The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-03-16
Am Effort 10 shield Crime.

step which, for the sake of pure
ballot in West Virginia, it was hoped
that he would not take. United
States District Attorney Watts has
been asked for his resignation. 1t
is the first removal from office in this
State, and the first of its class in the
country.
The is not a man in West Vir-
ginia who questions the right and
privilege of the Chief Executive to
make removals and appointments.
The Democrat would be recreant to
his party faith, who made fight to-
hold office merely for it's spoils, but
Mr.. Watts was not asked to resign
because his position was wanted for
a Republican. He was not asked to
resign because he had not proven a
faithful and efficient officer. He was
not asked to resign because the peo-
pie demanded it,
1t is the work of desperate politi-
cal tricksters, whose corruption he
threatened to reveal and expose to
the public hatred and contempt.
Weeks before Benjamin Harrison
was inaugurated, band of corrup-
tionists proclaimed that Mr. Watts
would never be able to prosecute
the bribery indictments found by the
Federal Court at Petersburg The
consrirators were constant, in season
and out of season, in heaping dis
credit on that work. Mr.. Watts
went ahead in the performance Of his
duties, 1t was plain that he would
not be intimidated or caioled. Then
these men carried their appeal to
Washington. They were among the
first to make demand upon the new
President. Every prominent leader
of the Republican party in West vir-
ginia seconded the demand, and Mr..
Harrison surrendered.
1t is only II matter Of presumption
that Mr.. Harrison knew the motives
which inspired the request. Nation
al leaders can not be acquainted
with the intricacies of local politics,
but there is grave su picion that the
appointing power must have been
aware that there was more in this
case than simple desire for office.
Only five days have passed over Mr..
Harrison's head since he stepped in
to the White House. OF the hun
dred or more United States Attor-
neys Mr.. Watts is The first removed.
Not single head of department, not
single department officer or clerk,
not single government marshal, in
ternal revenue collector, consul or
minister, has been asked to resign.
Hundreds, nay thousands of public
officers, above and below Mr. Watts,
remain in their positions and perform
their duties. Why should an honest
and capable servant in the little
mountain State of West Virginia be
so soon shorn of his powers. unless
it is to prevent an immediate exer-
else Of them? Forsooth the haste is
SO great that the slow service Of
mail cannot be trusted The order
is flashed over the wires, and the
arm of the law is paralyzed, in the
act of striking and furnishing crimi-
nails.
1t is notorious fact that major
ity of the men who were indicted for
electoral corruption at Parkersburg
were members of the Republican
party. Men who have been active,
if not prominent, in the Republican
councils were among the number
But they are not the criminals who
are to be protected. There are more
dangerous corruptionists back of
them, and about them clrain OF cv-
idence was being wound. The hand
of justice would be laid heavy on
their crimes.
The Republican administration
has lent itself to shield them. 1t
has stepped in the path Of the law
and defeated the en- S of Justice. 1t
has said to the people of West Vir-
ginia that the sanctity OF your ballot
and the purity OF your elections can
not be protected The Federal off
cial who attempts to punish bribery
of yonr voters is marked for remos al.
There will be no investigation. II the
Federal power can prevent it, into
the charges Of corruption against
members Of the Republican party.
Mr. Harrison's administration has
enforced this Older by the summary
removal of the faithful public ser
want whose oath charged him with
these duties
1t is not meet to anticipate the re-
ply which the people Of West vir-
ginia will make to such demand
They cannot forget it, even though
the day of reckoning is far Off The
national administration has started
well If it proposes to make West
Virginia solid in the Democratic
faith. Register.
Postmaster Nye's efficiency and
lack of official errors since his term
of office began may well commend
themselves to the better judgement
of the Postmaster General and the
petitions SO numcrenslv circulated
which are weapons for his scalp may