The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-01

WASHINGTON, D. G.. Feb. 2a-For tho
third time In hor short history West
Virginia has boon honored by chief
executive Of tho nation with represon.
tation in tho national cabinet. Hon.
William L Wilson was nominated by
President Cleveland to-day to succeed
Wilson S. Bissell as postmaster general.
Twice before the political importance OF
,Woat Virginia had been thu, recog.
nized-drst, IN the appointment by
President Hayes Of General Nathan
Got as secretary Of the navy. and thea
by President Harrison In selecting Hon.
S. d. Elkins rs secretary OF war.
Mr.. Wilson is chairman Of tho ways
and means committee Of the house, and
had charge In that body Of tho tariff
bill which bears his name. He was de-
icated at the recent election by A. G.
Dayton, since which time his name has
been mentioned in connection with
about every presidential office In which
vacancy occurred. His selection as
postmaster, genera! was not unexpec-
ted, rs it was understood that tho
President would provide for him q. tho
first opportunity.
WILSON'S PUBLIC RECORD.
William L. Wilson Is best known to
the country in connection with his re-
cent tariff work in Congress. He has
been tariff student since he frs. en-.
tered congressional life in 1882. but it
was not until the present Congress IS that
ho became chairman Of the ways aud
means committee, aud as such the
official leader OF tho majority in the
house. But at all times during his
twelve years in Congress he has been
rolled on by his party as one OF the most
eloquent, scholarly aud logical advo-
Gates Of tariff revision.
Prior to his first election TO Congress
in 1852 he had taken little part in
politics, except in being delegate to
the Democratic national convention at
Cincinnati. and subsequently, an elector.
at-large from West Virginia Early in
1852 he was chosen president OF the
university OF West Virginia. This
would have fixed Mr.. Wilson's sphere
Of work had it not been for q political
ruc.ion and party split at lis homo
in Charlos-Town ". Va. which was set
tied by tho opposing factions uniting on
Mr.. Wilson. Tho campaign wa, hot
one. Mr.. Wilson finally won over Hon.
John W. Mason, Republican, by nine
votes. He was theu reelected to six
successive congresses. He received good
committee assignments from tho first,
going on judiciary, appropriations aud
ways and means. His experience
shortly aftor the war as professor of
law in Columbian college, equipped
him for the work on tho judiciary COM
mittae. 1t was in tariff work, however, !,
that Mr.. Wilson found his forte and he
he made an exhaustive study OF 1t.
In tho four congressional eras OF 70.
cent tariff changes-tho. Morrison bill,
the Mills bill. tho Mckinley bill, and
tho Wilson bill-Mr. Wilson took
leading part. Ho did much OF the other
work OF constructing the Mills bill and
he and Representative Breckenridge
started on tour OF platform speeches
throughout tho east with an endorse.
mont OF President Clevcland's tariff re.
vision message.
The two orators received hearty wel-
comes in Boston and Now York, and
their eloquent speeches formed q mem
orablo ovent in the tariff discussion OF
the day. During tho Mllls-Crisp con.
test Of the Hpoakership, Mr.. Wilson
cast his lot with Mr.. Mills and when
Mr.. Crisp won, he designated Mr..
Springer chairman OF tho ways and
means committee. Whom reelected
speaker. howovor. Mr.. Crisp named
Mr.. Wilson chairman Of tho ways and
means, and in this capacity no framed
tho measure which was tho basis OF
tho pr eScnt tariff law.
lie KNEW ABOUT IT.
The fact that President Cleveland in.
tended to appoint Mr., Wilson to tho
position has been known for aeveral
days to tho most intimate friends OF Mr..
Wilson and to Mr.. Wilson himself. Tho
selection Is ono which tho President
made OF his own motion without any
urging from Mr.. Wilson's friends aud
largely in recognition of tho members
services in leading the tariff fight in tho
house.
No mombcr has boon on more init.
mate terms with tho President than has
tho chairman OF tho ways aud means
committee, aud his speeches have al
ways beom understood 10 voicN tho
opinion OF the administration. It was
noted yesterday that Mr.. Wilson's
speech upon tho amendment to tho
postotllco appropriation bill to compel
railway clorks TO live at the end OF their
rou,os-porhaps tho lns. speech hs will
mako rs congrossman-was nh earn
est ploa to Congresa 10 support tho post.
master general.
No man in Congrs,s has greater
personal popularity among mombera OF
both parties than Mr.. Wilson.
WILSON GETS THE NEWS.