Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-30
VIGOROUSLY RESENTED
Are the Inscriptions Charges Against
Mr.. Spence.

IN A WHEELING PAPER
CAUSED MUCH INDIGNATION
OVER THE RIVER. THE IDEN-
THY OF THE AUTHOR NOT
FULLY ESTABLISHED.
The absurd story concerning the
candidacy of Layosier Spence, of Mar
tins Ferry, Democratic nominee for
Congress in the Sixteenth OHIO Dis
trict, published in the Ohio State Jour
nal, OF the 9th instant, and copied in
the Intelligencer, has occasioned much
Indignation among Mr.. Spence's host
of friends in either party over the
river. Not that such falsehood and
SANDER would do Mr.. Spence any harm
at his home. for there the effect has
undoubtedly been the reverse of that
intended, but in view of the fact that
it may have percolated to remote quar-
tiers of the District a specific denial is
eemed necessary in justice to Mr..
| Spence and his Republican friends as
we'll who disclaim the use of such des-
| picable methods against a political OPP
ponent. The article was not repro
duced by the most ultra Republican
newspapers OF the Sixteenth District
which is an admission of the utter n
truthfulness of the statements therein
contained. The stuff is thought to have
been sent out from Martins Ferry, al
J though it is denied that the town con-
tains a journalistic fakir combining
the two-fold quality of mendacity and
recklessness necessary to its author
ship.
In the first two lines of the charges
against Mr.. Spence, are found state
ments SO fragrant as to be ridiculous.
1t is averred the candidate "bolted
Bryan in '96 and declared himself a
gold Democrat and has since made no
publication of his change Of faith" 1t
would indeed be hard to crowd more
falsehoods into less space and in this
respect, the author proves himself
stepped with satanic genius. The truth
of the matter is. Mr.. Spence was not
only enthusiastic for the famous young
Nebraskan when he ran for the Presi-
dency, but was a firm and. consistent
advocate of silver and the Chicago
platform, and was outsqoken and ag-
gressive in his support of both. He
encouraged the many Democratic meet
ings held in his own town during that
long and memorable campaign by his
presence, and upon one or more Occa-
sions, was presiding officer. He was
one of the original members of the
Bryan club, and was a liberal contrib
legitimate expenses of the same. Mr..
Spence has never intimated to any one
that he has changed his views in the
past three years and the FACT that he
lid not look up the mendacious author
of the scurrilous article in question
and tell him so, should hardly be taken
as an evidence that he has experienced
a change of faith"
The most contemptuous part of the
Journal story is wherein a wanton at
tempt is made to discount Mr.. Spence's
qualifications for the high Office to
which he aspires. That there is not
a man of broader mind or sounder
judgment to be found in the district is
conceded, and his capabilities when
compared with those of the Republi-
can candidate do not suffer in the least.
That his nomination was brought about
by the use of money in the hands of
heeler5 is as far from the truth as the
writer of such rot is from righteous
ness and is devoid of even the SEM
blance of fact. Mr.. Spence's nomina-
ton came to him the way all nomina-
tons should come-unsolicited and by
the free choice of unbought delegates.
The Steubenville convention, its DELHI
erations and its nominee are beyond
reproach, except from that class of
penny liners who manufacture yarns
for foreign consumption and conceal
their identity from an outraged and in
censed public.
AT the request of Mr.. Spence, who, in
an interview with a Register reporter,
resented the infamous publication of
the Journal and Intelligencer, in sub
stance as above %recounted, the Register
takes pleasure in defending him against
his INSCRIPTIONS and insidious enc
mics.
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