Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-19
TUB REPUBLICAN TRUST
IN WEST VIRGINIA.


it should cause the indignant protest of
every self-respecting voter in the State,
be he Republican or Democrat. This
trust had its INCEPTION with the advent
of Stephen B. EIktns into West Vr-
ginia politics. In 1891 the people of
this State were apprised that a great
honor had been conferred upon them
by the appointment by President Harri-
son of one of ''her distinguished sons
to the portfolio of Secretary of War.
This favored son" proved to be Ste
phen B. Elkins, millionaire politician,
who at the time of his appointment
was not a bona fide resident of this
State. In 1895 Mr.. Elkins, by methods
devious and questionable, was elected
to the United Staes Senate. Since that
ume his foot has been firmly planted
on the necks OF the voters of this State.
Owing to his methods of resorting to
Doodle, corruption and fraud, importa-
ton and colonization of negroes from
Virginia North Carolina and the Dis
trict of Columbia, and other nefarious
schemes he mas succeeded in defeating
and subverting the will of the people.
Mr.. Elkins has formulated ring OF
political tricksters, of which he is the
autocratic center This ring, or polit-
ical trust, is composed of chronic office
seeking Republicans, most of whom
are recent importations from the border
States. In us inception the trust only
included three principal stockholders,
viz, Eikins, Scott and White, all OF
Chic. Of later years, however, this oc-
.ppus has permeated every section OF
the State with its strangling influences.
| 1t has absorbed all the small Republi-
can organizations. In dozens OF in
stances it has completely frozen out
| many influential Republicans from
participation in the party's councils.
| The trust has a curious "cat-o'-nine-
tails" with which TO lash Obstreperous
partisans into line, and the henchmen
do not fear to use it. A hasty exam
| ination reveals the following disgrace
full condition in the political affairs In
this State and illustrates the far-reach-
| ing effect of this office-holding trust.
| What the strength of Fhis organization
will be II given full sway for four years
more can only be conjectured from
Here are a few facts for conSldeTa-
ton:
Stephen B. Elkfns, United States
Senator, salary $4,000; wants to be re-
elected and is using every corrupt in
fiuence within his power to elect
Republican Legislature. de is multi
millionaire, does not need the salary,
and as no one has ever accused him OF
being patriotic, he wants to be United
States Senator solely to forward the
interests and corporations with which
he is associated and not for the welfare
of the people of West Virginia. Mr..
Elkins' record will show from the time
he lived in New Mexico that he has
been cloudy.
Nathan Bay Scott, Junior Senator
from West Virginia, another million
aire. was commissioner of internal rev.
enue, with a salary of $4,000 year, at
the time he was fraudulently elected to
Inc United States Senate. Scott is one
of the main financial hackers OF the
trust.
Albert B. White, Republican candi-
date for Governor of West Virginia, is
collector of internal revenue, with
salary of $4,000 year and expenses.
Mr.. White has held this office for two
years. He is chief conspirator and lord
high executioner of the trust. Mr..
White was overwhelmingly defeated the
only time his name was ever before
the people for an elective office-that
of member of the school board of Park
ersburg district, when all the other Re-
publican candidates were elected. Mr..
White favored mixed" schools for
whites and negroes.
Arnold G. Scherr, candidate for Au-
tor, sells the Moundsville prison labor
to contractors, and there is no method
of computing what his income might
be- Such CHASTITY calling is, or might
be, very remunerative.
Thomas c. Miller, candidate for State
Superintendent of Schools, is one of
the faculty at the West Virginia Uni
versity, at a salary of $1,000 year.
Judge Henry Brannon, turn-coat Re-
publican, candidate for reelection to
the Supreme bench, to which position
he was elected by the Democratic
party, draws a salary of $4,000 year.
1t is not known just when the judicial
ermine of Judge Brannon was soiled
by the touch Of this gigantic political
octopus, but he is a full-fiedged hench-
man now.
It is rumored that man named
Poffenbarger, who aspires to the honor
ed seat of Judge English Of the Supreme
Court, was at one time elected a jus
tiee of the peace in some remote dis
trict of Mason county. II seems he
would rise TO fame by leaps and
bounds" at the behest of the Elkins
syndicate.
Congressman B. B. Dovener. of the
First District, has been in Congress
since 1894, at a salary Of 5000 a year.
He has accomplished nothing; but he is
a candidate for reelection.
Congressman A. G. Dayton, of the
Second district. stands by the Armor
Plate Trust. and is candidate for
reelection. Salary, $4,000 a year.
Joseph H. Gaines, candidate for Con-
gress in the Third district, at present
enjoys the lucrative snap of United
States District Attorney; salary, s4.500
a year, and three or four men to do
the work.
James H. Hughes, Canadian by birth,
legitimate champion Of imperialism.
candidate for Congress in the Fourth
District. is now Postmaster at Hunt
ipgton. at a salary OF 800 year Mr..