Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-05
Popular With Political Opponents.

Popular Win 1OI11Cd1 opponents.
Mr.. Elkins would not allow differences
Of opinion to make enemies. and he was
as popular on the democratic on the
republican side of the Senate chamber.
Nor could he be persuaded to deny to
any one an opportunity to be heard. no
matter how great the delay incon-
venience caused by granting all demands
for time. Hence when, after the passage
of the bill, the late Senator Dolliver. who
had been one OF the chief critics of the
measure. warmly conlpl nented Mr.. FL
kins. there was universal approval of his
commendatory remarks.
Mr. JoiIlVer 0eUia. ed that in putting
through the administration bill the West
Virginia senator had performed the hard
est task which had been undertaken by
any senator for thirty years. Mr. Elkins
especially liked to direct legislation which
dealt with everyday problems. such as
The tariff. the regulation of the railroads
and the development OF the natural wa
rerways- He aSpired to place ON the
committee Oh finance, and his failure to
attain such position probably was the
greatest disa ppcintment that came TO him
during his senatorial career
He was one of the first movers for an
Investigation into the high cost of living
which was inaugurated during the Sec
ord session OF the Sixty-frst Congress,
and when the controlling powers In the
Senate decreed that he should not be
chairman of the special committee ap-
pointed TO make the inquiry he was deep
~ chasrined.
The committee on finance deals with the
tarfn, and MFR. Elkins made open protest
against the action OF the Senate I'm over
looking the republicans of the south in
f1lling the committee. His contention was
that the interests of the southern states
were totally unguarded in the committee,
and on one occasion early in the Sixty
first Congress he went TO the verge of
threatening to join the insurgents in
protesting against the makeup of the
committee.
Achievements as a Senator.
Among the achievements standing to
Senator Eikins' csndit Is the passage of
the Elkins antitrust bill. soon after he
entered the senate: legislation providing
for many i'm oortant Improvement. of the
Ohio. kanar6ha and Big Sandy rivers; in
Vulnerable material amendments TO the
railroad bills of 1907 and 1910, and many
mcdincatlons of the tariff He il was
~ Engineers of the army in building the
Panama canal
Won Distinction in New Mexico.
Mr.. Elkins was born in Ohio in 1s41
While still very young he went with his
fathers family to Missouri. He was ons
Of the first graduates from the University
Of Missouri. and as early as 1864 went tc
New Mexico, where he lived for a mum
her of years. becoming in succession at.
tornev general United States district az
torney, territorial senator and deegat,
IN Congress from that territory
While serving as delegate In Congress
Mr. Eikins married the eldest daughtel
OF Henry Gassaway Davis, then senator
from West Virginia. Soon after his mar
rage he established his home In tina
state. and there he built up a great for
tune, largely through the development O.
the natural resources of the state III.
and timber areas and was most actiy,
N putting their products on the market
lie also assisted in building many rail
Dads in and out of the state.
The republican party in West Virgini;
owes much TO Mr. Elkins From th,
lire he settled there he was active il
promoting the party interests and brough
lis state into the fold He became chair
man of the republican national commit
tee. which elected Benjamin Harrison {,
he presidency. and became Mr.. Harri
sons Secretary Of War. His first cleo
ton 10 the Senate took place in 1895.
Saved by Younger Brothers.
While residing in Missouri Mr.. Elkin
taught school. and to this circumstanc
owed his escape from one Of the mos
thrilling situations Of his eventful life
Riding one day toward the close Of tn
civil war along a lonely roud in the west
ern Part OF the state. he was seized by
squad from the band OF the Ccnfederat
guerrilla Quantreli. He was charged witt
being spy. and the penalty was death
fortunately for Mr.. Elkins, he war place
In the care of two brothers who recos
rized the Young man as their forr1e
teacher Approaching his peril ti.ey con
utved his escape.
The senator's new-found friends wer
Jim and Cole Younger, who afterwar,
became notorious as the most daring O
the hand of outlaws led by the Jane
brothers When, after the close Of tn
war, the Younsers were captured and sen