Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-10-29

reason OF the IdcI ludl TIC IlSPupASon
party had made him senator. Not
one word was received from him.
In that hour of need you can see
how much the chairman of the Repub-
lican committee of Mineral county
would have been delighted TO have re-
ceived a signed statement from Sena-
tor Elkins to the effect that he would
give his support and influence to the
Republican party in Mineral county
headed by George T. Clarskadon for
the legislature, and that as loyal
Republican he would do all ne could
to insure its success and that ne
would not give countenance nor sup
port TO any other ticket; that ne nad
voted the Republican ticket all his
life, and that he would advise others
to do so. But such noble sentiments
came not then, when the same words
come from him now to bolster Swish
er. We all say, we know you, SEN
ator; from you such talk is rot
ITO resume. No word, no help
from the senator. 1t became evident
that TO do anything to save the con-
gressional ticket and to hold the coun-
ty, it would be necessary to fight Elk
ms, as we'll as Davis. A statement
under my signature of all the facts
was issued by me as chairman. II
concluded with these words: Repub-
licans, let us defeat Col. Davis for the
legislature in 1898, and Stephen B.
Elkins for senator in 1900
Finally we accomplished one pur-
pose. Col. Davis had to let go OF
McGraw and fight to save himself.
Col. Davis received, IT'S majority in
the county and Judge Dayton 200. We
all remember the consequence; how
the legislature of 1899, by bare ma
jority of one, elected Senator Scott.
'Tn 1900 Senator Elkins was again
compelled to face the people. Col.
Davis was older, but no wiser, and
still believed the oily words of Col.
McGraw. Col. Davis was pitted
against Dayton. But in the meantime,
the Republicans Of Mineral county
had been urging Judge Reynolds to ac-
cept a nomination for the legisla-
ture. He was loath to do so, for one
term is enough fer almost any man,
especially lawyer with practice and
business. The Republicans of the
county and leaders from all over the
state insisted that it was the duty OF
Judge Reynolds to take the nomina-
ton.
Senator Elkins somehow got wind
of the movement. He telegraphed
Judge Reynolds for conference in
Deer Park. Judge Reynolds son,
Frank, chairman of the county COM
mittee, smelled mouse and invited
himself to be present at the confer
ence. We met Senator Elkins in
Deer Park, and seated with him in
his carriage he undertook to say who
should become a candidate for the
legislature in Mineral county, and
endeavored to take advantage OF
Judge Reynolds personal unwilling
ness to be a candidate in order that.
the candidate might wear the 'Elkins
collar My gorge rose at the In
justice, slavery and humiliation OF
the position in which the party was
placed when it became necessary that
candidate for senator should be
consulted and the interest Of the
county and state ignored when 1t
came to the choice of representatives
in the legislative halls, more especial
ly when / knew that candidate for
senator to be the party hypocrite and
worshipper OF self and Mammon who
sat before me. / said few things.
The senator bhshed, threw up his
hands and said, Frank, Frank. you
are toe impulsive. You lack expert
ence.' | then became angry and be-
H. nod ond i'm
pulsive, / gave utterance to the fol-
lowing statement, no doubt blasphe-
nous to the ears of the noble SEN
ator, but still true, even If 1t contain
ed little sulphur:
"'Senator Elkins, may be mex
perienced and impulsive, but / say to
you that the people of Mineral coun-
ty don't give a d. what you want or
who you want. They will nominate
whom they please and without refer
ence to any suggestion from YOU
"The conference ended. The par
ty nominated Judge Reynolds; Elkins'
hands were tied; Col. Davis was beat
en- in his own coal mines and In the
county.
''In 1904, at the Wheeling conven-
ton, 1t was Davis Elkins, using the
influence of his fathers name and
prestige of senator, who succeeded in
nominating Charley Swisher for Sec
rotary of state, and thus. rescued
from oblivion the name of one utter
ly unfit morally, by association. and
intellectually for the highest Office in
the state.
at was the same year that Davis
Ellxins worked openly for the Demo
cratic nominee for vice-President and
in a mining precinct In Mineral coun-
ty with a normal Republican major
ity of almost 100. with only 20 Demo
Gratis In it, Roosevelt received bare
majority. the result of the Davis
Elkins alliance.
Reading Senator Elkins' letter Of
August Is, you will observe that the
senator's chief reason for not sup
porting the opposition formed in
Charleston, even though 1t might
have a moral and equitable right to