Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-20
MR.. ELKlNs. ARMY RECORD.

Il
| convenient 10 be absent from the capital
this week during the reunion of the Grand
/ Army of the Republic Last evenings
/ dispatches announced the fact that Secre-
tary EIkins was 'ill.n He'll not be there
| Chicago Herald.
The charge direct is made that Mr..
ELKINs' illness, which was bulletined
all over the country, but which it has
been so difficult to obtain accurate in
formation about, although nearly every
prominent paper wired to this city and
to their Washington correspondents for
particulars, was not illness at ali, but
preconcerted excuse for the absence Of
the Secretary Of War from the Encamp-
ment Of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie at Washington.
The REGIsTER's columns are open to
Mr.. ELKINs for denial of this accuse
ton and also that contained in the
following letters furnished by the
Washington correspondent Of the Chi
cago Herald. ''T. r. JONES, of Pueblo,
Col.," says this correspondent, 'who is
vouehed for by scores OF people, was so
astounded when he heard that exPri-
vate STEVE ELEISs, c. S. A., had been
appointed Secretary Of War that on De-
cember "A, 1891. he addressed commu-
nication TO the Albuquerque Citizen, in
which he said:
have known Steve EllSins as far back
as l can remember anybody except my own
family. / think il was about 1850 that we
/ first met as boys together in Westport,
Mo, and for years we were together
great deal.
| His father was man of limited educa-
ton, and was at one time stage driver.
His son was bright boy, and after going
/ through the schools az Westport went 10
college at Lexington, Mo, where he grad
uated, afterward taught school and en-
| gagged IN such work as could be had until
! the war broke out, when he went into the
| Confederate army under General Sterling
Price. In 1860 we were both employed 0y
| freighter 70 accompany wagon tram
over the plains, and made the trip from
\ WeStpOrt, Mo. TO MeSSilla, N. M. In the
winter of 1864 Steve began reading law
with judge Knapp at Mesilla and the next
wear was admitted 10 the bar. He began
| the practice of law at Santa Fe, and since
that time has been pretty well known all
| through the west, and for many years has
| been we'll known all over the country.
He was first married to Miss Jacobs, who
died many years ago, and be since married
the daughter Of ex-senator Davis, OF west
Virginia
Also the following letters from Judge
DowNs, Of New Mexico, STEPHEN B.
ELKINs' late place OF residence, written
| to President HARRISON after the news
OF his appointment Of ELKIYs as Secre-
tary Of War:
SANTA FE, n. M, December II, 1891.
To Benjamin Harrison, President OF the
United States, Washington, ID. C.:
Your appointment of S. B. Elkins, who
had neither the physical nor moral courage
10 be on either side or the late war, is an
insult to every Federal and Confederate
| soldier His conduct has been such as TO
| bring reproach and shame on the Repuoh-
can marty. FRANCIS Downs,
OF First Wisconsin Battery and Forty
ninth Wisconsin Infantry.
SANTA FE, n. NJ, December Is, 1891.
To Hon. j. NJ RllsE, Washington, d. c.:
Appointment of Elkins, who was false to
/ both sides in the late war, is an insult 10
every Federal and Confederate soldier.
Confirmation seals the fate Of the Repubh-
can party in next election, especially in
| Wisconsin and Minnesota, among the vet
Grams. FRANCIS DOWNS,
OF First Wisconsin Battery and Forty
ninth Wisconsin Infantry.
Judge Downs received no answer
that was satisfactory, and wrote another
letter to the President, which is very
interesting. 1t read:
Upon your appointment OF S. B. Elkins
as Secretary of War / exercised my prlvl-
lege as an American citizen to protest
against 10. 1 felt then, as l stu feel, that
my services in the Union army for four
years during the war gave me an addi-
tiOnal right TO protest.
1 might have rested here If had not seen
from the newspapers that Mr.. Elklns, by
means of purported interviews, was falsi-
fying his record and endeavOring 10 play
the role of a staunch Union man and
Federal soldier during the dark and trying
DAYS Of the war. AS these interviews are
over the signature OF well known sud re-
sponsible correspondents who purpOrt to
give, in many instances, the exact language
used by Mr.. Flkins, the falsehOod rests
upon HIM. Mr.. ElkinS says, in an interview
published in 1892: AFTER the war de-
cided to go West" The official records of
this territory show that in December,
1854. s. B. El1ins was member Of the
House Of Representatives OF New Mexico
from Dona Ana county; the war had GER
tainly not then closed, and =. Is. El6lns, 70
have been eligible, must have been IN this
territory for some time prior to his cleo
ton.
When and where did he serve in the
Union Grmyl Nowhere. What did he doi
After the dis6anding OF the famous Mis-
| souri, Home guards, Of which ne boasts so
much OF having been Captain, be followed
his father and brother John, who had
Joined the Confederate General Sterling
Price, who was then in Missouri In the
crst battle IN which they were engaged
our valiant Secretary of War ran away,
according TO the statement which his own
father has made in the presence OF many
| respectable gentlemen residing In SANTA
RE. rs well as IN many other parts IN the
territory. The next that was known OF
him he was out here in New Mexico, where,
according 70 the record l have given, ne
| must have arrived IS early as 1868.
While ne may not have been regularly
/ enrolled as a soldier In the army OF General
Price, he was with it and ran away.
His father and brother were violent Sc
cesSlCnlStS ana adhered 70 the southern
cause until the end. But what services
did :. B. Eikins render the Union cause.
| None, except TO run away from the Con-
! federate army and abandon his father and
/ brother
Six thousand FIVE hundred men were
mustered into the service Of the United
States in the Territory Of Mexico during
the time 5. 3. Elkins was here, but have
| failed 90 find anywhere in the records OF
this Territory or in the State of Missouri
that :. 3. Elkins ever rendered any mill