The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-10-08
FLEMING And EENNA.
[cenlinued from Fir.l Paae.l

Continued from Frat Page.l
troduced Judge Fleming, and the APP
plause that greeted him was not general,
clearly demonstrating that it was SenH-
tor Kenna whom the crowd had come to
see.
JUDGE rLEMINd's SPEECH.
Judge Fleming referred to the ap.
plause as "almost bewildering." He
said he knew all those present would be
glad TO have ocular demonstration that
at least one Of their candidates had es-
caped from "the interior" and come
back in good shape. Thisallusion made
the crowd laugh and Mr.. Riley who runs
the campaign, and who sat on the plat
form, blushed. From the Registers re-
port, which is fairly to be taken as just
10 Judge Fleming, the following extracts
are taken: need not be afraid for this
great manufacturing centre Of West Viz
Sinia, il this great audience / see before
me is any indication OF how the people
feel upon those important questions that
divide the two political parties to-day.
Nv friends, | cannot discuss this even
ipg many purely State or local questions.
/ believe you feel as ! feel, that there is
one greater and mightier question above
and beyond these.
But must refer to some OF these ques-
tons briefly. The Democratic party has
been in power in West Virginia for over
fifteen years. 1t has given the State such
an administration rs 1t never had before,
an administration marked by honesty,
purity and economy, an administration
before which every voter is equal, and
enjoys the same equal rights. It has so
conducted the governmental affairs OF
this State that the voice oil SANDER itself
has been silenced and even Republican,
partisans have forgotten to carp and
complain. The Democratic admlnlstra-
ton has been so uniformly satisfactory
to the people that even our opponents
in their party platforms have scarcely
been able to find flaw to criticize or q
weak point to attack. But how does this
compare with the record OF Republican
rule in West Virginia. We look back
over their record, we find plenty OF test
oaths and registration laws and official
scandals and We go on and on and still
there stares us in the face from every
page, the history OF mal.administration
and corruption never paralIeled in West
Virginia before, and among all this mass
we find one little good thing, whichthey
point to as their monument. The Re-
publican party passed the State school
law, and go they did. Wegive them fair
dues; but in what an imperfect and
crude condition did they leave the State
school system, only to be perfected and
built Up, until its beneticent influences
are felt in every home in the land, by
the hands Of Democratic officials.
Let us refer to that school law little
further. In 1867, under a Republican
State administration, there was expend'
ed from the general school fund, $751;
600; in 1870, the last year OF Republican
control, there was expended from this
fund S235,0OO. Then there came Q
change. Republicanism went out and
Democracy came in; and what was the
result? In 1887, or the last year from
which we have official statistics, there
was expended for the benefit Of the
school children OF this State, almost
twice rs much as any Republican i'd
ministration ever laid out. Over St02,-
600 was thus laid out. But this is not
all. In the last year Of Republican rule
there was expended for all purposes in
this State $577,000i In 1887 there was
laid ont for all purposes oyer 81 ,0S70O
But you ask me how was the Democratic
party able to do this? Did it ayheaVler
taxes? Not one cent. Economy, honesty
and intelligent business methods were
the great factors that enabled Democratic
administration 10 eXpend twice rs much
money for the benefit OF our people with
out increasing the rate or levying one
dollar OF unne( essary taxation. On the
contrary, l will show you that the rate OF
taxation for State purposes has been less
since the Demcratic party came in
power. In the seven years, from 1863 to
$50, the average levy for State purposes
was 50 cents and fraction on the 500.
Since 1870 the average has been 81 cents,
making difference OF 8 cents on the
500. Now, my friends, what has this
saved to your What does 5 cents on the
500 for seventeen years mean? ltmeans
that over Sl,O99000 has been kept in
your pockets, and not foolishly and
recklessly expended by careless or dis.
honest public servants. You are that
much the gamer and far that you are in
debted to an honest Democratic admins
tration.
We look over the State and We SEQ its
public institutions arc well cared for,
their efficiency increased and their SER
vice economically administered. Wesee
the ordinary expenses OF government all
promptly met, and the extraordinary ex-
penses properly provided for. This is
the record OF Democratic rule in West
Virginia, aud it has made that record
with n lower rate Of taxation than that
imposed by their Republican predeces'
sor For this the Democratic party
asks and deserves a continuance in
power.
Speaking of the tariff the Judge was
not happy. He first said the duty on
imports added TO the cost OF the home
produced articles and later said manu-
featured articles were cheaper in this
country than in any other country in
the world. The illogical character OF
this argument struck the dullest man
present.
All through Judge Fleming's address
the applause was weak, the attention
bad, the impression unfavorable. Prom
inent Democrats were heard to criticize
Judge Fleming severely, while his argu-
ments were promptly answered by work.
ingmen in tho outskirts OF the crowd
who spoke from experience. The re-
mark, ''No wonder Riley did not want
him to meet General Gof," was common,
and occasionally man suggested that
the Judge was ANONYMOUSLY making
Rennhlican speeOh,