Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-13
1T WILL BE HOT.
The West Virginia Boodiers VIII Get
More than They Expected,

Ine IaIlH ulo H.. Inc people" they
say, "were frightened by Mr.. CIeveland's
Free-Trade Message, and they left the
Democratic party in large numbers in con-
sequense," To any one who has analyzed
the returns in this State the statement
that the tariff had anything to do with
the Republican gains is known 10 be with
out foundation. "0Ee might as well, !"
said Senator Kenns, "say tnat the tariff
was responsible for more votes being
cast in some precincts than the total
population contained therein, a. to as
sert that the Republicans made gains by
talking Prote ;tion. In all the localities
where the Republican, might naturally
have made gains o1 the tariff issue the
Democrats more than held their own. Our
gains 10 Ohio county, which contains the
city of Wheeling, the principal manufac-
turing city of this State, saves us the Leg
islature. II there was any place where the
Republicans should have made gains on
merits OF the tariff issue it was in Wheel
ing, which is only second to Pittsburg in
her manufacturing Industries. The fact is
the Republicans are using the tariff ss q
shield to cover up their dark transactions
in this State. 1t will not work. The me ans
they employed to capture West Virginis are
too apparent to be conc:a!ed by any such
htmsy pretext.
~ have no doubt in my own mind that
the Republicans acted on a carefully prs-
pared plan, similar to the one outlined in
Dudley's 8 circular letter to the Republican
managers iu Indiana. That plan was to
steer foaters in blocks of five, in each
election precinct. to the polls and see that
they voted the Republican ticket. Tney
made their calculations as the percentage
of gains required TO give them the State,
and they acted accordingly. Money was
sent into almost every cOuoty in the State
for the purpose Of buying votes. In this
way their gaius in no precinct would ap'
pear TO be large enough to attract atten-
ton. The plan was shrewd one, and the
only wonder is, with the amount of Doodle
at their command, that thay were not
entirely successful. am sure that tie
best people throughout the State will
resent this attempt to debauch
the State, and will join hands to help bring
the guilty parties to justice. The last
election was a disgrace to the State, but l
do not think we will see repetition of it
very soon Even if the courts do not take
the matter up and prosecute the people
who have committed bribery and voted
illegally, the feeling in the community is
such that it would not be safe for any
party to try another campaign here on the
Dudley plan. But do not believe the
matter will be allowed to drop. 1t is
subject that every good citizen of the State
is interested in regardless Of party. There
is certain to be a good many indictments
found in both the State and Federal
courts, and great many people may live
to regret having attempted to debaucn the
citizans of West Virginia.
"IHe World is doing splendid work in
exposing these frauds The influence OF
great newspaper could not be put forth 10
a better direction or in way that will be
more beneficial to the country. When the
tims comes that the highest office in the
land and the control Of the Government
can be obtained by the party that puts up
the largest cash bid, tie i the safety OF the
Republic is surely 10 grave peril. Unless
there can he some immediate check to the
Wholesale bribery that prevailed at the
last election throughout the country, that
is what will come to It, | telieve that the
people have already called halt and that
the use of money corruptly in our elections
will never be IA great again as it was this
year. West Virginia at least intends TO
set an example in this respect that other
States can follow. This ls the first time
our State has been invaded with Doodle,
and we intend to stamp out the evil and
make it dangerous for any to repent the
offense"
Gov. Wilson spoke in the same strain.
He said the evidence that the Repuoli'
cans had appealed TO the reduction AMI
demoralizing il fluence of money to carry
this State were too strong TO be ignored.
It is probable that Gov. Wilson will have
some very pointed remarks to make on
this subject in his me sage to the Legisla,
ture when that body assemblies next
month.
1.-The lesson of the late campaign" he
said, will not be lost on this State. | do
rot believe it would be possible for the
Republicans 70 buy West Virginia to-mor-
row if they expended 81 900, 900 in stead OF
500, 900. Oar people resent the imputa-
tion that they cau be bought do not
believe the Republicans in the next TWEEN
ty years will come as near carrying this
State as they did this year. But in the mean
time we will teach the men who tried to
corrupt our people Lesson that they will
not forget. There are many cases that the
Federal courts can take hold ot Judge
Jackson, of Parkershurg, was urged to
charge the Tnited States Grand Jury las
month TO investigate the allegations oi
fraud and corruption. He thought it would
be better to wait until the excitement 10
the public mind had subsidized somewhat.
There will be several important indct-
ments found before the January term o'
the Federal Court. Meantime the State
courts are not idle. l think 1t cln be
safely said that West Virginia will vindi
cate her good name and that she can be
trusted to meta out ull..and ample justice
to her boodlerp. Our climate will be
found very unhealthy for that class oi
people
Judge johnson, of the State Supreme
Court, is one OF the most conservative mtn
in the state. Judge johnson said to me:
~ was much interested in the remarks
of Judge Gresham, concerning the punish
meut Of the leaders who conspired to buy
states through the ballot-box. Judge
Gresham is right; the conviction OF one
prominent man for corruptipg the ballot
box would do more to put a stop to the
practice than the conviction OF one hun
drsd Of the little fellows. The man who
sells his vote i5 not half as bad as the man
who throws temptation in his way. There
ia no doubt that doodle was the potential
factor in the recent election in this state,
If we can get hold of the men who fur
nished it there will be some hope Of pre-,
serving the purity of the ballot-box in the
future. That is the only thing, in my
Judgment, that will check the growing
tendency of the times to appeal to boodle
in declaring our elections"
A Famous Legislator Dying.
CINCINNATI, O., December l2.-Hon
James Scott, the author of the Scott law,