The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-30
VIRGINIA DEBT
FAKE BROUGHT
UP in CAMPAIGN.
The chiltons Supposed to Have In
spired an Adroit Story in
Washington Paper.
COVERT ATTACK UPON ELKINS.
Prominent Democrat Makes Many
Foolish statements-To be Circu-
lated Last Days Of Campaign.

Special Dispatch to the IntellIgencer.
& WASHINGTON. Oct, 29.-Messrs. Joe
and VIII Chiffon. Of Charleston, ". Va,
had a conference with Mr.. Ben oxley
FAST night, in room at the National
Hotel. As a mere coincidence. 1t may
be stated that in the morning Issue to-
day Of a Democratic paper In this city,
there appeared under glaring, startling
headlines, an adroit story directly charg-
ms that some so-called syndicate is aid
Ing in the election of Republican leg
islature in West Virginia in order that
part OF the Virginia debt may be sad
died upon the state. It is not alleged
that the Messrs. Chiffon and Mr.. Oxley
Inspired the article referred to, the CO.
Incidence being mentioned as basis for
speculation-put this and that together.
After going into a history of the debt
question, which may or may not be cor
rect-it doesn't matter-the following
paragraph appears: ut is now proposed
to reopen this claim against the state
of West Virginia, set apart by Virginia
as West VIrginia's debt, which. with in
terest at per cent from 1871, added to
the principle now amounts to s25 900. 900,
very pretty sum, II West Virginia can
can be induced or forced to pay it. to
divide among those who have secured
possession OF these old bonds or so-called
West Virginia certificates"
Covert Attack Upon Elkins.
Brown Bros 6 Company, Of New
York. are referred to as the holders OF
these certificates, to the amount OF. sS.-
oo0.ooo,and the old story is recapitulated.
Then a covert attack Is made upon Sem
ator Elkins which is ascribed to a
prominent Democrat of West vlr-
ginia-" The name OF this 'pyominent
Democrat is not given-perhaps there
are three Of them The reason for this
mccesty may be that no reputable Dem
soelat will want to be known as the. .au-
thor of the inslnuutions contained In the
article.
A paragraph for which the "promi-
nent Democrat" is said to be RESPONSE
Bile, Is as follows: From the most re-
liable sources, reports are coming In
from almost every county In West Viz
Sinia to the effect that Senator Elklns
and his trusted lIeutenants are placing
thousands of dollars in each and every
county. and since 1t has been time and
again publicly asserted by Republican
authority that the Republican national
committee refused to give the party
managers any campaign funds for West
Virginia, the question naturally pre-
sents itself: From what source comes
this great amount of money being spent
In that state?"
Rehash Of Old Charges.
Preceding this is O rehash of the
charge that Senator ElkIns manipulated
legislation in Congress In the interest OF
the certificate holders and then It is
stated that the syndicate is secretly
taking an active part In the pending
campaign In West Virginia, seeking to
elect the Republican state ticket and Sc
cure a majority of both branches OF the
Legislature. and has contributed largely
to the Republican campaign fund 10
colonize negroes in the state and to cor
rupt the voters who belong there.
The charge against Senator Elklns is
made here, but the presumption is that
the paper containing 1t, will be circu-
lated during the closing hours of the
campaign in sections OF the state where
denial cannot follow. Senator Elkins'
position on the debt question was ex-
plained six months ago through the In
telligencer's Washington corrcspon.
dence. No man can truthrully charge
him with an attempt to saddle any part
of the Virginia debt upon his own
state.