The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-05


pecially men Of positive convictions like
MIR. Elkins, nbout matters claimed to
have occurred moro than twonty yeara
ago, and 2,0O0miles away. havo often
thought TINT Mr.. Elkins should make
aomo denial OF those insinuatlons. but
he said hc had no answer for moro
gonoralitiea."
Mr.. Cutron further replied: There
ts no foundation for tho charge about
Star Route matters. During the time
Mr.. Elkins resided In Warrington, aitor
his second term in Congress, ho prac.
tlced law for two years. and whilo doing
so he became the attorney for a number
OF wostorn corporations aud people,
among them mail contractors and cor
porations engaged in carrying tho mails,
and, as attorney. argued their casea be.
lore the department, aud, when II was
necessary, In tho courts, but he never
had any interest, directly or indirectly,
In any contract for carrying the mails /;
he simply discharged tho duties OF at
torncy in connection with the interest
oil his clionts, ne any other attorney
would have done, and nothing more.
and neither the postmaster general nor
tho attorney general, nor any other Of.
ticiai Ut tho government, ever claimed
that he was in any way guilty OF any
irrogularity in connection with the Star
Route matters or Mexican land grauts."
MEXICAN LAND aRASrs.
GLOW about the Mexican land
gran,s?"
II aul very glad you ask this ques.
tion, as | am able to OF this matter at
rest. Mr.. Elkius, during his residence
In New Mexico, purchased number OF
Mexican land grants. but in no instance
did he do so except where there was
good title, and where the grant had
been confirmed even before he came 10
New Mexico. The land grants that Mr..
Elkins owned were never 10 question rs
TO their title. He was attorney for the
owners OF other Mexican land grants,
but even In these cases, tho titles 10 the
same were sustained BY the courts in.
variably. and there 10 no foundation
whateYe. for the charge OF insinu.
alton that he had anything to do
with any fraudulent land grant.
lie was and is charged, | know,
with being part owner OF the famous
Maxwell land grant. This is not truo
in any sense. Mr.. Elkins was only the
attorney OF the European purchasers OF
this property, and In defending the
title in the courts, he. OF course, got the
iIl-will and opposition OF tho squatters
on this land, and their agents. The
titleto this property was not only sus.
tanned by the courts OF the territory,
but by the unanimous decision OF the
supreme court OF the United States, and
the same sqCatters aud people who
made charges against Mr.. Elkins have
made worse ones against the supreme
court OF the United States and Mr..
Cleveland tor dispossessing them under
the decision Of tho U nited States
supreme court.
TRIBUTE TO Mr.. ELEISs' CHARACTER.
81 can state tha. Mr.. Elkins never did
anything in New Mexico that initiates
in the least against his character % a
citizen, as member OF the bar or a. an
official. His private life from boyhood
has been pure aud stainless, and his
official life beyond successful assault.
No business man, east or west. has q
better business reputation than Mr..
Eikins. His credit is the highest all
over the country, He has always COIN
manded capital for all OF his enterprises,
and no man ever lost money by joining
him in any Of his business undertak.
ings. He is a very able aud and many
sided man, full OF resources, haa ripe
experience, is scholarly, widely read
and a strong and forcible debater. No
Republican in the country exerted mora
influence in tho last three national Re.
publican conventions than Mr.. Elkin..
He understands men. was always able
to impress them and is natural leader.
HE has always been contributor TO
charities, and CONSTANT mem Der OF
tho Church OF the Disciples ever since
he was in college. He has invested
largely in West Virginia properties, is
interested in tho development ofi.s re-.
sources, and is enthusiastic ovsr tho
future Of the state; and, il elected, will
make an able senator. one that will do
credit, aud reflect honor on West Vir.
einia, aud his West Virginia friends
have reason to be proud OF him." 81