The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-09-25
Some History.

The above dispatch recalls the mem.
orabls expose the ISrELLIGENcER made
on October 5, 1883. OF the attempt of Ger.
tain Democratic politicians in West Vir.
ginia to organize an Independent move.
ment among the colored voters, by free
use OF money, and the hand that Chair.
man Russell, Of Hampshire county, took
in the matter. A little history OF that
conspiracy, which was 'nipped in the
bud" by the 1STELLfdENcER, will serve
at this time to show what sort of a man
this pure Democrat Colonel Russell) is,
aud to what lengths he is willing to 70
to gain party advantage.
There was q disgraceful bargain be-
tween certain colored men and the
Democratic managers, by which, with
the use OF Democratic money, the ten
thousand colored voters OF West Vir-
einia were to be handed over to the
Democratic party. The scheme failed
because the 1STELLIGENCER exposed it
IN time to open the eyes OF the colored
people, and the result was that the COL
ored voters almost to man
stood by the Republican party.
The lNTELLIG EScER got hold Of NUN.
Der OF original letters passing between
the Democratic managers and J. NJ.
Lauman. (colored,) Of Charleston, in
which the whole matter was laid bare.
Among these letters were some from
Chairman Russell, who seemed to BIZ
the dlsbursing agent of the conspirators.
In one OF the letters, dated August IS,
1883, Col. Russell wrote to Lauman say.
ing:
In reply TO the first letter would say that
have not yet been furnished or been sDls 10 col.
lect any funds. Should | get any that could
possibly spare will be glad /, contribute some
Thing 10 your cause; ln reply 70 your last com
munlcati0n would say hist have had letter
properly distributed 10 the colored voters, and
nm waitiDH 10 see the effect and find out the
bes! ones to send the letters Of Credentials 10.
The great trouble about delegates going from
here is the expense, but II eau find one or two
good usty, iniluential colOred men who will 20
Will Try TO False the means to pay their ex.
penses.
A letter written by Russell one day
later contained the following sentence:
have yet no money In my hands, rs have
been furnished none. but II / can possibly do 80
Will cheerfully aid you TO the eI ten, you ask M
soon as any funds are placed In my hands.
Colonel Russell was taking dark Ian
tern proceeding, as is evident from the
following extract from letter dated
August 30, 1855:
Mr.. J. II. Lanman:
! enclose you letters containing the three ere.
Dental letters you sent INC. Put one OF your
circular letters In each one OF them, seal them
up and mall them at once 1t will not do to
mall them here, as i will be suspected. send
! me one or two more OF the credentIal letters at
once as there is probably one man here tnat will
go, but ! can give i to hI,u, AS he has always
| been with us. think eau be able alter a llliIc
| 10 send you something.
Here is another rich one:
RoNSEY, v. Va, Sept. Z
Ir. J. n. Lanman.
think thlee) colored delegates from here, 70 10
YOUR c1nference. All cd Whiting, Albert Aiexau.
der and Thomas Thurston. The last named hns
| always been Democrat The other two have
good thing II you could give Whiting or AlcIan.
DIR some positiin In the conference. Place
Them on Committee OF s0me kind. .
As soon as Sume funds come Into my hands |
will get apart enough TO comply with your re.
quest.
On September 8, Colonel Russell wrote
letter to Lanman in which he said:
neglected 10 tell you not 10 let out 10 the del.
cgates from h're that had their expenses paid,
| You cal tell lho.nas ThurstOn anything you
want, as he eau bc trusted with any plans you
have on hand.
All this goes to prove what kind Of a
man is trying 10 manipulate the Farmers'
Alliance Tor the beaeGt OF the Demo
cratic party. He was q Democratic
boodler in 1888. Under the election
law passed by the last session OF the
West Virginia Legislature Mr.. Russell's
methods would to-day be- considered
criminal. The honest farmers OF the
State will know how much faith to put
in his "warnings." 1t will be observed
that he is familiar with the term "lunds."