Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-26

districts, and the committee has ar
ranged for nearly all the speakers who
are at work for Mckinley in Ohio to
drop into West Virginia during the
Ohio campaign or when it is over and
make few speeches.
All this work costs an immense
amount OF money ana requires a great
many men. The Republicans Of West
Virginia could not begin to furnish the
Doodle for such a campaign and they
are getting help from the outside in
large amounts. The money is furnish
ed by the National Republican Commit
tee and IS gotten by that organization
FROM the manufacturers associations OF
the North. The American Iron and
Steel Association is alleged 10 have
given 5000, 900 TO this work, and an or
ganizatiOn OF tin plate promoters has
mae a big donation. There have been
enormous sums sent in by others who
are interested In preserving the Repuo-
licanS in power, and maintaining the
duties imposed by the Mckinley bill.
The reason for all this work in West
Virginia is this In 1SSS the Republl-
cans, by their colonization scheme
worked on limited scale in the south
ern part Of the State, came within a
few hundred Of carrying the State for
Harrison. and came so near TO electing
GOff for Governor that a recount was
necessary 10 show Governor Fleming
elected. This recount was a good thing
for the Democrats, however, because IL
brought out the roguery Of the RepUb-
leans very prominently and showed
that the frauds had been praCtised more
in behalf Of Goff than for the National
ticket. The Republican National Com
mittee thinks that there is better oppor-
tunity for carrying West Virginia than
any other Of the so-called doubtful
States, and is trying, partly as an eX-
pertinent, the plan Of working contlnu-
ously from one election till another, in
this State.
All this work was kept secret, as
nearly as possible and the rank and file OF
Republicans knew nothing Of it till a
few weeks ago. The whole plan would
probably have been kept from the DEM
ocratic committee and the public In
general, had it not been for row that
began after Secretary Windom's death
and which eliminated in an open fight
few weeks ago.
General Nathan Goff had been the ac-
knowledged leader of the Republican
party in West Virginia since 1876. In
1854, Stephen b. Elkins appeared upon
the horizon and soon began 70 at
tract attention. Goff had invest
ed his money in mortgages and
by the hold which this gave
him in Harrison, NOnonRalia and Mari
on counties, he was able TO be elected
to Congress continuously for ten years.
Elkins came in as a developer OF West
Virginla's resources, and with his
father-in-law, Henry G.. Davis, built the
West Virginia Central Railroad and a
number of towns, and opened coal
mines and'timber camps in the upper
part of the State. The progressive and
young Republicans naturally took to
him, and be came rapidly into promi-
nence and soon threatened General
COTS position as leader. When GOf
was defeated in 1SSS for Governor, GOff
stock went away down and Elkins'
stock took a rise.
When Secretary Window died EIkinS
was pushed forward by West Virginia
Republicans for the position. lie was
also backed by the New York Tribune
epd a number of other leading Republi-
can journals and for time il locked as
il he would get the, place. Gott natur-
ally diSiiked the prospect that Elkins
might get the place and he went TO
Washington personally, and made IL ap-
parent TO the powers there, that 10 ap-
point ElkinS would split the party in
West Virginia, and particularly that he
would be sorely diSpleaSed. Gof asked
for nothing but that ElkinS be given
nothing, and so 4 went.
When it became current rumOr that
Secretary Proctor was 10 go TO she SEN
ate, Elkins' friends began a campaign
on his behalf for the War portfolio.
The New York Tribune, which is reCOg-
nized i'm West Virginia as Mr.. ElkinS'
personal organ, suggested him editorial
ly and copies Of the paper were sent
broadcast over the State. Letters from
Washington advocating EtkinS were
written to all straight Republican papers
and most OF them were printed. When
the announcement was made that Proc
tor had been rendered the Vermont
Senatorship, the agitation for Elkins was
renewed with such vigor that the Gof
partiSans openly accused Elkins'
friends OF unfair dealing, and as a con-
sequence OF the quarrel that resulted,
the Democratic committee was given In
formation concerning the work OF the
the Republicans in the State.
1t Is an in wind that blows no.
body good, and the Goff faction becOm-
ing so bitter against Elkins that it
would rather see the State remain DEM
ocratic than see the Republican victory
carry ElkinS into public favor, has given
the Democrats an insight into the secret