Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-10-11
Scathing Arraignment by a Bold
Democratic Newspaper.
From the Wheeling Register.


A week ago James M Mason, the hired attor-
ney of the wall street syndicate, who control
the fifteen millions debt awarded to West Viz
ginia, delivered speech in the Opera House
In this city. Although apparently brought here
for the purpose under the auspices of ring OF
politicians who are engaged in an effort to
collect from the taxpayers of West Virginia
them and their posterity--the affair was HARM
less in ITSELF because nobody worth mention
went to hear him. Failing in an audience to
listen to him deliver the speech, he or his
hackers have had it printed for circulation in
a campaign document.
In the present condition of the public mind
and coming just prior to an important election
this is serious mistake--a criminal blundel
on the part of those who are engineering this
job. That is, 1t is a criminal blunder If the
of the Democratic ticket in this State next
Tuesday--as they pretend they do.
A coNsCIENeELEss GANG.
The paid agent of a constituencies gang whose
OF debt beyond their power to pay without ut
terly impoverishing themselves; the recipient
of salary out OF the Treasury of the State
while employed in mousing around among the
farms, mines and shops of West Virginia fol
other objects for the satisfaction of the tax
gatherer's greed; The manipulation of Legsla-
per press of the State, and a leading member o.
combination of political freebooters who
have recently come to the surface like shos
of sharks, he steps forward to beslime the mer
Virginia on career of prosperity.
HOW THE TICKET WAS SET UP,
1T is common observation Mr.. Mason
lays down as the cornerstone of this edifice
!. that when private interest conflicts with pa.
triotism, private interest will prevail" Hav.
ing summoned to his aid the immense private
interest of the Wall street gang. and tempted
the cupidty of the political free-booters who
howl down modesty and decency and set NJ
tickets for the peoples suffrage by the methods
his henchmen in public positions where they
can serve his employers base purposes.
.MAsoN's EULoGY ON WILSON AND THE ADJ
MINIsTRATION.
The "Lion i'll his pathway" which stands be.
which first must be put down, is the fearless
and independent press. II that were bribed
into silence, or, If It's infience were destroyed
Mason thinks the way to the bottom of the
tax payers pockets would be clear and easy
The wish being father of the thought he de.
clares that % it is a melancholy truth that the
public journals of to-day have entirely lost the
confidence and respect of all classes" Hence
he will defy the press and so on in his plumber
which he wraps in one bundle the Democratic
newspapers and Democratic public men of the
State, save only E. Willis Wilson, the mem
bers of the present State administration anC
the Supreme Judges whose discretion i.
the measure of their power. These all are
smoothly oiled,sweetly sugar-coated, and swal
lowed in one loving batch.
A GREAT swINDLE.
Many honest people will be proud to enquire
what Wilson has done, or said, or promised
that he should be tangled in this unholy web,
fbe speaker declared, with profane emphasis
while in the city. that had the dignified anG
accomplished Mr.. Faulkner been nominated
for Governor, the syndicate would have boldly
bolted his nomination, ii, indeed, they had mo-
disrupted the convention, and thus procured
his defeat by the election of his Republican
opponent. Why? Mr.. Faulkner had frankly
declared his opposition to Mason's scheme Il
saddle upon the Taxpayers of Vest Virgins
this great swindle. as well as his manly oppo
sitlon TO the extraordinary measures restored
double tax, and treble tax the people; to tai
them on what they have, and to tax them or
what they havn't; to tax them upon whai
they spend; to tax them upon their profits, an(
to tax them upon their expenses.
WILSON PART OF THE COMBINATION.
Without attempting review of this remark
able speech, we denounce its circulation a
this time as being directly in the interest o
the Republican party, whether intended o.
not. If it succeeded in convincing the people
as it seems to aim to do, that E. Willis Wilson
is a part of this combination, and that he will
use his grand official position to further its in
terests, the result can be forefold with unerr
ing certainty. We are aStounded al the impu
dence-not of the speech Or of the speaker
but of those who would circulate at this par
ticular time such document.
tits unaccountable that any man or set o
men claiming to be Democrats could brins
themselves to the circulation of such q docu
ment from such an author especially on tn,
eve of an important election.
1t will be remembered that a venomou
pamphlet was circulated throughout the Stat,
under similar auspices just on the eve of thu
Charleston Convention last April. 1t failed
utterly failed-in its object; and we predic
that this production will meet with a like fate
Venom is blind and usually dies of its owl
poison. The crowd represented by Mason il
venom personified.