The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-09-01
CATCHING'S RECORD,
A Fine Specimen to Assist Hon..
w. l, Wilson's Campaign.
a HYP0CRlT FROM WAY BACK
damaging Letters lie. Wrote While
His Seat was Being Contested.
The Mississippi plan-Intcr.
csting Washington News.
Special Dispateh 10 The M,eiliysnea.

AsllNGroE, august 3l.-DemoCratiC
Journals have had considerable to say
IN connection with Congressman Catch.
ings presence at the convention which
renomina!ed Mr.. W. L. Wilson at Key.
ser. He has been lauded rs an excellent
speaker on the merits OF the elections
bill. Indeed, is he; nobody better
The South might have bseu hunted
over from one end to the other withou.
finding gentleman nearly 30 well
qualified by actual experience as Con-
gressman 'Catchings, Of. Mississippi to
deal with the provisions Of n bill regu.
lating elections in his county.
II will be remembered that Catchinps'
aeat in Congress was unsuccessfully con.
tested by General Chalmers, the Repub.
licln candidate. 1t may also be remem-
bered that there were some letters, writ
ten by Catchinga, involved in this con.
test. Thereby hangs the tale. These
letters wero three in number, directed
to the chairman OF the Democratic State
Committee, OF Mississippi.
IN QtAY's HANDS.
Unfortunately for Catchings, they fell
into the hands Of Senator Quay, where
two Of them yet remain, the other one
having been read before the Elections
Committee OF the House. Probably no
head that ever wore crown was more
nneasy than Mr.. Catchings' during the
hearing OF his contest case and the per-
iod Of uncertainty as to whether or not
Nil OF the letters would be made public.
He Gguratively Went down on his knees
10 the members OF the committee, en-.
treating them to unseat him II they de.
sired. but to spare him the publication
OF those letters. The committee would
make no promises, and Mr.. CAtchings
made al his preparations to leave M;s-
sissippi anu 20 to Chattanooga to prac.
tlce law.
DAMAGING LETTERS.
Nov what did these letters contain
which would be so detrimental to Mr..
Catching's interests if known? To be-
gin with, the one which was read before
the committee directed. as above stated,
TO the chairman OF the Democratic COM
mittee, and which was written pending
the taking OF testimony in the contest
which General Chalmers had instituted,
contained IN expression to the effect
that it would be vastly to the benefit of
the Democratic cause ii certain colored
men, who were supposed to have knowl-
edge OF the alleged theft OF various bal
lc. boxes, disappeared" "Disap-
pearea" was the term used. Such an
expression, under the circumstances,
admits OF two constructions. One is that
the colored persons mentioned were to
be temporarily kidnapped until the TAX
ing Of testimony was completed. The
other is that the disappearance would
be final and conclusive. The latter is
the more usual construction in the por-
tion Of the country under discussion; but
Mr.. Catchings claimed that the former
was the correct one, and his claim was
allowed to stand.
Mr.. Ca,chingp, however, was not
greatly concerned over this letter. lie
felt thht his constituents wonld not
bother themselves much over tho dds.
appearance oi Il few colored men. 1t
was to one OF the other two that his
earnest solicitation was directed. In it
he unboaomeu himself to his chairman
on the subject Of alleged determinations
against him on the part OF Senators
George, Gibson and Walthall. ln the
language OF the day, he "went for" these
gentlemen in n style far more vigorous
Than elegant. Instances were cited OF
their unfair treatment OF him, the direst
threats were INDUCED iu, and finally a
plan was outlined by which matters were
10 he evened tip in the near future. II
Was the knowledge Of what the Senators
mentioned might do when they saw thia
letter that caused Mr.. Catchlngs to prom.
ise anything and everything provided it
was withheld.
MORE "nIsArrEARANcEs" SUGGESTED.
O. The third letter was equally explicit
in giving directions to the chairman in
relation to the taking Of testimony in
the contest case. Several more parties
were suggested as suitable candidates
for "disappearance" honors. Places and
dates were given whereat testimony Of
the most favorable nature could be
secured Mt reasonable rates, albeit OF a
somewhat questionable character ii ex.
amincd too closely. The examination,
moreover, WIS to be provided for.
And nov this is the partial record OF
the gentleman whom the Democracy
propose to send into West Virginia this
iall as IN expounder OF the principles
of the Lodge Elections bill. While Mr..
Wilson talks ''tariT reform" Mr.. Catch
incs will talk Of the purity Of elections
in his district, and OF the iniquitous
character of measure which dsres to
put veto on "disappearances." stolen
ballots boxes aud perjured testimony.
Verify he should DO received in a
style beftting his importance. e.,..