The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-21

~ 10 Well Ill WTlLlllE tnC history OIL tho
times, to DO lure that it is perfect In nil
its details. Byfollowing this rulo future
disputes will be avoided and postority
will not DO mlsled. There is M incident
in tho history Of politics IN West Vir-
Ginia which had an important bearing
on the destiny OF ono OF her disting-
uishod citizens, but which, though told
many times, is seldom detailed correctly.
Since the Hon. William L. Wilson has
gained q worldwide fame as a tariff
smashcr, current literature has become
burdencd with biographical sketches OF
him. Tho various stories ii his early
life, his education, his services in the
southern confcderacy, his career rs
n lawyer and college professor, all agree
in tho essential details, but there the
similarity ends.
The 1NTELLIGENCER is panied 10 note
that in tho accounts OF Mr.. Wilson's po-
litical career Of twelve years the various
statements dllIer as to when, where,
how and by whom the great smashor OF
American industries was discovered.
The Christopher Columbus OF this i'm
portant event is almost as numerous as
the original Cleveland man. 1t has not
been SO long ago, however, that it ia i'm.
possible todetermine to whom tho honor
belongs.
The New York World recently printed
a biography OF Mr.. Wilson, in which
there appears an interview with his old
law partner, Col. George Baylor, OF
Charlestown. Mr.. Baylor describes tho
discovery OF the Second district con-
gresham as follows:
There was n big row and n split In the Demo.
cratic convention. Two clndidatcswere put up.
! was one OF the committee appointed 10 bring
about n settlement; of the difficulty. l saw Il
good chance and showed Wilson in"
The 1SrELLIGENCEH does not charge
Colonel Baylor with an intent to claim
credit which is due to another, but it
desires that the facts OF this interesting
history shall be preserved. 1t was in
1882 hat the IIose and Lucas fight ior
the Democratic nomination in the Sec.
ond district resulted in n split in the
convention and tho nomination of both
rivals. 1t looked blue for the Democ.
racy about that time and it required
cool heads to bring about a settlement
OF the trouble. This could only he
done by drawing off both mon and
nominating n compromise candidate.
Prof. Wilson was president OF the
State University and had never boon
'in politics." lie had no more idea of
ever going to Congress than he has now
OF mending his ways. In the convention
that met to select the compromise man
was Col. joint. McGraw, OF Grafton, one
OF the shrcwdest politicians in the state.
He was an admirer OF Mr.. Wilson and
for tho very reason that that gentleman
had never nodded with politics and
WAS free from %cntanGling alliances, tho
colonel urged that he was the very man
to heal the orencs between tho two
factions. The suggestion vas adopted,
and in tho 1NTELL1GENCER's report OF
the convention, which was held at Pied.
mont, September 20, 1882, is tho follow
ing paragraph:
Prosecuting Attorney John T. Nc
Graw, OF Taylor county, made Il fine
speech-the finest of the day-in which
he nominated W. l.. Wilson, OF Jeler-
son county, president OF the university.
9 9 Wilson was nominated bv &C.
clnmation."
This is, in brief. tho history OF his
entry into public Lie. and this is why
Col. John T. McCiraw will 20 thunder.
ing down in history as tho d~iscoyerer OF
the greatest tariff tinker and industry
smasher OF tho uGc.