The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-03
MGRAW CONFIRMED
TO BE REVENUE COLLECTOR
For West Virginia Senator sherman With
draws His OpPOsltIOn-A Statement of the
CaSe-Deputy LaIrd's Connection with
the AIatter-w. Va, Appointments,


Sjsstal DtJsGteh 10 ES IatGl'i9eIetT,
WAsHISaTON, D, o., August 2,-Johu
7. McGraw was confirmed to be Collector
Of Internal Revenue for the District oi
Wes. Virginia without opposition to-day,
Mr., Sherman withdrew all objections,
Toe case has been full Of interest to West
Vnginians, and in justice to a man who
Is now dead, and who has been varlously
accused, wish to make the following
statements; Much importance has been
attached to the alleged contents OF ono ol
the papers that secured the removal Of
the lats Collector, | refer to what ia
Known as "the Laird statement"
What was theststementmade by Thomas
R, Laird, and how did he come to make
it2 Now that the matter olthe confirms
ton has been settled, and am not so LA.
BILE to be accused Of sinister motives,
owe 1t to the memory OF Mr.. Laird to vim.
dictate him from the charge OF treason to
his party. Within a month past, have
read In a Grafton newspaper, reference
to AR, Laird In which II was charged that
he had "saCriRced his honor and seli.re-
speCt" Thomas r, Laird Ia dead, and
had been dead for months before the pub.
liCation OF that Venemous item. To
thus refer to a living man is
bad enough, but what can be
said OF the editor who will allow
ais malice to so far control him as to move
him TO thus alludG-to the dead-to cast q
reflection upon the name OF enc who, be.
ing dead, cannot resent the imputationP
II Mr.. Laird were living he could read the
editorial mentioned with the conscious.
cess that he had said, In his celebrated
statement, things concerning his uucharit-
able accuser far more kind than quoted
above. II the cx.collector Is ever permit.
ted TO see the Laird statement (and let US
hope, In the name Of Justice, that he will
BEL he will blush for shame to behold
that In this estimating the character OF o
man whom death had robbed OF the power
TO defend himself, he had relied too much
upon the sensational reports sent out by
the Washington correspondent OF the
Wheeling Register
MR. LAIRDB y CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST.
The history Of Mr.. Laird's connection
with the Collectorship contest was briefly
this: After Mr.. Cleveland demanded that
whatever charges there were against the
incumbent should be made in writing, It
was thought by MCGraw's friends that, as
Mr.. Laird had about twenty years expert.
ence in the revenue service, It might be
possible that he would know enough
about the conduct Of the West Virginia
oillCs 10 say whether or not the then Col.
leCtor was liable to any other than the
charge oil "oaensive partisapship." The
matter was suggested to Commissioner
Miller, and Mr.. Laird was telegrsphed
for. lie cane to Washington, and
on being informed OF tho object OF the call,
he promptly aaid he knew nothing upon
which charge could be based, any more
than what any other employe Of the Col.
leCtor's office could tell. His opinion was
that the Collector had too many irons In
the fire, and had 80 much O.her business
on hand that he could not comply with
the law which requires collector 10 de-
vote his personal attention TO the business
OF tho office. He refused, however, to
make any charge, saying that he was q
Republican and that he did not propose
TO contribute to any effort to sscare the
removal Of another Republican from office
Mr.. Laird stated that hO would not object
to being intenogated by the Commits
sioner In his official capacity, With refer
ence 10 the knowledge Of the conduct ol
the office at Grafton, and to have his state
mentG taken by the stenographer. AC
cordingly Commissioner Miller began hif
examination, not secretly, as was reported
but iu the Internal Revenue office, where
many were coming and going all the time
The Commissioner asked Mr.. Laird many
questions regarding the service generally
ID West Virginia, which the witness an
sSercd intel!igently. It's general condl
tion was reported good. OF the Collector
Mr.. Laird spoke in rather high terms per
sonally, but stated, baslng his judgment
on an experience OF twenty years IN the
service, lie did not believe the Collector
was tho right man In the right place; q
good business man and lawyer, but did mol
appear 10 grasp the practical part OF the
business in way that would
in the end stamp him as q sucCessful and
altogether etllCientrevenue Official. This
he said, was apparent to every one who
knew the Collector, and he (Mr. Laird
had frequently talked the matter over with
other lssyenle men. There were then
some questions asked regarding the run
ming OF a newspaper and law Office IN con
neUtion with the revenue Office, and Mr.
Laird answered them to the best Of hil
knowledge. He stated further that what
be said he was perfectly willing should be
made publici that II was no more than he
had told others, and no more than any
other employe ot the office could have
told.
! Mr.. IAlRD's STATEMENT.
Mr. Lairds statement was not very
damaging TO the Republican Collector
and am not sure that 1t ever saw The
eyes Of the President. The facts Of the
1