Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-10-24
AS TRUE AS GOSPEL.
A Warning that Democrats In Every
County in West Virginia Should Heed
no&
WHEELING, W, VA, OC1' ~U'
To the Editor Of the Register:


To The Editor Of the Register:
SIR:-I do not want to posa as an
alarmIst, nor pretend to have gotten a
very extensive view OF things behind
the curtain in the Republican camp, but
/ do believe there is abundant ground
for Democratic uneasness in the sltna-
ton in this State. l have not the least
doubt in the world that West Virginia
is Democratic. II her vote should DC
cast without the peculiar persuasion
that has come to be such an inseparaole
mart Of Republican methods, the State
would be strongly Democratic. But
there is nothing gained by over
confidence. 1t IS to DO feared
that this is the Democratic
situation at present. A man named
Van Meter, formerly living at Point
Pleasant, told Pittsburg Post reporter
that Ohio county would give $500 DEM
ocratic majority. Such bosh as this IS
the silliest nonsense. Reports like this
going out over the country will nave
the effect of persuading the National
Committee that West Virginia is able TO
take care of herself, when the fact Is
that the Republican National Commit
tee have cast their lustful eyes on our
fair and innocent young State with the
desperate purpose OF Turing her from
the path of rectitude. We do not have
to fight against West Virginia Republic
cans alone, but the whole present ma
tional ADMINISTRATION backed by cur
ruption fund from the protected manu-
facturers just as large as may be neces-
sary.
The tide OF public sentiment is away
from the party of high protection.
They know it and are desperate. The
good sense OF the people is asserting it.
self in a very perceptible drift OF public
opinion toward freer trade and lower
taxes; and if these things go on as they
are now going it will not be long until
the man who claims that the tariff Is
not a tax, and the consumer doesn't pay
IL. ANYHOW, will be tolerated as a mild
but hopeless lunatic, and one who still
claims that we can make ourselves rich
by taxing ourselves will be cIassed with
the perpetual motion cranks.
The real questions at issue In this
campaign are economic questions and
questions about the local rights of the
people. No one can deny that the DEM
ocratic party has the popular side OF
these questions; and by that l mean
that the Democrats are on the majority
side of these questions. In fact the
Democrats have been in the majority at
every presidential election but one
since they elected Samuel j. Tilden by
100000 popular majority. 1t Is as true
as gospel that a majority OF the people
of the United States want lower taxes
and less interference in the conduct OF
their local affairs. Events OF the last
few years show this so plainly that the
wayfaring man though a fool can not
fail TO see the situation. But do these
favorable conditions justify the Demo-
Gratis in pursuing do-nothing policy?
The Republicans have a magnificent
organization in this State-almost as
perfect as Dudley's "blocks or i've"
organization. 1t is all right for them
to have a good organization, If they
want to use it for legitimate purposes,
but if it Is to be used as u machine for
distributing corruption fund-so ar
ranged that hundred thousand dollars
dropped into the hopper at headquarters
circulates through every county, town,
township and district, where it is used
by the boodlers who preside over the
"block" OF doubtful voters-it is time
every honest man should raise his voice
in protest,
You may think that this is fairy
sketch. but | know Of it from "head-
quarters" and besides l know poor,
but honest Democrat OF Ohio county
who said that If he had only consented
he could make more money as doodle
distributor" and Blocks captain" than
he can make by his LABOR working all
winter.
In the face OF all this the Democrats
of the State seem as unconscious OF the
presence OF this corrupting octapus as
II they thought that righteous cause
has nothing to fear even In modern pol
itics.
Napoleon used to say that Providence
was always on the side Of the heaviest
guns. If we were 10 apply this 10 mod
ern politics, l think it ought to read:
providence is always on the size OF
the largest corruption fund" 1t very
trying to believe that Providence has
anything To do with such political
methods. But we learn from the Bible
that in olden times il was the custom of
Providence to sometimes Withdraw from
the scene OF action and let the devil run
things 10 suit himself. Jobs experience
is in point.
Judging from the condition OF affairs
among our various industries, looking
al the great trusts and monOpOlies pro-
tected by law-debilitsting eXcrescenceS
on the body politic-worse than any of
Jobs boils and chilblains-we must con-
clude that "standeth God within the
shadow" while JOBS old tOrmenter Is
running the machine. As l said, the
Democrats must awaken 10 the situa-
ton and do everything that can be done
to give the people the victory that pro-
tected monopoly is trying so hard TO
wrest from them.
1t will not do for the Democrats of
the State to rest secure behind the Au-
stralian ballot system. Any system Of
voting that could not in some way be
circumvented by Elkins ct al. would be
one OF the most wonderful inventions
OF the age, and would deserve to be
claSsed as u scheme little less wonder
full than new plan to get to heaven.
Word ought to be passed all along the
line to organize! organize! Counterfeit
the influence of the Republican organ
izaiion. Not by the same methods, but
by methods that will appeal to the man
hood of every citizen. 1t is surely a
travesty on free government when a
party will tax a people to the verge of
starvation, and then take advantage Of
their helpless and poverty stricken con-
dition TO tempt them to sell their man
49, F,r h-ood ~ soil THAR voto-for