Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-12-08
A DESPERATE SCHEME.

lican leaders intend to leave nothing
undone in their efforts to capture the
West Virginia Legislature, A UNI
ted States Senator must be elected by
fair means or foul. One feature OF
the steal has already been exposed
According to the Wheeling Register
the plan is to have defeated Repubh-
can candidates contest the election
of their opponents, and give the party
leaders the basis for trouble in the
Legislature. Governor Atkinson and
Secretary of State Dawson are work.
ing up the scheme, and the Register
publishes the following kilograms
which these worthless recently sent to
Capt. A. n. Prichard, of Marion coun-
ty, attempting to force him to contest
the election of his opponent, Major
Ash, who was elected by clear ma
jority of 50;
Charleston, Kanawha Co, W Va,
November 30, 1898.
Can't. A. n. Prichard, Warrington,
West Virginia-Party interests demand
contest in your case. We will pay all
EXPENSES Please wire Kendall to pro-
coed Immediately. q. w. ATKINSON.
2.05 p. m.
Charleston, Kanawha Co., W. Va,
November 80, 1898.
Capt. A. n. Prichard, Warrington,
w. Va. Republican State Executive
Committee request you 10 allow use OF
your name in contest proceedings to pro-
tect interests of Republican party. All
costs and expenses will be paid by us.
VIM. NJ. .. DAWSON, Chairman.
A. B.. WHITE, Secretary.
2.40 p. m.
1t seems to us that this is a rather
small business for the Governor of
State to be mixed in, to say nothing
of the Secretary of State and Collector
of Internal Revenue. Captain Prich-
ard, the Register asserts, will refuse
to make the contest, as he is satisfied
that his opponent was fairly elected.
The same scheme was attempted IN
Tucker county. Judge Lipscomb was
pressed to contest the election Of Mr..
Wagner, his Democratic opponent.
Judge Lipscomb refused to be party
to a contest, saying: go back and
tell Dawson and Governor Atkinson
that if they want this notice served
they will have to sign it themselves
and do the swearing. l was beaten
for the Legislature in this county,
and have no grounds for contest
against Mr.. Wagner, and l decline
to be a party to any scheme which
looks to deprive him of the seat in the
Legislature to which he was elected.
The scheme appears to have worked
trife better in Huntington, where
James H. Harshberger, Republican,
has served notice of contest on DIR.
Taylor, Democrat. The original re-
turns and the recount gave DR.. Tay-
lor majority, and the whole election
machinery, including the county
court, was in the hands of the Republ-
cans. Notwithstanding this, howev-
ever, a desperate attempt will be made
to steal the seat from DR.. Taylor.
News of a still holder process comes
from Charleston-so bold and outrage
Gus that we cannot believe that even
the most desperate politicians will at
tempt to carry it out. We publish
the scheme, however, for what it may
be worth. The statement is made
that Chairman Dawson, who is also
Secretary of State, Secretary White,
Gov. Atkinson, who is the candidate
for the Senate, and Adjutant-General
Appleton have perfected plan
whereby the Republicans will organ
ize the House and elect Atkinson to
the Senate. To insure the success Of
the plan, Adjt, Gen, Appleton, it
is said, will have 800 members Of the
State militia at the State House to
insure that no force is used to prevent
the organization by the Republicans.
Secretary of State Dawson is called
upon by law to make up the preliml-
nary roll of the House from the certif-
Gates of election sent to him by the
various county courts. He has no
judicial powers to determine who is
elected, but follows the returns made
to him. The election being close in
many counties, the Republican man
ayers have secured enough defeated
Republican candidates who are willing
to make contests for party purposes
to give the Republicans majority, if
they are seated. The statement is
that Secretary of State Dawson will,
in every case where a Republican
serves notice Of contest upon his late
Democratic opponent, place the Re-
publican's name upon the temporary
roll of the House, and the House will
be organized with the Republican con-