The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-06-26
WIG is sretE EtkfNsI

Every epoch II OR political history
brings lis prOmineut ACTORS 70 The front
and the people are always interested in
their personal HISTORY. In connection
wtIk tue n6lliaition Of J1mes g. Blame
a the RepnbIlean candldGts Tot presi'
dent Ircqueht mention hes been Aads ol
Stephen B. Elkins. OF eoufss Mr. Ri
kihs' part in public sffGiEs IL h0s sniirely
unknown 70 newspaper readers, but his
prominence In the present campaign
furnishes . further demand e 20 who
he is and what he has done. The Globe
Democrat Of late date gives the de
sired information, and We quote from its
article: y 'i -N AK ~
"Stephen B. Elkins has been . friend
OF the Republican candidate for the
pEesidency, James a. Blaine, about
eleven years. To him, among others,
but perhaps more 10 him, MF. Blaine's
nomination IN the early period OF the
ballotting in the late Republican cOnYen
ton al Chicago 10 due. He was the
head ana front Of Ansovemenl in favor OF
AIr. Biaine's eaadidsture,s which had
great force throughout the Proceediags
d the coavenlion, eRd was early thought
10 be IRRESISTIBLE, but not the less
required to be conducted with vigilance
and good judgment in order 10 make
certain OF success against the possible
dark horse" and the strength Of the in
Ierest supporting the candIdature OF
President Arthur. As Mr.. Eikins was
q power IN the conYension 80 he will be
In the canvass; and he is one OF the
must prominent of Republican workers
today. II is interesting to add that
neither he nor The Blaine men had any
communication with their favOrite, by
telegram, mhIl or otherwise, during the
convention, before tue time when the
nominAtion had been made and cUngrat-
ulSiIOns were in order.
Our subject is an Ohio man, born in
Perry county, IN the year 164l. He was
graduated at the University of Missouri
In 1850, and Immediately set about pre-
pairing for the profession of the law. His
admission 60 the bar Of Missouri took
place 10 1884. In the latter part Of the
same year he removed to New Mexico,
and opened An Office. Two years later
he was elected 10 the Legislature of that
territory, and the same year became
its attorney general. Having held
this Office two years he became United
pOILtment Of President johnson. When
General Grant became presldenh Mr.. FL
kins was one OF lhe few federal officers
retained In his position. In 1872 Mr..
Elkins resigned his appointment, and IN
the fall of the next ye was elected to
represent the territory IN the house of
representatives. He WAS re elected
in 1870, while absent in
Europe, and did not know
OF 1t until AFTER arriving IN New York.
During his first term in congresB be be-
came acquainted with Mr.. Blaine.
This proves 70 be. the beginning of the
intimate and steady friendship existing
between them. At The expirstIon OF his
second term In congress Mr.. Elkins re-
manned about q year IN WAshington and
then removed TO New York, where he
still Tesides. vy..-f e., z5tFT
he was married 10 1895 to daughter
Of Senator Fl g. DGYI8, OF West Var
ginia Six children have been born to
the couple, the youngest of whom, q boy
Of three years, bears the hOnOred name
OF Blaine. ia ~
Mr.. ElkIns has been y member OF the
Republican national committee eight
years, but taxes no part in the politics of
New York state. He Is an indefAtigable
servant Of his party. and never WAS more
heartily in earnest than now. His esti-
mate of Mr.. Blaine's ability and cheTac-
ter is of the highest, 6nd he has no doubt
at all of his election. f-gfL
II remains to be said that Mr.. ElkIns
Is man possessing ample means. The
ARA OF his estates IN New Mexico places
him among. the largest land owners in
the United States. To him, more than
any other man, is to BE- attributed the
Organization Of the First national bank
OF SanIe Fe fourteen years ago, Of
which he Is now president. Govern
ment deposits are made there, and
il IL al institution of great wealth
and high staRdIag. Mr.. Eikins
Is also vice pFesidees Of aa= the
West Virginia. Central and Pitts.
burgh railway, of which his
father-in-law, ex-senator Davis, IL
president. Associated with them are
the following gehtlemeD, who, among
others, act Is directors: MeesHs, Blaine
Camden. of West Virginia, and German,
of Maryland. The late Augustus Schell
was a director in the same company, in
which Mr.. Thomas E. BaYard, of Dele.
ware, and other senators have an inter
est. For this reason the line is some
times called the Senatorial Railway,
Mr.. Elklns made wealth IN his earlier
life by the practice Of the law and trans
actions in real estate. More recently he
has devoted his attention as business
man to railroad matters chiefly.