Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-28

Eh-1f1E-HlNE h Dis 1hlCl LIN
CONGRESS THE REFORM CLUB
OF BALTIMORE WANTS TO
BACK HIM-AN ANTI-HEELER
CANDIDATE
Yesterday Mr. Robert P. Scott, the
millionaire citizen of Cadiz, o., who es-
says to run for Congress in the Six
teenth Ohio district, was making tour
of the river towns in Belmont county
and when talked to by the Register
reporter conversed entertainingly OF
his plans, prospects and ambitions. Mr.
Scott, by his open letter, the salient
feature of which was a choice bit Of
sarcasm embodying a proposition to
put the Republican nomination up at
public auction and knock it down to
of much newspaper attention through
out the State and country. He, him.
self offered to start the bidding at $10,-
600, and yesterday he jocularly an
nounced he would raise it $4,000 if the
people were satisfied to have it done
that way. According to the original
proposition the money is to be devoted
to educational or charitable purposes
and thus prevent the corruptive infu-
ence of Doodle in politics. Of course
Mr.. SCOTS purpose is to shock the peo-
pie into a realization of the true con-
are involved by Offering to do openly
and above board what others do by
stealth and secret At first the people
of the district were inclined to consider
Mr.. Scott a brand new joke, but as the
lesson he has taught them begins to
soak in, he is looked upon more serious
ly and is now counted a real factor in
the contest.
The object of the Cadizean's tour OF
the district at this time is to acquaint
himself with the lay of the land and
meet the people. He makes no pre-
clans, who, as might be expected from
a perusal of Mr.. SCOTS political creed,
are not enthusiastic for his nominal
ton. His support is looked for from
the class who believe in reform and
purity in elections as we'll as honesty
and uprightness in the discharge of Of
fetal duty.
Said Mr.. Scott yesterday: CAS- you
know, l am limited by the Garfield law
in my expenditure in attempting to Sc
cure this nomination. In fact | have
almost reached the allotted sum al
ready. Of the 1923 which l am at lib
erty to spend, $500 has already gone,
principally for advertising my plat
form The Reform Club of Baltimore
has offered to pay all expense, and
have numerous friends in the east who
would be pleased to do the same thing
for me, but this does not circumvent
the law. l correspondent with Attor-
ney General Monnett upon the subject
and he ruled that the Reform Club
could not legally perform such service
under the anti-corruption law"
Mr.. Scott will make no contest for
implies, but he will go before the pes
pie on his merits as a reformer and ex-
poets to have a good following by con-
vention day.
When asked about the Central Com
mittee in his own county declaring for
General Hollingsworth, Mr.. Scott said
THAT will not keep me from getting a
fair share of delegates there all the
same. | also have reason to believe
will have a following in Jefferson
county and elsewhere in the district"
Said he, Il am thoroughly in earnest
and those who think I'm not will
change their opinions later. Yes, my
name will be presented to that conven-
ton most certainly"
Mr. Scott will attend the committee
meeting at Martins Ferry to-day, after
which he will go to Monroe county, and
thence to his home at CadiZ, where he
will prepare third and final statement
for publication.
Personally Mr.. Scott impresses one as
thinker and a person capable OF ac-
complishing as much as social and
political reformer as he has in the field
of mechanical invention.