Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-24

as to trusts and combinations OF cor
porate power and influences. It is
useless to try to cover up truth with
sweet sounding words and phrases. We
are unalterably opposed to the COM
bination of wealth for the purpose of
checking honest competition in bust
ness. Yet Notwithstanding this fact,
and the further fact that such will be
a part, of the coming Democratic plat
form, there are those who go pacing
over this State in search of aid and in
fiuence for certain offices, and when
asked by what right they seek such an
honor, they unhesitatingly say by my
close confidential relationship with the
railroads and other corporate inhu-
ences, all of which | have at my beck
and call.
Most certainly the Democratic party
cannot be hoodwinked with such
scull-dugery. The corporate influ
ences may be with certain individuals
in the Democratic party before the
nomination, and so long as they can be
used profitably, but every intelligent
Democrat knows where they will be
when the voting comes. Yet these
great political lights dare declare:
ers."
The time is ripe for the Democratic
party to demand that such influences
cease debating nominees, and go into
it's own fold and select men who are
able and competent to discharge the
duties of their Offices, and fulfill the
pledges it makes TO the people.
Again the time has not come when
the party can afford to surrender to
those who left it in 1896 all of its
birthright. The time is at hand for
them to come back. and the party is
willing that they come back into the
party and aid and assist, like the rest
of the party, in bringing about success
this fall But it is asking too much,
that the party shall, when a demand is
made, turn over it's all in order to get
them to return. The Democratic party
is party of the people, and ought not
and will not be used by those who
leave it at will and come back only
when their interests demand their re-
turn.
There is an influence at work in
this State and in our party to place
such candidates before our conventions
and ask the party to accept them.
More than this there are men who
come to this city, who were Demo
Gratis, and who now profess to be but
vote the Republican ticket, and adj
vocate the nomination by the Demo-
cratic party of certain men for high
State offices. They fiatter themselves
that they have done a great good to
the party in offering it their services
In this behalf.
Consistency, thou art a jewell
1t is said there is a conspiracy in
this city composed chiefly of 1896
Democrats to go out of their own coun-
ty to find suitable men for high posi-
lions. Attic same time they are en-
deavoring to shape the legislative de-
partment so that, should the Demo-
Gratis be successful they may prevent
the election of a caucus nominee of
the party for the Senate and with the
promised support of the Republican
party along with those whom they
might own, they hope to find way for
their man into the United States SEN
ate.
In short, the Democratic party needs
its best men and it's statesmen at its
helm at this time. There is no time
now to be spent upon candidates who
have nothing to show for their fitness
and their strength except that which
the party is pledged to destroy, nor
ought it to- mince words with those
who seek to destroy it at their own
sweet will, and whisper sweet moth
ings in its ear only to deceive.
X Y.
Parkersburg, W. Va, May %, 1900.