Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-01-09

ture met, Stephen B. Elkins died,
leaving short term also to be filed.
Chiffon, adroit and ambidextrous, en-
tered into accumulation with Watson,
whereby Watson was to finance the
campaign, and Chiffon was to conduct
! it, svysr
| Chiffon was a corporation LAWYER
and lobbyist His firm was Chiffon.
MacCorkle & Chiffon. They are at
torneys in West Virginia for Stan
dard Oil interestssthe Bell Telephone,
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, and other corporations local and
interstate. Their Office is at Charles
| ton, the capital, in the southern part
! of he State. re
Gibbons partner, former Governor
| W. A. MacCorkle, was one of those
who took part at the Baltimore Con-
vention against Bryan's resolution de-
| handing the exclusion of Thomas F.
Ryan and August Belmont as dele
gates. MacCorkles took the convention
that Bryan's resolution was foolish
and senseless." He was Missed short
ly after at the West Virginia Demo
cratic State Convention at HUNTINGTON.
While Governor, MaeCorkle opposed a
tax against the Pullman Company,
though he had recommended such a
tax to the previous Legislature After
his retirement as Governor he became
attorney for the Pullman Company.
I AS Governor, he appointed Chiffon
Secretary Of West Virginia. At the
end of his term as Secretary of State
Senator Chilton's accounts were short
not be ascertained by the accountant.
some $28, 1000, The exact amount could
! To avoid prosecution, Chiffon covered
| the amount mentioned into the State
| treasury.
| Some idea of the rumors and the
, atmosphere in Charleston prior to the
legislature caucus that nominated
Watson and Chiffon may be gathered
from letter written from Charleston
at the time by reliable citizen of
West Virginia:
Watson, the Standard Oil and gas
companies, Baltimore & Ohio. Chesa-
peake & Ohio, and Pennsylvania Rail-
road Companies are maintaining an
imme nsei lobby. We have positive in
formation that $3.50, was expressed
here last week for the purpose of cor
rupting the delegates. This informa-
ton came direct from such sources as
render it absolutely reliable. :.
Evidence has come to light indicating
that four delegates have been ap-
preached; one offered $1,000, one
$4,000, one to make his own figures,
and one Senator offered $4,000 and
the attorneyship for the Consolidation
Coal Company, Watson's company.
Senator R. F. Kidd was the Oldest |
Senator in point of service, and one
Of the ablest. He was selected by the |
McGraW forces as their caucus leader, |
and SO acted until he switched and,
by his vote, nominated Watson.
"PulIing Legs"
Kidd's betrayal Of McGraw was not |
the only one. The son Of another |
member Of the Legislature called his |
father on the long distance phone Just
before the caucus ballot, and there
upon that member changed his vote. |
The son, who was not a four-igure
man, later cashed check for $4,000.
DR.. Martin, dentist and a friend |
OF member Of the Legislature from |
Wetzel County. went down to the State
Capital, and after the first week of the i
session, returned and deposited $500 in
gold certificates In his home bank. II
fPulling teeth must be pretty good II
down at Charleston, Doc" bantering-
ly said the cashier. I'm not pulling d
teeth at Charleston" promptly answer
ed the dentist; Pm pulling legs
and his veracity in this respect has
never been questioned by the dentists
neighbors.
The Democratic caucus met on the II
night Of January is. 1911. After sew
era1 ballots Watson was declared to II