Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-03
STATE AUTHORSHIP.
A Controversy About Candidates-Truth
Replies TO Justice.

A Controversy About Candidates-Truth
Replies to Justice.
To he Editor o. ne Register:
CHARLESTON, June 29.-In your issue
of the 26th inst. you publish communics'
ton over the nom de plume of Justice, "
in which it seems to me the writer falls
very far short of making out his case. "
His only purpose seems to be to show that
it is in the best interest of the Democratic
party that the State offices should be dis
tributed "by paying attention to those
sections from which the msiorities are to
come which will elect the ticket" Jus
tice" first proceeds TO state what Con-
gressional Districts have for the last
twelve years furnished the State officers
(leaying out the Second DISTRICT. He
saws the Fourth District had the Auditor
for eight years and the Treasurer four
wears; that the Third District now has had
the Auditor for four years; that the Treas
! urer for eight years came from the First
District; that for eight of these twelve
wears the Office of Governor was filled by
| the Third District and for four by the
Fourth District.
Justice" mentions these facts that he may
task the question whether it is not full
time to recognize in the election of candi-
dates some of the long neglected sections OF
the State" He then makes an appeal in
behalf of the Twelfth Senatorial district,
and particularly for the county of Hamp-
shire for q share in the State offices, and
nominates one Of her worthy sons fol State
Auditor. Why did the writer not 20 back
little further and count from the time
the Democratic party came into power
eighteen years ago? If he had done so it
would have saved HIM fiom the ridiculous
position in which he has fallen By claim
| ing honors for his section to which by his
own showing it would not be entitled.
Did not the Twelfth Senatorial district in
the person of Governor Jacob have the
Governor for six years of the eighteen
wears of the Democratic administration,
aud was not he too, from the banner
county of the district, Hampshire county?
| Did not other counties in the same Sena-
torial district have the office of Attorney
General for eight years of the eighteen? II
Justice" had any other purpose than that
of mere advocate of candidate
who happened TO live in Hampshire
county, the banner county of the South
Branch Valley district" Why did he not
select his candidate from one of the other
counties of the "Gibralter of the West Vir-
ginia Democracy, cay Mineral, Pendleton
or Grant, who never held any State Office?
If the claim of official patronage is to be
narrowed down from Congressional dis
tricts TO Senatorial districts, and from Sen.
atorial districts to counties, why not to
towns and even to families? The town in
which JUSTICES" candidate resides has
had Governor for six years and Attorney
General White for four years. Whether
the two Whites are Of the same family
do not know, but that is the extreme TO
which Justices" argument would lead.
If Justice" is informed of the localities of
our State and had been broad enough and
unsSlfish enough to have made IN earnest,
honest appeal in behalf OF the large Demo-
cratic sections who have never held State
Office during the eighteen years Of Demo-
cratic rule, he might have found ample
scope for the exercise of his generosity. in
the counties Of Wayne, Lincoln, Boone,
Logan, Fayetts, Raleigh, Mercer, Wyom-
ing and Mcdowell, every one of which
counties will probably give large MAORI
ity to retain our present auditor in Office
another term. Other counties who have
never asked State Office, of equal merit
could be named to which Justices" at
tentiou might be directed. Now in con-
clusion, let me say that it is not my pur-
pose to say one word to the injury of any
candidate for Auditor, but simply to ex-
pose the utter absurdity of the ground Of
the claim of Justice" for the support of
his friend. TRUTH.