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

Sptelu DIlpdna Y uH HNrHseldr,
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Jan. Twenty
years ago Stephen q. Ekins was n dele
gate in Congress from tho territory OF
New Mexico. JumCs G. Blaine was
speaker Of the house. by 4 single
speech Mr.. Elkins won national repu.
tation for himself aud secured the pas.
sage through the house, by majority oil
moro than two.thirds, of an enabling
nc, for tho admission OF New Mexico
into the union as a state. This Ia ono
OF the few instances on record OF n sin.
gle speech passing al important meas
ure in Congress. The bill was passed
by the senate, but with slight amend.
ment, and as il was near the close OF
the session, there was not time to bring
i up in the house again. thus the bill
failed 10 become law. Had it passed,
Mr.. Elkins would have been one OF the
United States senators from the new
state.
Fate decreed otherwise, but now after
lapse Of twenty years Mr.. Elkins' am.
bltion Is about 10 be realized. That he
will be the mex; United States senator
from this state is rs certain as anything
can DO In politics that has not actually
taken place. aud 1t seems that the cleo.
tion will be unanimous.
THE RECOGNIZED REPUBLICAN, LEADER.
There is an element OF poetic justice
in Mr.. Elkins' selection in view OF the
past but if he had no other claim to
the pc lion his chance OF getting it
would -s.a.im indeed. The reasons for
Mr.. Elkins' election are obvious. He is
recognized as the leader OF the fighting
Republicans OF the state. 1t 10 largely
due to his leadership and magnificent
generalship. more than to anything
else. that West Virginia has taken her
place permanently in the columns OF
Republican states. Republican success
in West Virginia last year, was no.
merely the result OF the tidal wave
which swept over the whole country.
Conservative Democrats coucede that .
radical change has been going on in this
state during the past two years, and
that il the conditions st the last cleo.
ton had been only normal, the Repub-
licans, in all probability, would have
carried the state by small plurality.
In other words. they frankly ADM: that
unless some new issue can be developed
in the future. IVES. Virginia is practi.
callyss certain to 90 Republican as Ohio
or Michigan or any Of the strong Rspub-
lican states.
When the Democrats gerrymandered
West Virginia alter the election OF 1883,
they freely made their boasts that the
Republicans could carry the state by a
majority OF 10000 to 5000 and vet be
4 unable TO secure majority in the legi..
q lature. Most OF the o!d-time Republi-
can leaders were disposed to accept this
statement as fact, but it was not SO
with Elkins. The latter had become
identified with the development OF the
resources OF the state, and be promptly
accepted the challenge thrown down by
the Democrats. The greater the OBJ.
etacie shat confronted hin, the more
determined he became 10 overcome
! them. This, 1t can be said parentheti.
cally, is ono OF Mr.. Eikins' characters.
tics He 10 ceaseless, unsiring worker
I and possesses to an unusual degree
{ what is known as American grit. The
result in this state last fall is complete
vindica.ion Of his Judgment The vic.
tory was far more sweeping than ap.
pears on the surface. Chairman vii.
sons total vote in his congressional
district was within 500 OF the vote be
received ip 1892. when he was elected
BY majority OF about 1000. Yet the
majority against him last fall was over
900. showing that his defeat was no,
due so much TO Democratic apathy as i,
was to Republican activity. Had the
Republicans relied upon Democratic in.
difference, 4 Democratic United States
senaIoc would succeed Mr.. Camden.
A MAN OF INTELLECTUAL ATTAISMESrs.
Intellectually Mr. Elkins stands in the
frat rank. Graduating at the head Of
his class at the Missouri University, a,
the age Of eighteen. Mr.. Elkins ha.
since achieved brilliant success in the
4 world Of finance and at the bar 1t i.
not too much 10 say that he is one oil
the beat lawyers in the country. II he
chose to hang out his shingle in New
York and devote him.elf exclusively to
the law, he could earn large income.
Fifteen years ago, Mr.. Elkins' income
from the law alone was in the neigh
borhood OF $4,000 year. In the
management Of his railroad. coal and
mining properties, Mr.. Elkins keeps
supervision. OF all legal matters pertain.
ing TO them, although he does not 20
into court. Throughout his active life
however, he has been close student oil
literature. At home he is moro often
found in his library than in any o,he,
part oil HE house. He reads for recrea
ton and keeps abreast OF modern
thought and modern literature. His
private library is said By Judges 10 be
one OF the finest and best selected
libraries In the country.
Few men combine so many grea!
qualities as Mr.. Elkins' career abun.
dainty shows. Hia extraordinary OK.
& ecutiye ability enables him to manage O
u presidential campaign and keep in
p touch with his various business enter.
prises at one and the same time. Yves.
Virginia Republicans believe that in
electing Mr.. Elkins senator it will helr
attract capital to the state, and also aid
materially In the development Of liz
resources. This unauestionably is true
For the past fourteen years Mr.. ElkinH