The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-23
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It was unfortunate that the Demo-
Gratis Of the Third congressional district
handicapped themselves by nominating
a banker for Congress. Having nomi-
mated Judge Johnston on Bryan plat
form, they are now obliged to face some
history which Mr.. Edwards, the Repub-
ilcau candidate. has NOT forgotten, IL the
convention which nominated the judge
did forget It. The dramatic scene that
occurred at Joint debate between the
two candidates (the Register viii here
note that Republicans really do take
part in debatee). when Mr.. Edwards un-
folded this history,was the outgrowth of
an order drafted by Judge Johnston. as
director and attorney for a BIueheld
bank, stipulatlng that all loans made by
the bank should be repaid in gold or its
equivalent.
This incident might have been less Sig
nlfcant had 1t not been that'th order
referred to was passed and drafted by
Judge Johnston early in 1895, at the
very time when the free silver agitation
was alarming the financial world. The
IntellIgencer does not know whether or
not Judge Johnston was consistent
enough to vote that year in accordance
with his sentiments as bank director.
Enjoying, as he does, the reputation of
being an honest man. we may fairly pre-
sumo that he did so vote. II would be
strange, indeed, II a man who insisted
on gold payments to the extent that he
would vote in bank directory for a
binding order to accept only gold or its
equivalent in payment of loans, would
sustain outside of the directory in the
same year policy that denounced Just
such a course and declared war on
bankers who advocated 1t.
1t is a very embarrassing position for
the Third district Democratic candl-
date, but much more embarrassing for
the radical free silver men Of the Third.
who so hastily permitted themselves to
work themselves into frenzy Of en-
thuslasm over the platform and the
nominee at the same time, without
knowing that each was antagonlstic to
me other. Sometime since It was an
nounced that Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, Mr..
Bryan's rival for honors of the future.
would make some speeches in this state.
Perhaps when he enters the Third dis
trlct he will be called upon to help Judge
Johnston out of the predlcament. That
failing. there will be one more hope.
Colonel Bryan himself Is now in Wash
lngton petltloning the President to order
his regiment mustered out, notwith-
standing Nebraska's quota under the
order reducing the volunteer army 1Oo.-
900 men has already bean fixed upon.
should the colonel succeed In getting
out Of the service in advance of other
regiments and their commanders who
enlisted under the last call, and who, In
Justice to the men who responded to the
frst cali, are to be held until the next
general reduction, then, perhaps, the
Third district Democrats can get his as
slstance. Taking 1t all around. how
ever, the prospects for relief are some
what doubtful.
1t isn't the only embarrassing incident
OF this nature confronting our silver
friends of the Democracy. The Demo-
cratic press-the Bryan part of it, at
least-is doing its utmost to forget some
of its assaults on the gold Democrats in
1896 The local organ in this city
wouldn't dare at this time to reproduce
some of It's editorials about TRAITORS"
and assistant Republicans" that filed
its columns just two years ago. 1t
night, seriously embarrass the prospects
of certain candidates for the legislature
In this and perhaps other counties. even
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