The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-11
THE INTELLIGENcER.
WHEELING. JANUARY II. 1900.
A Democrat Protests.


On several occasions Of late the Intel
ligencer has had the temerity 70 wrap
the self-assuming morality of the DEM
ocratic party over the knucIIles. It re-
piled in its mild and good-humored way
to the Fairmont Index, which, in speak
ing OF the contest inaugurated by Mr..
McGraw against Senator Scott said:
IF the nefarious work Of last winter
Al Charleston Is made triumphant by
the action Of the senate, It's example
VIII surely return 70 plague its perpe-
traitors in the near future"
We took the pleasant ground that II
there had been any 'nefarious work"
lying around loose at that time that
the Democratic party had satiated It's
appetite for this kind of business. The
Intelllgencer sought to be just as agree
able in manner and polite In Its seiec-
tion of phrases as It's Democratic con-
temporaries. In this we seem 70 have
failed. II the exceptions taken by Mr..
A. S. Johnston, OF Union. Monroe cOun-
~, are true. This gentleman has paid
the Intelligencer the distinguished
honor Of addressing IT in temperate.
and wIthal pleasing manner. Mr.. john
ston's main anxiety Is for information.
He shall have 1t. He excerpts to the fol-
lowing language employed by the INTEL
Igencer in an editorial on the Demo-
cratic party in this state:
In all lis history there has not been
one gleam of hope as to the sincerity Of
It's professions Of fair play. Its des-
perate and successful fight IN defeating
the win OF the people by cheating Gem
eral Coz out Of the BovernOrshlp, and
its more recent and atrOciOusly corrupt
practices in disturbing the properly
elected legislative delegates In Taylor
and Monroe counties. do not inspire the
people with any confidence In its advo-
cAcy Of a non-paTtisan supreme court.
To be perfectly fair with Mr.. John
ston-for whom we have profound es-
TEEN, although not enjoying the pleas
ure Of his acquaintance-his card shall
not be hid in an obscure part Of the
paper, while the comments are given
great prominence. His allocutiOn Is
appended:
To the Editor Of the Intelllgencer.
slr:-In your editorial Of December q
IN relation TO the agitation for a nom
partisan supreme court, you take the
trouble to charge the Democratic party
with recent and atrOciously corrupt
practices In disturbing the properly
elected legislative delegates in Taylor
and Monroe counties"
VIII you please produce the proof Of
corruption In the Monroe county case
on the part OF any one connected with
It? No Republican Of good character
in Monroe county has ever charged the
ruptlon. and do not think one can be
found now who will do 30. Where is
the proof Of the "atrociously corrupt
practices" with which you undertake
TO brand this county,
In the election Of 1898 there was q
difference Of but seven votes on the face
OF the returns between the leading leg
iSlatiVe candidates In Monroe county.
II was known that some Of the cleo
tlon commissioners, under the honest
belief that the Law required It, had
thrown out legally marked Democratic
ballots for the reason that they were
marked with lead pencil instead Of Ink.
A recount was naturally demanded. and
two districts were recounted. on motion
Of the Democratic candidate, and four
districts on motion Of the Republican
candidate. The result showed the cleo
ton OF the Democratic candidate by the
bare plurality Of flve.
Hon. P. W. Morris, whom you will
recognize az one Of the best Republi-
cans In the state. in speaking Of the
charges Of fraud. said. in his newspaper,
the Richie Gazette:
"We do not include Monroe county,
because the election returns there show
the result to be 30 close between the
Republican and Democratic nominees
for the house Of delegates that II Is nee
es0arily a matter OF much doubt as to
which may be elected"
Mr.. Morris stated the situation ex-
actly. There was never a case freeF
from fraud nor one in which the effort
to employ corruption would have been
more frultleBs.
The alleged Monroe county outrage"
having been bohstercd up with false fren-
~, and misused at the time to make eX-
cuBe for such crimes as the wanton ex-
pulsion Of State Senator Kidd until af-
ter the vote for United States senator
had been taken, IA II really necessary
now 10 continue the old bare-Eaced mis-
Representations The county OF Monroe
has borne an honorable name--whnt has
the 1ntelliEencer 20 gain by stigmatlz-
Ing ~ The Intelligencer may have
uHwittlnEiy given voice to this gross
untfuth and siander-lf 30 will Il publish
this communication. and withdraw the
charge Of "htrOclous corruptlon?"
a. S. JOHNSTON
Onion, ". Va. January 8.