Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-02
TIE VIRGINIA DEBT.
Some Facts and interesting Disclosures
Concerning 1t Which Are of Tremendous
Interest to the People of West Virginia.
,.Io.t<,., w L. o. 1cnQ


Interest to the People of West Virginia.
Charleston, w. Va, Oct. 81, 1898.
To the Editor of the Register
l have carefully read all that you
have printed concerning the Virginia
debt question and the effort to saddle
$15,000,000 Of that debt upon the people
of this State. but you do not tell half
that is known concerning the effort to
put that scheme through the Legisla-
ture nor half that can be proven con-
corning the connection herewith Of
Mr. Stephen B. Elkins and many other
well known and high standing Repub-
licans. | know it is very difficult to
get evidence on this matter because
most of those who are acquainted with
the inside facts regarding this attempt
to saddle third of the Virginia debt
onto this State are themselves involved
and they decline to turn States evil
dence. However, | know that Senator
Elkins was in the scheme and there
are a number of persons who can be
made to testify to that fact if their tes-
timony is necessary. 1t is also known
that the certificate holders offered to
compromise with the State for $3,000,-
600, and were willing to spend third
of that sum if necessary to get the
thing through the Legislature. The
lobbying and scheming were begun at
the beginning of the session of 1895
and continued until near the close,
when it was finally abandoned. be-
cause, as you have frequently stated in
your columns, of the Edmiston resolu-
ton, which precipitated the issue di-
rect, and before the schemers were
ready for it, You will remember that
the EdmiSton resolution after having
passed the house was given to Mr.. Joe
Brady, Of Wheeling, to deliver to the
Senate, also that he failed to report 1t,
and that when questioned after lapse
of time he left for Wheeling. There
he made the explanation after time
that the resolution was locked up in his
desk in the capitol at Charleston.
When finally delivered to the
Senate the resolution was hung
up in committee. All this
time the lobbying was going
on at the liveliest kind Of rate, it being
difficult work to get the members into
line on this thing. When it appeared
their efforts were about to fail Mr..
Elkins was sent for. He came from
Washington and held conference
with the debt schemers. But it was
found that the Edmiston resolution
could not be downed for it drew the
Issue too sharply, and the ma ter was
abandoned for that session. These
and other facts are suscep-
tible of proof in a court
of justice where men can be forced to
testify. but it is difficult to get at the
facts by voluntary testimony from
them, especially before the coming cleo
ton.
However, I am unable to quote no
less a person than eX-Congressman
Dorr, who has voluntarily stated that
in 1895, about the time Senator Elkins
received the Republican caucus nomi-
nation for United States Senator at
Charleston, he (Mr Elkins) invited Ger
tain 4 prominent Republicans to his
rooms a. the Hotel Ruffner, among
wlsbm were Mr. Hart. of the Intelli
gefcer, and several others, for the pur-
pkse of taking into consideration and
,~fnder Amusement the propriety of the
Legislature of that year making pro-
vision for the payment of West Vir-
ginia's alleged share of the State debt
of Virginia, represented and known by
what is commonly called the Virginia
deferred certificates" that Senator Ell
kins favored it and spoke for it, as did
also Mr.. Hart and several others; that
Senator Farr and himself opposed and
denounced it and threatened to expose
the whole scheme if it came before
the Legislature. Mr.. Dorr said that
he himself had not been invited to the
conference, but was there; that the
other Republicans present were there
uDon the express invitation of Senator
Elkins for the purpose mentioned; that
the whole subject was fully discussed.
Mr.. Dorr told in the most positive and
express terms. over and over again.
about the caucus and its object, and
said that whenever it was denied by
any Republican of standing. in a public
utterance, that he would give his con-
sent to use his name as authority for
the statement He was very severe
on Senator Elkins. and when reminded
that the Senator might deny participa-
ton in the caucus and his connection
with the debt subject, he said rcpeat
edly that Senator Elkins was a con
stitutional prevaricator,' and could
not tell the truth upon political SUBJ
jects. He spoke of his infdelity to
promises. his duplicity about the
Charleston postofiice, his disposition
to subordinate and dominate the West
Virginia Congressman, his (Dorr's) in
ability to accomplish anything for his
political constituency or to even con-
troll the political patronage belonging
$ to his Congressional district, his own
personal independence and defiance Of
Senatorial control. the subserviency of
certain Congressman from West Vir-
ginia TO Elkin's will, and his general
disposition to boss the State.
Furthermore, as you doubtless know,
Mr. Editor. Mr.. J. HOD Woods, Demo-
cratic candidate for State Senator in
the Tenth Senatorial district. spoke
freely OF the debt question and of the
caucus both in Webster and Lewis
counties, and on the 18th inst, vas 1T
Weston, at a meeting at which MI Ell
kins spoke, at the Opera House, which
was well filled. and at which MI
Woods was. with other Democrats, a
quiet spectator. Senator Elkins had
urged his audience to vote for Mr..
Dovener and not for Mr.. Blair for
Congress in the First district: to vote
for Mr.. Baker and not for Mr.. Woods