Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-19
CAMDEN VS.. G0FF.
A DispassiOnate Review of Two Prominent
Men.

II seems to be j we'll settled TACT that
there will be but two candidates before the
Legislature of West Virginia for the United
States Senate, J.. y. Camden, the present
incumbent, Of Parkersburg, Il Democrat,
and Nathan Golf, OF the county of Harri.
son, a Republican.
The question for the Legislature to de
termine is, which one of the two candi-
dates above named would best serve the
interests of the people of the State? This
is the question that every voter in the
State should well consider before casting
his vote for delegates to represent him in
the State Legislature. Aud when he set
tied this question in his mind, he should
then east his ballot for the candidate that
will support the candidate for the United
States Senate that he believes will sup
port measures in that body that will be
best calculated to serve the interests of the
masses of the people. Now, the question
arises for consideration, which one of the
two candidates, Camden or Coil, will serve
the best interests of the State? know no
better way to judge the future than by the
past. First, let us look to the antecedentS
of the two candidates. What has Nathan
Cot, the Republican candidate for the
United States Senate, ever done, as Il
statesman or rs q citizen of the State, that
would give him any claim OF the people
Of the State, or recommend him to the
favor of the people and voters OF West
Virginia, for the important position OF
United States Senator from the State OF
West Virginia, in preference to j. y. Cam
den?
Let US look into the history of the
young aspirant and see whether the Leg
stature OF West Virginia should elect him
to the Senate.
Nathan Golf was born in the county of
Harrison, then Virginia, now West Nir-
rinia, with q silver spoon in his mouth.
After the close of the late wal he received
the appointment of United States District
Attorney for the District of West Virginia,
which office he held for about tweRty
wears, receiving from the Government
salary and fees amounting to fifteen or
twenty thousand per nGu As the
law existed at the time he received his
Office. and during the time he held the
office. he was entitled to certain fees for
every indictment found by the grand
Jurors in the Federal Courts for the State
of West Virginia; in connection with these
fees he received a regular salary from the
Government, which made the office oil
District Attorney n very lucrative one.
This being the law at the time that MIR.
COT was the prosecuting attorney for the
District of West Virginia, it was to his IN
terest and advantage to procure rs many
indictments as possible. Having the Fed
eral Marshals ut his command, rs a band
of detectives, he was, by their aid, enabled
IN procure frivolous indictments ny the
thousands, against the poor citizens OF the
State. and caused them to be dragged
hundreds of miles TO the Federal Courts
held ut the different places in this State,
thereby wrecking the little fortunes, hap
niness and homes of thousands OF the poor
people of West Virginia. This wa n
great money feast for Mr.. Gotf, during the
time he held the office as District Attor-
new, while, on the other hand, during his
term of Offce-holding, it was 4 reign Of
terror and distress to the poor people OF
West Virginia. By these means, anu by
inberiting a large fortune from his father
and from an uncle whose name he bears,
Ne il now one of the mOneyed kings oil the
country.
Mr.. Golf. after having made 4 large for
time ont of his a~ttOrneyshlp. resigns IL.
But not until an official investigation was
had in regard TO the expenditures OF the
Federal Courts in West Virginia, which
investigation showed that during the time
that Mr.. Goff was acting rs United States
District Attorney for West Virginia. 1t cost
the Government Of the United States more
money to run the Federal Courts IN west
/ Virginia than it did to run the Federal
/ Courts in Any five States IN the lnlon;
/ Republican rumor says that Mr.. Golf did
NOT resign his office as Attorney OF West
| VIRGINIA until he was invited by the au-
/ tboTities ut Washington to step down and
ont Since that time the law has been
changed and the office of District Attorney
for the United States is not so lucrative an
office rs il was when Mr.. GOt was the At
torney for West Virginia
Having now disposed of the Hon. Ma
than GOtf so far as his public history Is
known, while acting as the United States
| District Attorney for West Virginia, IN as
favorable a light as the facts in his case
will Justify up to the time that he resigned
his office as Attorney for the District Of
West Virginia. Let US see what tnhS
vonnS Republican statesman has been do,
ing since that time. Having accumulated
a large fortune in the way and manner De,
fore stated, how is he using his money: J
am informed that large amount OF III:
money has been invested in Government
bonds. and that he is one of the largest
stock holders in the Clarksburg National
Bank, and making his thousands by tax
ing usury of of the people, and clipping
his coupons every three months and re
eeiying his interest in gold.
While the Republican party Of this Stat'
has been worshipping the golden eaf tol
the last 20 years in the shape and person