wrecked by the stupidi-
~ and inexcusablc bull.headed folly OF its
captains"
Again the Register said that &" the emer-
gencies that rapidly arose from such
stupid financial policy" caused 1.-The sup
Elemental assessment eXpediency." That
the decision Of the Supreme Court sustain
ing Governor jackson Z" created intense dis
satisfaction among all classes Of people in the
State" and IN effect denounces the court ;
denies the power OF the Governor 10 issue
such an order, and necessarily condemns
the court which sustains him. 1t charges
Auditor Miller with personal spite and am
bition for precipitating the suit and issue
against the assessor OF Brooke county,
whereby the Supreme Court awarded q
mdnddmuS compelling him to eniorce the
Ubiquitous assessment oder, and saws it
was "blunder," and the decision
ever uttered by court"