Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-06-15
EIl<fns Sincereg
Mr.. Editor:


kins is very anxious to be returned TO
the United States Senate at the expira-
tioniof his present term. Atthis tune
the Senator is kept conspiciously be-
the public by a syndicate of writers
who set forth the claim that Elklns
should be returned to the Senate on &C
count of his steadfast friendship for
the people. 1t is a trite sayi ng that
factions speak louder than words"
| VIII Elkins' actions, as public ser
want of the people, substantiate the al
legations of the indicate writers? we
trow not.
In dealing with Senator Elkins we
must be governed by his acts and not
by bis professions. We all make good
professions. We all make good pro-
LESSONS when the death angel is how
ering near.
1t is the purpose of the writer to
throw little sidelIght on the record OF
Senator Elkins, and leave it to the
public to decide ifthe Senator is really
the friend of the people that the syn
dictate writers would have us believe.
| We shall eschew abuse, for abuse is not
argument, and proves nothing. What
the public wants is facts.
! Just now Mr.. Elkins is heralded as
the champion of "railroad rate legis-
lationv He is the Chairman of the
Interstate Commerce conmmittee OF
the United States Senate. Such a po-
sition gives him great Power for good
or evil. Let US thoroughly scrutinize
the record of our senior senator.
We all remember the famoas letter
of Governor Dawson to Senator 1iIl-
man, in which our Governor strong
intimated that Elkins was not sincere
in his advocacy OF railway rate legis-
lation. He told Tillman that "you are
nearer" right! than ElkIns. The common
people have eXplicit faith in the honesty
of Senator Tillman, and the question
ariees why did not Dawson write Ell
kins instead of Senator rIllman, if the
| Governor believed Elkins sincere?
Again, if eur senior Senator was ON the
side of the people why is it that he OPP
posed the imprisonment clause?
But this is not all. Elkins has great
coal interests in the counties of Mo-
nongalia and Preston. He has built a
railroad from Morgantown to King
wood, which is known as the Morgan
own and Kingwood Railroad Com
pany. Thl. road is said to be owned
| by Senator Elkins and his son, Davis
Elkins. One of the mines opened
along this road Is the A. c. Fulmer
Coal and Coke Company. Then men
| operating this mine claimed that the
Norgantown and Klngwood r. r. dis
eliminated against their mines. In
other words, the railroad would not
furnish them cars for the shipment of
their product. SO the Fulmer people
brought suit in tbs u. 5. Circuit Court
against the Morgantown and King
wood r. II. The case was tried IN
| Parkerst urg before Judge Aston q.
{ dayton one OF the cDleI Wlln6SSeS loT
the Fulmer people was Mr.. A Spatss
Brady, a civil and mining engineer,
who dad been working for the Elkin.
people. Mr.. Brady testified the Elkins
people " r anxious to get csatrJl of
the Fulmer property, but the Fulmers
did not want to part with it. SO the
Morgant own and Kingwood r. r. had
t he spur railroad to the Fulmer mine
taken out.
Now we submit to all fairminded
people that if Senator Elkins is such
Jealous friend of the people whether he
would have permitted his rail railroad
to have treated the Fulmer Coal and
Coke Company i'll this manner.
The fact af the matter is that Sena-
tor Elkins feels that the people have
last confidence i'll him as represen-
tative and that they propose to replace
him by some one who will practice
what they preach. Our seniors Sena-
tor is preaching one thing and practif-
ing another.
(itiyen