The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-17
speefal ptspateh o l.s intelligence.

Special Dtspqteh to he InteUtgenee.
CHICAGO, ILL, Dec. 16.-Not single
Chicago newspaper has word to say in
defense Of the action Of the Worlds Fair
people in granting valuable concessions
to Conkey and Tauey without asking
for bids. Commissioner ST. Clair's ex-
PLANTATION of his transaction with Taney
is variously commented on. Under tho
heading @Time to Kick Taney Out, !" the
Ersniag Pot editorially says:
"Mr. Taney's connection with the
Columbian fair in the capacity Of con-
cessionaire Is not creditable to himself,
to his friend or friends on the Colum-
bian comission, or to the fair. Com
missioner St Clair is Mr.. Taney's friend,
and in the spirit OF friend has told the
story Of the Taney concession. Even
by this kindly reading Mr.. Taney ap-
pears not much better than sandbag-
ger. He owns a newspaper in Wheel,
ing, W. Va, and used Its columns to
antagonize the fair until such time as
he received the concession. Then he
turned his newspaper on the side of the
fair. II this is not sandbagging, we
know not the meaning Of sandbagging.
The concession ia q thing of value. It
brought to Mr.. Taney partnership in
the profitable Conkey deal. It was
taken as bribe, to silence his newspa-
per. It's time to inquire whether the
Worlds Fair management is buying
newspapers and paying blackmail to
their editors; elsewhy is this editor OF
n third.rate West Virginia newspaper
admitted on the ground floor of an en-
tcrprise wherein his betters fear to
enter? Abrogate the Taney conces-
sion."
A TART COMMENT.
"Capturing West Virginia" is the
caption of the Chicago TINES leader this
morning. The Times says: 'Mr. st.
Clair was at Washington lobbying Tor
IN appropriation in behalf OF the
Columbian exposition and it panied him
beyond expression to see that under
tho leadership Of this editor at Wheel
ing tho state delegation was going
unanimously against the appropriation.
MI. st. Clair, who is here at great pe-
cuuiary loss to himself, resolved that to
heal that breach, to save West Vtr-
ginia 10 tho fair, he would himself sink
or swim, survive or perish, bring
about a radical change. What has re-
suited? The Wheeling editor is no
longer his enemy or the enemy Of the
fair, although West Virginia has been
brought under the gentle sway OF the
board OF control. Mr.. st. Clair, who is
hero at great pecuniary sacrifice to
himself, saw that the worked Wheeling
editor was persuaded with a concession
to print directory, and, 10, according
to the St Clair showing, that little
GOD to that little editor changed
the whole spirit Of tho entire
state Of West Virginia. St Clair,
who is here at "a great pecuniary
sacrifice to himself, is wonderful pro.
moter Of the pecuniary advantage OF
the fair. No doubt tho people OF West
Virginia, reading his explanation OF tho
Taney contract, will be complimented
beyond measure by tho implication that
ono littlo sop delivered to an editor up
in tho Pan Handle captured every Con-
gressman from MartinsburE to the
Kunawha valley. Mr.. st. Clair ought
not TO make any moro peCuniary saCrt-
fiCos for tho Worlds Fair. He ought to
90 home to tho boaoms Of those constitu.
ents whom he has brought to agree
with him that the fair Is something
worth sacrificing yourself pecuniarily
for, and DO lulled to soft repose by tho
Wheeling editor who is here, now to
make pecuniary sacrifice OF himself
also"
The .To,-nal inouires: HNVhy should
Worlds Fair concessions be used in the
payment Of Mr.. st. Clair's political
dcbts to Editor TaneyP Where did MIR.
St. Clair get the idea Of using them in
this wayP Stand up, gentlemen, and
badly it hurts you"
LET tue b1oHT ON.
Among other things the Post Of last
eveningsai
"AIr. St. Clair get out to placate Mr..
Taney by procuring for him (through
his, Mr.. st. Clairs, Influence as COM
lnissioner) a profitable printing conces-
.aion. He succeeded. Mr.. Taney re-
ceiyed tho concession and his newspa-
per became friendly TO the Worlds Fair
appropriation. The concession surpass.
eaIMr. Taney's capacity to gil, and for
mutual convenience and profit Mr.. Ia
1iey and Mr.. Gonkey merged their con-
cessions and organized company.
tThis, as We understand 1t, is Mr.. st.
Clair's account Of all he knows about
the Conkoy concession. We accept the
version and we accept also Mr.. ST.
Clair's donial that, in his dealings with
Mr.. Tanoy, he was influenced in the
least bya desire to secure the support
OF Mr.. Taney's newspaper in aid OF Mr..
St olairs prospective candidacy Tor the
Eannto.