New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-07
MR.. ELKINS HASAN ANSWER.
DEMOCRATS HURT BY THE LATEST LIE.

no NEGROES ARE BEING coLoNrzED. BUT IF
THEY WE'RE. CHAIRMAN BAINUM COULD FUR
NIsH SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION.
s b. Elklns was I'm Now York yesterday on ny
ing trip from Deer Park, and gave positive denial
the wonderful story which was sent Out through
the Democratic papers on Tuesday TO the ccct That
he was using the West Virginia Central Railroad TO
colonizc Republican VOTERS In that state and carry
Il for Harrison and Morton. II appears that sovcn
out OF nine of board OF directors OF that ROAD arc
Democrats; that the chief Of the construction depart
mcnt where these voters are said to DO employed
is also a Democrat, and that Mr.. Eldns himself Is
scarcely acquainted with an cmpoyc OF the road
Among the directors Is Chairman Barnum' OF The
Democratic National Committee, who has car works
at Huntington Va where he recently received an
order from the West Virginia Road for the construc-
ton Of 100 freight cars.
II can readily be understood that this order would
not have been given 10 him. by which he would be
enabled 10 employ large number OF extra hahus al
his works II thorc were any disposition anywhere TO
colonies Icpuhcan voters. The negroes uat nave
been employed In the construction OF the new branch
have begun TO Quit work and go back to their old
homes Nothing can induce them TO remain IN The
high latitude after the cold weather and irost be-
Gin and none of them are legal voters along the line
Of the road.
Mr. ElkIns, when asked about tho charges IN these
recent Democratic publications. said that he had
answered them In the nist lcluT indb no h"u W.
written for publication by the press, the letter being
addressed TO the editors of such papers as had pub
Ilshed the stories He furnished copy OF his letter
as follows addressed 10 the Editor Of The New-fork
Tines"
No Broadway, New-York. Sept. 8, 1883.
To IN. Editor OF The New Times In your impress
sion OF the I'd instant which have Just seem appears
statement which, told has been generally repeated in
the Democratic press of the country to the enect hat
with other Republicans have been engaged IN coon|ng
negroes along the line OF the West virginia central ana
PIttburg Railroad in Virginia with view to carry
the state for the Republican ticket November that In
pursuance this plan, 5000 negroes have been imported
from other States dnt employed in building the railroad
and that this statement based upon Information given
by one Jonathan Barrett claiming formerly TO have been
On engineer In the service Of the company beg you
will allow me sufficient space in The Times by way OF
reply 10 say that In every particular and
in all It's insinuaons is simply absurd false ana malicious
This will be apparent from the following facts;
The West Virginia Central and Pttsburs Railroad Is
largely owned controlled and managed by Democrats Its
president who has entrs management Of It's affairs Is
Democrat; its superintendent CT construction VINO has
Charge o.; the employment Of hands In building the lne
f. Mr.. William T. Porter. Of Port Deposit Maryland a
lifelong Democrat Of the nine members OF the
board OF directors are Democrats, among whom arc
ex.Se Iator William II. Banum, Chairman Of
tho National Democratic Commltteei ex-senator
j. ~ Camden, member Of that National Democratic Com
mittee for West Virginia; ex-senator H. G. Davis Of
West Virginia William II. German brother OF Senator
A. T. German; ex-senator William Plnkney Whye' OF
Maryland. A.. p German was for six years director
ad va. s,so larrc sockholdcr Of the company. With
such names the control and management Of tho
ansirs Of the company you Will agree that IL absurd to
say and II would impossible to use the funds Of tho
company import and employ 5000 negroes or any other
number to vote the Republican ticket in West Virginia 10
November.
Ny time has been so given 70 other business matters
that have line OF the road more than
three times this year employed person ia The
Of the company, and have no power TO DO So
Personally, do know Of the employees engaged n
building line Of the road Superintendent Porter
and his assistants and 10 whom he employs have 10
knowledge nor l been consulted Every negro
and other person employed in the building Of the road has
been employed by Democrats l know through the presi
dent company that there to-day 2JO negroes
working line Of the road IN the service Of the
pany and Of this number vote in November
because law OF the STATE, residence o. one
year required, OF them having been ia the state
that long 1t Is not expected that OF these $50 me-
Proes viii be IN the service OF the company In November
os the Of construction Will practically before
then.
As TO Jonathan Barrett who is alleged TO have fur
nished this information and the
press of the country, heard Of him and
such employed as engineer in the sep
vice Of the company so far a. know Every ohccf ana
director company will confirm what have just ss1
and respectable Democrat IN West Virginia elsewhere
Will deny these facts
For about fifteen years was member OF the ReQubi
National Committee and made IL rule
tradct print anything that appeared against how
false. But l have ceased a member Of
that committee and not member Of any state commit
tee reasons justice mysef and also
because this statement not only Injuries Che gentlemen
named IN their business relations and is calculated
njurc and bring into dsrcpue the good standing Of The
West Virginia Railroad Company. whose credit is high
wherever and whose business Interests entirely
disconnected from politics, that feel compelled az
this length contradict and expose the Tho whole
statement. from beginning TO end Is laundering campaign
fabrication and believe gotten up and circulated ior
political effect West Virginia and elsewhere.
trust IT Is not asking too much for you 70 give this
matter the publicity that you gave the
Very truly yours, &c, : b. ELKINS.
In discussing West Virginia and the attacks to
which he had replied in his letter, Mr. Ekins said
1t Is to be regretted that any exgcncy should seem
to call out the response which l have made. Tho
attack upon the West Virginia Central Railroad man
agemeDt II left uuicfutcd. might have The eject ~
destroying the credit OF the road which has been -
high that our bonds are selling at 100. This l.
thing unparalleled In the history Of allroading I'm this
country The people Of West Virginia VIII be I'M
cncd 10 resent any attack upon the road because they
know better than anyone else That there las never
been the slightest shade Of parsan,hip in any OF IT,
management BESIDES. such an attack as this Is has
q personal side 10 n which + exceedingly annoying
IT + much more annoying. / should Judge. 10 tie
Democrats whom have named I'm ms letter than 10
any Republicans The state az West Virginia is so
close that IL may be fairly ranked among the doubt
ful States. The Republican candidate fOr Governor,
General Nathan Con, was a good solder and f.
able statesman. lie has had much experience in
public affairs and IN politics, and there f. question
but that the Democratic managers fear that lao viii
carry the State cannot conceive hOT any such
story the published should De cOncOcted except
with the idea that they could throw dust In the eyes
Of the public, and under cover Of such cloud attempt
to carry the sae by their peculiar political Methods