The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-16

THE INTELLIGENCER.
WHEELING, DEcEMRna 10, 1907.



z A New York dispatch which appeared
in the Intelligencer of Monday, purport-
ed to give an interview with ex-Gover-
nor W. A. MacCorkle, in which that dis
tlnguished gentleman spoke of the
growth of protection sentiment in the
south, and accounted for the Republican,
izing of West Virginia by saying that the
state was opposed to free trade.
In view of the eX-governor's well
known hostility to the effort that was
made by Mr., Wilson to place West yIr-
glnia products on the free list and his
appearance before the ways and means
committee to protest against that effort,
the Intelligencer did not doubt for mo-
ment that he was correctly reported in
the New York dispatch; 1t still believes
that the ex-governor entertains such
views, though It cheerfully accepts his
statement, when, In an Interview in the
Charleston Gazette. he denies having
given an interview to New York repor-
ter. II is the wording of this denial that
possibly causes Colonel McGraw's organ
to so eagerly display it,and comment upon
Il in a way that causes the reader to
wonder whether the editor is really try
ing 10 vindlcate Mr.. Maccorlsle, or to
read him out of the free trade party.
We do not desire to cast any rehec-
ton on the sincerity of the ex-governor's
denial of the New York interview. In
deed. we are glad that he does deny It in
the language that he uses, for after an
alyzlng 1t we fail to see where the state
nents made in the denial place the dis
tlngulshed gentleman in any other light
than that in which the purported inter-
view placed him. Here Is the denial as
II appears m the Charleston Gazette:
The above telegram was shown TO the
Ex-Governor last night. 81 never said II,
he exclaimed as soon as he had read II.
The governor was especially vigorous In
denying that he had said that the south
needed protection. what | ala say nc
said, was that as long as we have pro-
toctlve tariff the south wants the benefit
OF It's share OF the protection. | am a
Democrat and do not believe IN protection:
believe In Il tariff for revenue only. but II
there Is to be any incidental protection
want the south to have its share of 1t, As
TO Mr.. Wilson, j never made that state
ment. But have differed with him and y
Il generally known that we have differed;
! spoke In kindly terms Of Mr. Elklns, as
always do, for he has brought great dcal
OF capital into the state and helped to
build II up. l did not say what the repor-
Ter attributes TO me and II had known
there was n reporter present would not
have said anything. All that did say was
In private conversation and not for pub
llcation,"
The tntelligencer has great respect for
Ex-Governor MacCorkle, as man OF
conservative views on the question of the
tariff and other issues involving the well
fare Of the country, and in view Of this
fact It claims the right to point out that
the difference in the conservatism as ex-
pressed In the language of the alleged In
tervlew in New York, and that as ex-
pressed In the Charleston interview Is
about the difference between tweedledee
and tweedledum.
The New York talk; which the ex-gov-
ernor gays was incorrectly reported. sim
ply represented him as saying, In effect.
that protection sentiment was growing
in tho south, that he differed with Mr..
wilson: that the Democratic majority
became a Republican majority after the
latter gentleman began to agltate free
trade In this state, and that Senator FL
kins is a progressive Republican whom
the people would rather have in the sem
ate than Republican who has no
special interest In the state. Now. the
question arises, what is the object Of
Colonel McGraws senatorial organ In
getting an interview from The ex-gover-
nor. who Is understood also to have his
eyes cas-. In the direction az the senate
chamber whlrh practically makes him
verify these sentiments?
Thls. takenwltht the fac, lhateoma DEM
ocrats are openly charging Mr. Maccor.
kie with being Republican at heart
ana are even yet denouncIng him for
opposing FREE coal and free lumber, Is
Quite subjective. Painys taken to show
that the governor did not say "tha "sonth
needs protection" nut that he did say
the merely wants her share Of IT," The
difference In santImcr. can be discarnel
with tie aid OF magnlfynE glars, per-
hars.
But this guhjcci NJ the "ylndIcallon' Of
4 distinguished Wcat Virginia Democrat
from the charge of treason against tho