The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-04-22
ARTHUR MIDDLETON
DiscOurses EntertainingIy or
State Politics.
GOVERNOR FLEMING'S vETOES
And Peculiar Features of Them.
How State omcials Feather the
Family Nest...Thtngs the Peo.
pie Would Like to Know.


Special corapoadens OIL IaeugAoz.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, April 49,
Though it has been some time since the
Legislature adjourned, the taxpayers
have Just finished long drawn sigh Of
mingled regret and relief. 1t was q
peculiar Legislature and passed some
peculiar acts. It also acted some pecul-
lar passes. By the way, friendliness to
railroad legialation presaged that passes
had been passed. Time passes, so do
railroads and legislatures, but the effects
Of all pass slowly.
One OF the most peculiar phases Of the
whole affair was the action OF West
Virginia's Chief Executive. He vetoed
some bad bills-all on the ground Of
their being unconstitutional. He is
good Judge OF the constitution. He has
studied its defects, evidently. Strange
to say, however, he vetoed only bills
originated by Republicans, and approved
some bills introduced by Democrats
that are viiely unconstitutional, such as
sections Of the "Scrip bill, the Elk City
charter and Others.
A VICTIM OF MS FRIENDS.
Governor Fleming is good kind OF a
man. He means well. But he is in the
hands of his-well, friends, I presume.
When his name was frst mentioned for
Governor he declined. He kept up his
decliuation until Friend Camden and
the State House officials agreed to fnrn-
ish the funds to smooth the rough look
ing way. The contest was urged on him
| by his "iriends." Since then his
"iriends" have held the lines. Give
him some backbone and ne would not
be bad sort Of ordinary, everyday citi-
zen.
But have digressed. What started
out to say was that while Gov. Fleming
was showing his love for the coustitu.
tion by vetoing bills, be ought to have
vetoed himself. He is surely an uncon.
stitutional statue. He will 20 on the
law books OF history as such figure. |
head for the ship Of state.
The only thing that is surprising Is
that the Democrats having such major.
ity did not enact more partisan meas. |
ures than they did. It will always be
puzzle to me why they failed to put an
educational test in the election bill, in |
order that great many negro laborers
would be dislranchised. Was 1t be.
cause they were afraid OF cutting their
own easophe9us by barring the old moss.
back Johnnies or the young "Charleys"
of the remote interior; or because they
thought 1t the shorter and surer way to
disfranchise them, as they did when
Governor Fleming was seated? This
will ever be q mystery to one who
knows the ways and means Of Southern |
Democracy.
ANOTHER MYSTERY
is why this gerrymander was not a worse
one. 1t was refreshing to see Judge
Ferguson, Of Kanawha. Will Thompson,
OF Summers, and W. Wilson Thomas, of
Putnam, vote against It. Had 1t been
worse probably more Democrats would
have rebelled. Ferguson and Thompson |
were sustained by their constituents.
Thomas was by the rank and file. Some
leaders say Thomas is ghost. He is,
but 1t is because he failed to materialize |
as his ndmirers expected. He failed to |
cut a MCCormick.gian giant.mower.swathe as
was expected. Perhaps his Republican
lieutenant failed to furnish him with
oratorical thunder, such as he put forth |
at the Pt. Pleasant Congressional con-
vention. Anyway, he failed in every
thing but his promise to his Republi-
can friends, not to vote for geryman-
der. All credit to him for bis honesty.
LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE.
Speaking Of State House topics makes
me think Of the shameful way the pres.
ent State officials, except Auditor Duffy,
have transgressed even the laws OF polit.
ical decenCy. They say two terms are
enough for them. They don't want an
other. They take the earth, but do not
try to get feuoe built around It. Lib.
eral, aren't they2 Treasurer Thompson
has probably worked fully month iu
his Office on official duties in the past
seven years. am sure he has done this
at least, and yet there are those who
grumble about it. His nephew was
chief clerk until a few weeks since. al.
though only work enough for one, yet
another clerk must be added to assist in |
the general duties Of killing time and
helping treasure the States finances.
She was paid out Of the contingent fund.
Afterwards she aud the chief clerk mar.
ried and both husband and wife drew
salaries. AS usual, presume the wife
kindled the fires. The chief clerk re.
signed recently and they sent 10 the
Indian Territory for his brother.in.law
to take his place. He is a yonng
stripping, competent to make good
page or messenger. Governor Wilson
employed his brother as his private sec.
retary. Superintendent OF Free Schools
Morgan employed both his wife, after
he married, and his brother in his Office,
and the State paid them. Secretary
Ohley's predeceBsor's wife drew a 81, 900
palery while Colonel Peyton worked |
and was paid out Of the contingent fund. |
That same coltingent fund has lined
many pocketbook. ! am glad our pres |
ent officials will not be candidates for
third term. Itthey were and succeeded
in being returned, 1t might be Just RS
cheap 70 make them present Of the |
State aud fence It in for them.
Governor Wilson worked the direct
tax matter when Governor pretty
shrewdly, but 1t looks as II his plans
have miscarried. II they have It will be
a disappointment, for It was no little
trouble 10 plan and get the matter in
shape to get a big fee. II will be q loss
on inyeetment also II it fails.
A 4oDRsT sTATEsNAN.
1 saw General Bill st. Clair the other
day. He grows rosier and more conten.
isd looking every day. He Ougbtto. He
elected Governor Of this State oil by
himself He hunted up the evidence in
the Goyernorship contest, wrote the re-
port, RCtsd % the majority committee,
edited that which Waa made public and
argued the case before the Legislature,
He is equal to the cook Of the "Nancy
Lee" except that be only got the penf.
tentiary for his brother.ln.law, Van Pelt.
He was too modest. Modesty was always
| St. Clair's falling, He will get over It as
4. IL