Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-24

help he can get, but I believe be will
win IL Is t8O early 10 figure even APP
prOximately on the probable size OF his
majority, but for the present 10 Is
enough 70 know that, barring untore-
seen events, he is 10 be reelected. de
himself believes this now, and that
means a great deal more than II would
10 the case Of most candidates, for be
never comes 20 such a conclusion until
he can have DO reason 20 doubt it.
For the first time since be returned 20
the district. be said, In q public speech
70 the 5000 people who gathered from
100 miles around, in the Little hamlet OF
Beverly, on Thursday, that he was go
ing TO be reelected 20 the House. But
Ihave satisfied myself quite iudepend
emily OF Mr.. Wilson that hs lis right 10
bis belief found 10 so difficult TO slft
the truth from the error Ia the reports
coming 70 Washington from his dis
trict, that l went out % see for myself
what the true situation was, and, after
duigeDt inquiry, not only Of representa-
tive politicians OF both parties, but Of
representative citizens who are not pol
iticians. an convinced that Dir. Will
son is going 70 be returned 20 Congress.
POWERFUL INFLUENCES AT WORK,
There would have been no question
about IT, the normal Democratic ma
jority being about 500 votes, as, indeed,
there would be little question now OF
Mr.. Wilson's receiving an even larger
majority, II 10 were not for the fact that
Stephen B. Elkins, his iather-in-law,
May G. Davis. and the latter's broth
CT, EhOmas h. Davis, aided by generous
COnJTV buttons from manufacturers out
side Ne State. are working with all
their eNft, and skill and power 70 make
good an oNn threat TO defeat Mr. Will
sons reelection.
Mr. Elkins Is the Republican ruler Of
West Virginia, and is ambitious, as he
has been for years, 10 come TO the
UDited Safes Senate. He probably does
not hope TO make good his boast 70 sue
coed Mr. Camden this winter, but rather
10 Succeed Mr. Faulkner when the lat
ter's term expires in 1899. Besides his
desire % establish control over the State
be Is animated 10 bis opposition TO Mr.
Wilson by the feeling common to all
McKinlsyites Of both parties, which is
stronger ia his case because he has
never been able 10 influence Mr.. Wilson
as he has succeeded 10 influencing other
Democratic leaders.
THE DAvIsEs ''wANT REVENGE"
II he could have defeated Wilson he
would have beaten the acknowledged
first citizen OF the Common wealth"
the Congressional leader OF Tariff Re-
form, and the man wh0SIhe could
never even APPROACH VIZ any Of his
nIne ApOliticai or Commercial. The
Ky ~ under bis per-
besides, are as
mucHN favor OF l1CkinleYiSm as be is.
They have, too, 5Ome personal griev-
soces against Mn Wilson, Henry G.
Davis In PARTICULAR, thinking, rightly
or wrongly, that Mr.. Wilson deprived
him OF The much coveted honor of going
20 the Chicago Convention In 1892 as
the Delegate-at Large from West Vir-
ginia.
These three men practically own the
West Virginia Central Railroad, which
runs through four counties In the
heart OF Mr.. Wilson's district, aad the
towns, coal mines, the timber and the
lands along the greater portion Of their
railway. They have great wealth, and,
therefore, great power. IL they had
the confidence and esteem OF all their
hundreds OF employees and DeiEhbors
because they had always acted fairly
and generously with them, their power
might De Irresistible, and, In all proba-
bHity, would detea, Mr.. Wilson.
MONEY ONLY TO FIGHT WILSON.
But il is notorious an over West Nir-
81. "a rr.rarnn ALL THAR
operations I'm such way as 20 make en-
emies rather than friends. Their par
simonious economy is a matter OF com
mon Jest. IL is characteristic OF them
that no one suspects them spending
any more OF theif 6Wn mons than they
can possibly help, even % sscure the
much desired defeat OF Mr.. Wilson.
There are evidences that they have
plenty of money 20 spend for this pur-
pose, but 10 is universally believed 10
the district that they have gotten 10
from Mckinley manufacturers aud
others outside the State Of West Nir-
qinia. Mr.. Elkius aud his former Star
Route partner, Richard C. Kerens, Of
81. Louis, who is also interested In their
West Virginia enterprises, being gener-
orally named as collectors.
This spirit Of parsimony has motor
iously kept them In more or less ire
oaent trouble with their wOrkmen, and
mas also notOriouslY kept their returns
20 the tax assessors at a very low point,
10 the dissatisfaction Of the community
generally.
BOGUS CALAMITY HOwLs.
They are not popular among any
class ana can only secure what they
ask politically Of the people by coercion
or eorruption. Mr. Wilson's managers
propose 70 make this IS difficult for
them 10 do as possible and they rely
mon the independence, the intelligence
and the integrity OF the people along
the West Virginia Central generally 70
aid them. They realize that this is the
danger centre, but they believe that the
EIkins-Davis syndicate will neither
he able to buy nor buildOze
enouVh voters there or elsewhere
10 change the majority In the dis
( trict. They do not fear the tariff
snesch which Mr.. Elkins has had type
written and which be reads Ia town
after town as be goes around the dis
trict and the State in his private car,
for they believe that the people thor
ougblv understand that the object les
son which is its chief support given by
tbs Elkins-Davis management in reduc-
ing the number Of days work In the
mines and lumber industries is piece
of political trickery, In view Of the fact
that every other mine, every other lum-
her interest and every other industry Of
tit-, oh,roctar in the district including