Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-02
LADOR'S WISHES IGNORED
In the Appointments Made by Govern
Or-EleCt Atkinson.
Mine Inspectors for This District
Endorsed by Operators Only
Squire Rogers Appointment Not
Satisfactory-What Local Labor
Leaders Think of the Matter.


The Governor Of West Virginia fills
many offices by the exercise OF his ap-
pointiye power. Among the number
are labor commissioner and assistant,
and a mine Inspector for each OF the
three districts in the State. Inc
names of the appOintees OF Governor
elect Atkinson for commissioner ana
assistant We're published exclusively
in the Register Members Of organized
labor bodies have always contended
that the Offices named should be hlled
from the ranks OF actual wOrkingmen'
not only because that class furnishes
the bulk of the voting population, put
because the Offices were created 10
benefit labor. and a workingman would
he more familiar with the needs or Inc
people, and in other ways best quall-
fed to fill the Offices.
The wishes OF organized labor in TINS
respect have been disregarded in the
present instance, presumably on ac-
count Of the eXigencies of the political
situation. Governor Atkinson was re-
lied upon by his many friends among
the labOring classes 10 follow the
precedent by appointing only laboring
people. His friends were therefore
disappointed when the announcement
was made that w. w. Rogers was
slated for the position of assistant TO
the labor commissioner. They feel, as
labor leader put it TO a Register re-
porter yesterday. that both the labor
commissioner and his assistant should
be wOrkingmen. They object to JUS
tlce Rogers on no other ground, regard
ing him as a capable man, and a good
party man, yet they feel that If Cove
ernor Atkinson desired to reward him
it should be in some other department
OF the State government.
1t is given ont semi-officially that
Mr.. PAUL, of Tucker county, has been
promised the appointment of mine in
spector in the first of the three dis
tricts Of the State. This is the office
to which Mr.. Jere Mead, Of this city.
aspires. Mr.. Mead has been a hard
working Republican, and has been
prominent in the United Mine Work
ers of America. The national cOnven-
ton Of that body adopted resolutions
endorsing his candidacy, which were
forwarded to GOYernOr-elect Atkinson
along with personal endorsement from
prominent officials of the organization.
1t appears, however. from the state
ment of a local miner. that operators
do not look with favor upon such ag-
gressiVe fellows as Mr. Mead, and that
their influence counted with Mr.. Atkin-
son for more than the endorsement Of
miners and the L. NJ. w. of A. 1t is
alleged that several prominent Repub-
lican mine owners protested by letter
and in person against the appointment
OF Mr.. Mead.
The Register reporter saw n letter
written 10 well known miner who
lives within ten miles OF this city. in
which he sharply criucises Governor
Atkinson for his appointment Of PAUL
The writer states emphatically that the
appointment was not made by the Gov
! ernOr-elect, but by Senator Elkins, and
various corporations He states that
PAUL is not a practical miner. and as y
matter OF fact has not been employed
in 4 mine; and that no petition for his
appointment was signed by miners or
ether workingmen. either in Tucker
county, where he lives at present, or
in the town where he was born and
previously resided.
1t is understood that Mead is still a
candidate If the bill now before the
Legislature becomes a law. the State
will be divided into five districts, and
the GOvernor-elect may appoint the
Wheeling man fer the first district.
As Governor Atkinson has nov made
three appointments from Wheeling and
vicinity, il is not likely that any more
plums will fall to the Republicans Of
the upper Panhandle counties. 1t is
understood that the selection Of Mr.
Guy Scott for State Librarian. was eff
fected as a compromise. the Governor
elect having been compelled to disap-
point Senator Scott in another re-
speCt.