The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-10-27
DEMOCRATS ARE
GROWING WEAKER

Roosevelt, or Junior"
Brown, OF Kingwood, will be declar-
ed the winner.
The sturglss end of 1t is improv-
ing. His greatest trouble seems to
be in Preston county and in the
activity of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad against his candidacy.
Preston is not thought by knowing
ones to be as bad off for Sturglss as
is generally believed. Opposition to
him there is based on slim. selfish
grounds-an opposition led by sore
heads hiatt have not healed since the
last distribution Of posloftlce patron
age. Preston Republicans are noted
for their loyalty to their party and
they never fail to prove 1t on cleo
ton day, no matter how much before
election day division and dissatisfac-
tion is thought to exist among them.
Preston has always been a Repub-
lican stronghold. For many years 1T
gave the biggest Republican major
ity Of any county in the state. In
recently years Mcdowell has made
Preston take second place. A red
hot county seat fight this year is a
guarantee that there will be a full
vote out next month, and that Will
help Sturgiss's candidacy greatly.
Tile opposition OF the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad Company to sturglss
is based on story well known to
many West Virginians. Congress-
man Sturgiss opened up the great
mineral and timber resources of
Deckers creek, building the Morgan
town and Kingwood railroad, and
planned to extend it on from King
wood to Rowlesburg. The Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company
proceeded to hold up Sturgiss, who,
at that time, was not in Congress.
They wanted his road and his hold
ings. They blocked his every move,
refusing to let him have connec-
ton with their line at Rowlesburg II
he did extend his line from King
wood, unless he shelled over to
them.
George Goodman sturgiss was W
against an interest" He fought
back to the best of his ability. He
used newspaper which he owned
at Morgantown to expose the
schemes, political and otherwise, of
the B. & o. He tagged their official
stool-pigeons with the initials OF
that company. much to their en-
barrassment and discomfort. In
deed, some OF them succumbed to
the stigma and are no longer heard
Of in public affairs.
But all this time, the B. & o. was
fighting back, and, in the end, they
beat Sturgiss. They forced him TO
let loose of fortune that was legit-
imately his and which he deserved to
have and to keep. George Goodman
Sturgiss was busted" man and he
knew it unless he could sell out.
But he would not sell to the B. & o.
He sold it to Senator Elkins for
$500, 900, trivial enough sum, and
when he had paid off his debts in
Cured by his attempt to develop a
rich section of West Virginia, he had
little LETT.
Not satisfied with that act of com
mercial homicide. the B. & o. has
tracked Sturgiss in every political
and business move he has made
since. Twice he has won for Con-
gress in spite of their powerful OPP
position, but this time they believe
they will get him. In this district,
in and about Grafton especially, the
B. & o. has been working thousands
OF men for over a year. Reports
reach Republican state headquarters
in this city, that the company has
seen to the registration OF these
men, and that it plans to vote them
against sturgiss. Probably they will
try to vote them against Senator Joe
McDermott, too, as he put over Sen
ate Bill No. ), that railroad bill,
which the established trunk lines in
this state tried 30 hard to defat, so
as to monopolize all available
rights OF way in West Virginia. How
ever, 1t is said, that they are. not
taking so much interest In defeating
McDermott, They consider sturgiss
bigger game, ana Saye lost sight Of
the lesser candidacy of the two. To
what extent the 3. & o. will be able
to vote their employees, only the Of
fetal returns will disclose, If they
succeed in voting them like cattle,
as planned, 1t Is pretty certain 10
mean one less Republican congress
man from West Virginia, and that
victim OF the Interests" will be the
gifted and scholarly George Cook
monO, sturgiss, OF Monongalia coun-