Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-10-29
.ELkINS ROASTED
To A FINISH BY
OLD SUPPORTERS
SOME VERY UGLY FACTS TOLD
BY FRANK REYNOLDS.

Senator ElkinS, the boss OF the west
Virginia Machine, that has yet appear
ed was given his last August by
Frank C. Reynolds. of Keyser. What
Mr.. Reynolds says is true, and is now
so timely, that it is worth reproduc-
ing and preserving. He said:
The Republicans of the Second
congressional district regard 1t with
derision and are only too glad to have
the senior lined just where they
knew he belonged-with Sam Math-
ews, Sherman Denham, ODE Petty,
Sam Dixon and the unspeakable wig
wamineee.
Upon the conscience of Stephen B.
Elkins in very large measure, must
rest the fearful and criminal condi-
ton of corruption and graft and ire
sponsible and illegal nominations I'M
der which the Republican party OF
West Virginia finds itself burdened
today.
He was wealthy wnen he came to
this state, he became Weather by
marriage into the Davis family after
he came to West Virginia, but regard
less of that and in good faith the Re-
publican party took him up because
of mis- clean face, his scholarly attain
ments, his sauve manner, and last
but not least. because ne received the
endorsement of the late Benjamin
Harrison, then President. We then
knew only his reputation; we know
now more than that. We know Elk
ms, the man as well as Elkins, the
senator.
'It was on account of political con-
ditions in the Second congressional
district and particularly in Mineral
county, that we know of the corrup-
ton which came into Mineral county
and the Second district through his
wealth and greed, and that of his
family. We. know how lightly party
ties and obligations to the voters OF
that party which exalted him have
when he himself was directly and per-
sonaly interested in appealing to such
ties and obligations.
I'VE were called upon to be Repub-
licans and regular for Elkins one
campaign: we were throttled and held
down for Davis, and incidentally the
Democratic party, the next; and so
on Davis this time: Elkins the next,
but always the family; never the par
ty for either.
81 am personally acquainted with
the story of these family somersaults
of Senator Elkins, and, perhaps, it
would interest your readers to hear
few incidents connected with 1t.
I'm 1894, the year of the memorable
campaign following the enactment Of
the Wilson-Gorman tariff bill, Aston
G.. Dayton was nominated for con-
gress in the city of Elkins and in the
presence of ex-President Harrison,
the guest of the private citizen, Steph-
en- B. Elkins, and took up the battle
against the idol of the straight Dem
ocracy and apostle Of tariff reform,
VIM. l.. Wilson.
Henry c. Davis, the fatherin-law
of Senator Elkins, Col. Thomas B. Dar
Wis. the brother of Henry and practi-
cally all of the West Virginia Central
Railway officers. men, and miners,
openly supported and worked for the
election of the Republican nominee.
1.-The legislature of 1895 had Re-
publican majority, and the citizen OF
Randolph was made the senator from
West Virginia. The Republican party
of Campbell, Wiley, Sturgiss, Pier
pont, Mason, Hart, Atkinson, Freer,
Thomas z. Davis of Reynolds, Hoke,
Norris. Scherr and of Nathan Golf,
jr.. exalted Stephen Benton Elkins
to the proud place of its leader.
''In 1898 John T. McGraw, the re-
q sourceful and astute leader of the
Democracy, became the Democratic
nominee for congress against Dayton.
The willy John saw how he could use
the Davis family ties, and Elkins-
Davis money and railroad and mining
influence for his own benefit, and in
cidentally that of his party. Accord
ingly he played upon the vanity and
credulity of Thomas B. Davis, to
whom the Democrats had neved be-
fore offered an office, and persuaded
Col. Davis to accept the Democratic
nomination for the house Of delegates
after defeating him for the state SEN
ate in the then Twelfth senatorial
district with about 1900 Democratic
majority.
.sThe Republicans made their nom
nations in Mineral county and the
county committee elected me as It's
chairman. We realized what we had
to contend with, but we determined
to save Dayton at al hazards and put
a strong candidate in the field for
state senate in that district The
fight began. There followed in Min
eral county on the part of the Demo
Gratis campaign which for corrup-
ton, whiskey, bribery and coercion
exceeded anything any Of us had ever
seen
without money, without influence,
with the powerful forces OF the West
Virginia Central railway and its mines
against us, we dared attack Col.
Davis because he was running on the
Democratic ticket and we were reg
MAR Republicans. Time and again l
begged Senator Elkins, as one OF the
owners of the railroad and mines, to
come into Mineral county and help to
save the legislature because a United
States senator was to be elected;
told him of the coercion being used