Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-09-01

4 S<A&AS~4S
but last Wednesday week in Parkers-
burg and secretly considered this Vir-
ginia debt scheme-their frantic organs,
the Intelligencer and the Parkersburg
Journal to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. These men constitute the Repup-
jlican State Executive Committee of
West Virginia. This meeting was ruled
by Senator Elkins absolutely, being
composed of Elkins men.
1t is a remarkable coincidence that
something over three years ago-Jan-
uary %, 1885, to be exact-while the
notorious First Republican 'sLegisla-
ture in West Virginia in twenty-five
Years" was in session and after the
Edmiston resolution had been passed by
the House and shelved by the Senate,
as stated above, this same Hon. Stephen
| B. Elkins returned from New York to
| Charleston, and the next day orr SO. as
the record shows, was circulating
among Democratic members endeavor-
| ing to get their sentiments upon the
Virginia debt scheme and the advisa-
| bility of this State meeting the 'Vir-
ginia commissioners, whose appoint
ment Wall street had secured. Now,
be it known, the Virginia commission
ers were empowered to act only on
the basis that West Virginia owed one
third of the Virginia debt, and the mo-
| ment West Virginia agreed to discuss
the matter with them she committed
herself to settlement on that basis.
This was the trap into which. it was
endeavored to lead West Virginia at
the Legislature of 1895.
Now mark this: The record further
! shows that on the Sunday following
IMr Elkins' arrival in Charleston from
New York-Sunday, January 25, 1886
Mr. Charles Burdette Hart, then editor
of the Wheeling Intelligencer, aided
Mr. Elkins in an effort to secure the
attendance of all the Republican mem
labers of the Senate at Mr.. Elkins's room
at Charleston to caucus on this scheme,
the Edmiston resolution meanwhile,
| bear in mind, having been pigeonho)ed
| in the Senate. This plan failed, but
not for want of effort on the part Of the
K then editor of the Intelligencer, at that
time Mr.. Elkins's right hand man in
| Charleston.
The object of the debt schemers
was to BEAT THE JOHNSTON RES
OINTION and then by hook or crook
to get the Legislature to treat with
the Virginia commission, but the job
was too much uphill and too great,
the Democratic minority having been
too quick in getting the Edmiston
resolution through the House, and al
though it was held back in the Sen
ate. their opposition was too strong
to overcome The matter was finally
given up by the Disguised bosses as a
bad job for that session. AT the next
session-in 1S97-the debt syndicate
did not dare show it's head, for the
reason that it was too soon. They
have waited now for nearly four years,
but it must not be supposed they have
given UP all hopes of saddling this
| debt of millions upon the people of
West Virginia. They have nothing to
lose and everything to gain if they
get this matter through in COM
| promise or in any other shape. What
ever they could get would be clear
| profit.
That the same leaders that engin-
eered the job in 1895, but were check
mated by the Democratic minority,
have come to the conclusion together
| with their Wall street correspondents
to try it again at the next session of
the LEGISLATURE to be elected this fall
is beyond question, unless the pub
| licity the Register has given their
game lately shall scare them off once
more. The secret meeting of the Re-
| publican State Executive Committee
| at Parkersburg, at which this old
|
| nection with the advertisement Offer
| ing to submit the matter to board
| of well known Democrats of high in
| tegrity and unimpeaehable character
for adjudication being part of Wall
| streets old game under aanew and at
| tractive front, is evidence that as late
as last Wednesday week, the time of
/ the meeting referred to, the old debt
| schemers still had this scheme in their
| bonnets.
| These are bare facts from which the
! people may draw their own conclu-
! sions The Register has called upon
| Democratic legislative candidates to
| publicly pledge themselves to oppose
! this scheme in the next Legislature
! before asking the suffrages of the
! people. We have challenged the Re-
publican leaders TO do the same. The
people are entitled to know where all
, the candidates stand on this subject
and they certainly should not vote for
any one who does not show his col