Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-17
SENATOR w. w. WHYTF
A Biography of Mcdowell County's First Citizen
Leader of His Party in Southern West Virginia.
True Story of His Record Here and in Vir-
ginia--Candidate for Reelection

w. W. Wn!te, the present state
senator from the Sixth district of
West Virginia, candidate to succeed
himself as State Senator. Coun-y
Chairman OF the Republican County
Execut,v, Con itiee. member OF
the Republican State Central Com
mittee. late Chairman OF the Repub-
lican Sta.e Convention, and who az
a Republican Senator served on the
judiciary. Finance, Militia, Banks
and Corporations. Mines and Mining
Labor. and Enrolled Bills Commit
tees In senate and member OF the
Pardon Board OF the West Virginia
Penitentiary. came to Mcdowell
County In the early nineties as a
defaulting bank official from vir-
ginia. and being, therefore. a fugi-
tive frSm Justice.
notwithstanding his past record,
In 1896, he had the temerity to
enter the race for Sheriff OF Nc
Dowell County agains. Mr.. A. C..
Brewster, the present mayor of the
town OF Welch.
Mr.. Brewster came from the Big
Creek District, an isolated, but very
rich section OF the country. He
was OF an ancestry noted for IT'S
rigid honesty and simplicity OF liv
ing. For many years Crockett
Brewster had been one OF the most
prominent men OF affairs in McDow-
ell County and when he entered
the race for Sheriff he appealed only
to honesty and patriotism of his fell
low citizens.
w. w. Whyte entered the race
and used all the tactics known to
corrupt politics. and Mr.. Brewster
being a RepuDlican from principle.
a man OF high character. and un-
willing to stoop to the frauds and
corruption practiced by . Whyte,
withdrew from the race, leaving
Whyte without opposition in the Re-
vention he was duly nominated.
His election was a foregone con-
clusion. The county, which at one
time was a Democratic stronghold,
had been flooded by ignorant ne
groes and .oreIgn element whish
gave the corrupt politician much
material upon which to practice po-
litical corruption. The disfranchised.
ignorant, vicious and criminal ele-
ment from other states fiocked to
this great coal field. This placed
the county in the Republican column
where IL has since remained and
subject to all the high handed
steals, corrupt practices, and politi-
cal prostitution that Whyte's re-
sourceful mind could invent.
Whyte was duly elected as Sher-
in, and proceeded to discharge the
duties of his office, among which
duties was to loan Mary Miller. the
well known Mcdowell prostitute
and keeper of bawdy houses, the
funds OF the county with which to
build her houses Of prostitution In
Keystone, to inappropriate $40,-
O00.0 OF the funds OF his office, TO
take the hard earned money of the
tax payers levied for the purpose
OF educating the youth and divert II
into the most iniquitous sources
that a depraved mind could invent.
or this 100000 which Whyte
defaulted, there Is due the school
fund alone more that $4,000. The
Board OF Education of Big Greek
District has recently ordered a
special levy Of 20 cents on the 800
for the purpose of building school
houses.
with a 100000 shortage TO his
record. and therefore an embezzler,
the average mind would imagine
that Whyte was done for politically
and every other way, but not so.
He proceeded TO have himself
elected to the state Senate. which
position he now holds, and where he
was signally honored by the state
senate by appointment on the fol-
rowing committees: judiciary. f.
nance. militia, banks and corpora
tions. mines and mining, labor aud
enrolled bills.
Not satisfied merely with the cleo
tion OF state senator, he then pro-
ceeded to<have himself elected n
member OF the republican state cen
trail committee, where he has done
yoeman service, presiding over the
regular Republican state convention
which was held at Charleston and
nominated the state ticket, with the
exception OF Glasscock. who has
been substituted for 5wisher.
This same Whyte has distinguish
ed himself along certain lines. 70:
his influence with the county court
he is said to receive a salary Of
100000 from one whlskey con
cern alone. This concern owns and
operates seven saloons in Mcdowell
The licenses are issued in the names