Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-01-19

THE statement in the public prints that
Senator Davis ElkinS has been in Charles
ton the past week asking, in addition TO
the honor OF having been appointed Sena-
tor to succeed his deceased father, that
there be given him the additional compli-
ment OF the Republican nomination 1or
ilIe uneXpired term, seems almost IN
credible. Ii has been publicly stated that
Governor Glasscock appointed young
Mr.. Elkins TO this high office in response
to what might be termed death-bed re-
quest OF Senator Stephen b. Elkins. The
Governor felt, doubtless. that he could
do no less than comply with this desire,
which is said to have been carried to him
by special messenger from the dying
Senator, and he should not be criticised
for making the appointment under such
circumstances. But we doubt il the peo-
pie of West Virginia will approve ofyoung
MIR. Elkins's demand for continuous hon.
ors along this line, TO the exclusion OF
other more worthy party men. The per-
sonal friends and attaches OF the late
Senator have indiscreetly started boom
for the son for the next vacancy in the
Senate, the latter in the meantime TO use
every effort to bring the State back into
the Republican column. While this may
be matter for the Republicans them
selves to settle, we suggest that the per-
petuation OF political hierarchy such as
is proposed is not acceptable TO West
Virginians in general.
Another thought is suggested by the
consideration of the proposition thus re-
ferred to: During his lifetime, the late
Senator Elkins received from the State OF
West Virginia every honor that it could
confer, politically and in every other way.
In addition to these honors, he became
enormously wealthy by the absorption OF
West Virginia resourceS-accumulating a
fortune OF many millions OF dollars from
the coal and lumber of which its territory
was stripped for his enrichment. 1t is
not recorded that while he lived he ever
devoted an, appreciate portion OF this
wealth as gifts or as help to either private
or public benefactionS, and in his will no
institution OF any character in West Viz
ginia received single penny nor was
any person remembered save his own
flesh and blood. Although the most dis
tinguished and most favored individual
in the State, no town, we have been told,
except possibly the place which was
named after him, has any reason to re-
member the slightest generosity from
him. II is inevitable that the retention
of every cent of his vast fortune within
his own family, with absolutely no re-
membrance of any West Virginia institu
ton, should cause comment.
What a blessed monument he could
have left for himself by the unSelfiSh dis
position OF tenth or twentieth part Of
his fortune. A great school of some sort
could have been founded, institutions for
the amelioration of suffering or for the
benefit of humanity could have been en-
dowed, or plans could have been con-
Summated for the extension Of opportuni-
ties tor the young-scores OF desirable
and helpful things might have been done
as an expression OF his obligation to the
State from which he had received so
much. We know that his friends will re-
fer to his industrial accomplishments and
what he has done for the development OF
the State, but there is nothing generous
or noble about these thingS-they were
simply cold hard business propositions,
in which the Senator never laid down one
dollar except where he saw reasonable
certainty OF picking up two or more in its
place.
The Senator's memory may be respect
ed because OF his business ability, but
how much better it would have been if
he had put into his career leaven of
love that would not only have reflected
glory upon himself, but inspired others
to think OF other things besides business
and political success.