Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-17
The CHARLESTON LOBBY
BREAKS ALL RECORDS.
A COMBINATION OF SURE THING
GENTLEMEN HOLDING UP-THE
CORPORATIONS.
ATKINSON HAD INITIATION
OF WHAT WAS COMING, BUT THE
BILKING GAME HAS PASSED
ALL EXPECTATIONS.
Snecial to the Register.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, January 16.
! The lordliest lot Of looters that ever
lined up in legislative lobby have
gathered here for the purpose of turn
ing an honest penny while the peoples
representatives are at workfor the good
of the State, and other things. The
scheme by which they are expected to
cop the shekels is the most compre-
hensive and deep laid that has ever
been known in this section.
The lines were laid weeks before the
meeting of the session, and when the
time arrived for the gang to assemble
here they were ready to come in
force, and each member was prepared
to carry out his part
The idea was to hold up every cor
poration that does business in the
State, and which has a treasury worth
attacking. In forwarding this plan
the gang sent out circular letters to
the corporations telling of inimical
legislation that was to be enacted by
the present legislature unless some
thing should be done to head 1T off.
Attention was called to the fact that
the body was largely Republican, and
that if anything was to be done to pre-
vent oppressive anti-corporation en-
actments, it must be done through the
influence of the political friends of
the members.
1t was pointed out that the corpora
ton attorneys of the State were al
most universally Democrats, and that
it was unwiSe and unsafe for mat
ters to be left in their hands, as they
would be lacking in
The Requisite influence
to defeat the threatening measures. 1t
was also pointed out that the Republi-
cans were the friends of progress and
development, and were therefore the
real friends of corporations, and that
their friendship should be rewarded.
So long ago were these lines laid,
and so widespread was the knowledge
of them among Republicans. that Gov
ernor Atkinson must have heard some
thing of them, for he made a recon-
mendation in his message for legisla-
ton, well designed to reach just sucn
a case. The personnel of the combine
is one we'll calculated to startle those
t1rf0 G..
tegrity of politicians, for it embraces
men high in position and strong in in
fiuence, as well as of character that
has hitherto borne fair repute.
After arriving here the first thing
attempted to be done was to capture
the organization of the two houses, a
feat that was accomplished in part at
least. 1t is possible that the officers
elected by the combine are not them
selves aware of the fact that they are
the benehciaries of such influence
but before the session is over they
VIII be made to feel that they are
debtors to it, and will demand full
payment for everything it did for
them.
1T is not believed the real attack
has yet begun; but that for some rea-
son it is being held, perhaps to see if
terms cannot be made without
Going Into an Open Fight
But no man can tell how many
among the avalanche of bills intro
duced so far have been inspired by
the combine, though probably with
out the patrons of the bills knowing
anything about it.
- 1t need not be doubted. however. that
the combine has its friends on the inside
ana the TACT Will be made so PLAIN before
tne END OF the session that every man
can see 1t. In case of failure TO frighten
the corporations by these seemingly
chance attacks it is proposed to make an
onslaught that will be unmistakable in
meaning and absolutely certain in results
&c Is further known that at least one
member OF the present administra ton is
tn the deal. or else has a side show of
bis own OF the same kind. for he has
written at least one letter to a wealthy
corporation calling attention To thu ia
that he Is in a position to render II val
uaDle assistance IN preventing undeslr-
able legislation, at so much per render
II is, taken in its entirety the most
stupendous scheme for a hoId-up that has
ever been organized in this country in
connection with State Legislature and
is likely. before the winter is ended 10
bring some pretty we'll known and hith-
erto respectable names into unpleasant
and unsavory notoriety