West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-10-22
Elk|Ns ROASTED
TO A FINISH BY
: OLD SUPPORTERS
SOME VERY UGLY FACTS TOLD
BY FRANK REYNOLDS.

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 1t is worth reproduc-
ing and preserving. He said:
THE Republicans OF the Second
congressional district regard II 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 IA.
Elkins in very large measure. must
rest the fearful and criminal condi-
tion OF corruption and graft and ire
sponsible and Illegal nominations nm
DER which the Republican party of
West Virginia finds itself burdened
today.
He was wealthy wnen he came IN
this state, he became Weather nv
marriage into the Davis family after
ne came to West Virginia, but regard
less or that and i'm good faith the Re
publican party took him ND because
OF MS clean face, his scholarly attain.
ments' his sauve manner and last
Out not least, because ne received the
endorsement of the late BENJAMIN
knew only his reputation; we know
now more than that We know Elk
ms the man as well as Elkins. the
senator
III was on account OF political con-
dltions in the Second congressional
district and particularly i'm 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 ner-
sonaly interested in appealing to such
ties and obligations.
we were called upon to be Repub.
hcans and regular for Elkins one
campaign: we were throttled and held
down Tor Davis, and incidentally the
Democratic party, the next; and so
on Davis this time: Elkins the next.
out always the family; never the par
~ for either.
Il am personally acquainted with
the story OF these family somersaults
ol senator Elkins, and, perhaps, 1t
would interest your readers to hear
few incidents connected with Il
In 1894. the year of the memorable
campaign following the enactment of
the Wilson-Gorman tariff bill, Alston
u. Dayton was nominated for CON
gress In the city of Elkins and i'm the
presence OF ex-President Harrison
the guest OF the private citizen. Steph.
en- Is Elkins, and took up the battle
against the idol of the straight Dem
ocracy and apostle of tariff reform.
VIM. L. Wilson.
Henry G.. Davis. the father-in-law
Sangfnr
Wis. the brother of Henry an ssf,ti-
cally all OF the West Virginia CSSkral
halfway officers, men. and MINI
openly supported and worked for tT<
election OF the Republican nominee =
me legislature OF 1895 had a 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.
Ihomas e. Davis Of Reynolds. Hoke.
MOTIFS Scherr and of Nathan Gon.
Jr., exalted Stephen Benton Elkins
10 the proud place of its leader.
I'm 1898 John T. McGraw. the re-
sourceful and astute leader of the
Democracy. became the Democratic
nominee for congress against Dayton.
me willy John saw how he could use
the Davis family ties, and EIkins-
Davis money and railroad and mining
influence for his own benefit. and i'm.
cidentally that OF his party. Accord
ingly he played upon the vanity and
credulity OF Thomas 70. Davis. 10
wnom the Democrats had neved be
lore 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
The Republicans made their nom
nations In Mineral county and ne
county committee elected me as ns
chairman. We realized what We had
10 contend with but we determined
70 save Dayton at al hazards and nut
strong candidate I'm the field for
state senate In that district The
tight began There followed I'm Min.
eral county on the part OF the Demo
crafts a campaign which for corrup.
ton whiskey. bribery and coercion
exceeded anything any Of as 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.
ular Republicans Time and again !
begged Senator Elkins. az one OF the
owners N the railroad and mines 10
come into MiBeral county and helm to
save the legislature because a United
states senator was 20 be elected
told him Of the coercion being used
upon his party loyalty, and reminded