Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-19
NO COUNTY WAS FREE.
THE TAINT 6P CORRUPTION ATTACHES TO
WEST yIRGISIA'S YLBCTION.
The Result Of an UnhOly Conspiracy 70 Defeat The
Honest Will Of the PsOpls-A Correspond
snt Of the New York World
Discusses the Situation.
Ntn Yqk World.

Almost every county in this State has the
same story to tell about the last election. |
There never was campaign like it be-
fore" is the statement have met with at
every place I have visited, and in most
cases the hope is expressed that they may
never see another OF the same chartcter. In
many Of the counties the changes are very
iyht and can all be accounted for on rea-
sonabie grounds, but there is no locality
that is entirely free from the taint of
boodle. It would be difficult to estimate
or even approximate the number of votes
that were changed by money in this State
on the 9th Of last November. As
this was the first purely boodle
campain the "foater" is something of an
unknown quantity, but il is probably not
too much to say that the 500, 900 dis
bursed in West Virginia by the Republican
managers brought that party $500 votes.
This is the estimate made by conservative
people who have looked into the matter
carefully. Fully as many more illegal
votes were deposited in the ballot boxes.
The Republicans had an adverse majority
of only 1000 to overcome on a basis of tie
returns four years ago. Bat for gains
made by Democrats West Virginia would
have given its electoral vote to Harrison
and Morton. There can bs no doubt that
If the people here had not been influenced
by corrupt methods they would have given
a sub .tantial victory for the Democratic
ticket.
In Parkersburg, where spent some time
yesterday, heard many stories relating to
the recent campaign. Judge Snodgrass,
the Chairman of the Democratic County
Committee taid 81 knew early in the
campaign that the Republicans were up to
some sharp game. They paid little atten-
ton to speech making and allowed our
people to do most of the talking. They
seemed to be relying on something more
than talk and legitimate argument to help
them out. | suspected what it was they
were banking on, but didn't reslizs that
their pile was az large as it was. Just
how much they spent here would be diff
cult to say and still more difficult 10 prove
but that they need money in Wood county
largely above what was needed for their
legitimate expenses l am convinced. There
is very little hope of securing any indict'
ment at the hands of the County Court. 1t
is Republican, and the newly elected Proc
ecutipg Attorney is also Republican
They are the beue6cisrles OF whatever
frauds were committed, in part, and We do
not anticipate any vigorous movement Will
be made to investigate the alleged corrup-
ton. Judge jackson, of the Federal Court,
however, ise1Eected to do something at tie
January term of his court and he may catch
some of them"
Regarding Judge Jackson's failure TO
take charge of the election frauds sooner
an intimate friend of his gives this eIpla-
nation:
Judge Jackson did charge his Grand
Jury very viciously about the reported
violations of the election laws, but he told
them he would not for several Iessons send
for witnesses and begin a careful investi-
cation before January. In the meantime
if any of them knew of any infraciion OF
the law they would, of course, bring IN an
indictment at once. One reason Tor the
delay in beginning the investigation was
that Judge Jackson's brother had been
candidate for Congress in the Fourth Dis
trict. While the result was in doubt, If
Judge jackson had made vigorous move
on the hoodlers a cry would have been
raised that it was Simply on account OF bis
brother's defeat. Besides that he had sav-
ersl pressing matte to lCok after. watch
made il better to postpone action. You may
be sure that he will take the matter mp in
earnest next month. however. The Fed
eral Frand Jury has power to summon
witnesses from any part OF the state, ara
| think there will he some interesting rev.
e!ations before the end Of January.
Clsrksburg is the home Of Gep. Goh'
He IAN 200 votes behind his vote in this
county (Harrisop) two years ago when he
was q candidate for Congress This is the
most common explanation: Gen. Goff
holds great many mortgages on farms
throughout this section of the State. lie
has never been pressing for his payments
until quite recently. Two years ago he
gave up tie idea cf going to Congress and
began 10 lay his pipes for the Senate.
Not believing that he would be q candi.
date before the peop'e sgsin, he commenced
to foreclcss his mortgages as they fell due.
ibis lost him good deal in popularity,
and it is said to have required big effort
| to keep his vote up az well az they old.
Mr.. Smith, the Chairman OF The Demo
cratic County Committee of this city, said:
Il am satisfied that the Republicans
used money tere and also cast number
Of illegal votes The County Court end
Prosecuting Attorney are Republicans,
but we are collecting evidence to lay be-
fore them. so they will have no excuse TO-
not bringing in tome indictments. We
have every Iesson to believe that con-
siderable money was used in this locality.
We ran up against it on all sides. Tee
favorite way appeared to bs pay meu for