Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-02-02
ELKINS THE Law BREAKER

Last week the tIeNlHW FP1STTel 10 u
suit pending in the United States Dis
trict Court, before Judge Dayton, at
Parkersburg, wherein Senator Elkins
and his bob-tailei railroad down in
Preston and Mongolia counties were
charged with having violated his own
law in refusing to furnish & ears
10 the Fulmer Coal Company and
the question was raised whether Sen
ator Elkins was really a law maker or
law h.eaker. Since that time some
evidence has been adduced i'm the trial
Of the case which, if true, would indi-
cate that the Senator is prominently
entitled to the title of law breaker.
One, Spates Brady, Civil and Min
ing Engineer of no little distinction,
whose reputation for truth and vera
city has never been attacked or ques-
ton ed, testified on the witness stand
that he had been employed to go and
examine the plant of the Fulmer Coal
Company for Elkins, with view of
the latter purchasing it; that after
wards he heard Senator Elkin's tell the
latter's son, David Elkins, that if they
could not squeeze the Fulmer Coal
Cam pany out of business he would get
through resolution to tear up the
Company's siding. 1t may be noted
here, incidentally, that this was done,
later, and that is why the Coal Com
pany brought its suit. Brady inciden
tally let out that Senator Elkins had
owned him bill of considerable mag
nitude for quite Il long lime, which he
had refused and neglected to pay, even
inviting Brady to sue for it, but that
just day or two prior to the giving of
this testimony he had received wire
from the Senator that if he would go to
Washington the bill would be paid.
The telegram was filed in evidence. a
clear inference may properly be drawn
that the Senator was anticipating some
lively and interesting testimony from
Brady, unless he could be bought off
10y the payment of the bill in question.
This is the same Senator Elkins who
is Chairman of the Inter State Com
merce Committee which has the franz
ing and presentation of the fOrthcOm =
ing bill to regulate ra lroad rates; who
has already daddied a bill, which bears
his name, to prevent discrimination
on the part of railroads as against ship
pers, What a burlcsque. Could any
thing be mire ridiculous?
What is the country coming to any
way? There are Plat and Depew,
from New York, both of whom have
been proven grafters of the worst sort,
both disgraced and discredited, who
have been and still are powerful factors
in the Republican party and in the
making of National Legislation.
There is Burton of Kansas, already
convicted of felony, al was Mitchell, of
Oregon, at the time of his death, both
leading Republicans and influential
party men and United States Senators.
Now comes the smiling and rotund
Senator from this prosperous young
Commonwealth, who stands convicted
by sworn testimony of IA reputable wit
ness, of being violator of the law
which bears his own name.
He is a candidate for reelection and
is supposed TO have cinsh on the Re
publican Machine, in this State, the
only question, apparently, AS to his
election being whether the Republi-
cans can elect a majority of the next
Legislature. Will the people of the
State stand for it? His the public con-
science become so inanimate, so be-
numbed, that they W ill allow grafters
and law-breakers to occupy the high
places of responsibility and trust in
this country, indefinitely?
| In some places they have become
aroused. New York dealt Tammanv
! and its Boss stunning blow; Phila-
| delphia struck down the grafters and
! law breakers, even the great Republi-
can state of Pennsylvania cast the in
cubus off; Cincinnati and the great
1 state of Ohio did the same. Is West
Virginia alone to remain the victim OF
corrupt and commercialized politics?
Are not her people as brave, as indie
1 pendant, as Virtuous and as enlie hten.
ed as those of other states and cities
mentioned? Where are the honest the
4 Independent and fearless Republican
newspapers in the State? Will they
remain silent?