Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-25
from a staff Correspondent.


From Staff Correspondent.
FAIRMONT, w. Va, May 24.-The
outlook for Democratic success in Ma
rion county this fall is exceedingly
bright Quite an active interest is
manifested by the Democrats in this
county on the predominating issues.
The party presents solid front, against
the present administrations policies,
having in it's ranks not only the vot-
ers who supported Bryan in his last
campaign, but the gold Democrats and
many new recruits from the ranks of
the Republican party.
to be interviewed but when interro-
gated by the writer expressed the opin-
ion that the State would go Democratic
this fall. Hon. o. S. Mckinney, when
asked for his opinions on National and
State issues, replied:
Speaking of National politics there
is no longer any question but the same
candidates for the Presidency and in
part, the same issues will be before
the people of West Virginia this year
that were presented in 1896. The is
sues on which the Democracy appealed
to the voters then will be reinforced
by the declaration of the National De-
mocracy against Imperialism and the
many acts of wrongful administration
and corruption which have become
National scandals since VIM. Mckinley
was inaugurated. On these issues l
think the Democracy is very much
stronger in this State than it was in
1896. There is no longer any appre-
hension among business men that the
election of Bryan would mean any SER
ious depression iof values, and there is
A Growing Conviction
everywhere that man of his honest
and sincere character is needed in the
White House. | do not think that any
of the voters who cast their ballots
for him in 1896 will desert him this
year, while it is evident that many
who voted for Mckinley under the I'M
preston that he was a sincere, courag-
eous and honest type of patriot have
been so thoroughly disguised with his
vacillation on public questions and his
complete subordination to the influ-
ences of the worst leaders of his party,
that they will either vote for him be-
cause he is the nominee of their party,
stay at home and refuse to vote at all.
or cast their ballots for his opponent
who represents the exact opposite in
his mental and moral make up"
"Are there many Of this latter class?'
"Of course, no one individual can
have a personal knowledge extending
to the views of great many voters.
but I know several Republicans who
have declared themselves in that way,
while do not know a single Democrat
or gold Democrat in all this section
who will vote for Mr.. Mckinley this
year"
ITO what do you attribute this state
of facts?"
81 attribute this state of facts to Mr..
McKinleys disregard of the better ele-
ment of his party and his attachment
to such men as Hanna; the control
trust influences seem to exercise over
him and the disclosure of corruption
in his ministration-army scandals,
the Porto Rican tariff, and the recent
postal steals in Cuba. The people rea-
son through cause and effect, and
when they see political jobbers have
the exclusive ear of the President and
then witness the henchmen of the job
bers footing whenever they have the
opportunity they are apt to imagine a
compliency on his part which may be
more the result of weakness than dis
honesty. But for these reasons I think
Mr.. Mckinley is much weaker in West
Virginia and Mr.. Bryan corresponding
ly stronger than in 1896. Besides the
odium which attaches to Mr.. McKin-
ley's own administration he will be
weakened by the unpopularity and bad
management of the State administra-
ton during the past three years
Would you care to express your
views on matters concerning the pres
ent State administration?
"The Republican party has been de-
claiming against Democratic misman-
agement in State affairs for twenty
five years, and many voters were in
fluenced to cast their ballots for the
Republican State ticket at the last cleo
ton in order to secure a change in ad-
ministration, believing that the good OF
the State required reform in some di-
rections and that it was good policy to
let another party have a chance occa-
sionally to look over the books any
how. These voters have been
WoefulIy Disappointed.
Not only were the Republican officials
compelled, after the closest ipvestiga-
tion, to exonerate Democratic admin
lstrations from any mismanagement OF
misrepresentation of public funds, but
their legislative committees made re-
ports of the most flattering character
concerning the admirable manner in
which the State institutions had been
conducted. In marked contrast with
this condition, the party which had for
twenty-five years been pledging itself
to reform abuses which it has been
proven only existed in the imaginations
of its leaders, has shown itself to be
utterly inefficient and grossly extrav-
agant in its management of public af-
fairs in the State, while nearly every
department and every public institu-
ton has been the subject of more OF
less scandal during its regime. The
people are familiar with the scandal in
the insane asylum, the affairs at the
University show that most reprehens-
ible business practices prevail there
while several of the other institution
have been under a cloud of suspicion
from tiroo RI firoa cinco tho pracaDt n 4