Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-09-21
TORN TO SHREDS.
The Platform of the Republi-
can Party of West Virginia.
Governor Flemings Dissection Of
That Mass of Bold FalsehOOd
and Misrepresentation.
His Magnificent Defense of
Democratic Administra-
ton in West Virginia.

Details About State Affairs Which VIII
Interest Every West virginian Regard
less of POlitics-Pinkertonism
Colonization-Th Increase of Offices and
Democratic Financial Administration.
Inspectors of NIines-The Matter of
Salaries and How They Are Fixed-As-
sessment Rates and State Taxcs-How
Republicans Gave Away the Peoples
Money-How the school Funds Were
Handled.
The following is the full text of the
able and comprehensive address de-
livered by Governor A. B. Fleming at
Fairnont on Saturday Aug. 26, the oc-
casion being the Democratic county con-
vention for Marion county, one of the
largest and most enthusiastic ever held
in the county. During the delivery'the
governor was frequently and heartily
cheered:
FELLOW CITIZENs-I am glad to have
the opportunity of addressing this large
assemblage of citizens of my native
county. Although the great majority
of YOU are Democrats, l trust few II
not many of my Republican friends are
present. We all live under the same
government and laws and have like de
sires and aims. and are alike interested
in all that benefits our country and pro-
NOTES prosperity. We love our country,
our government and our homes. We
only differ. possibly. as to the policy to
L 4 ba tp no 11Ca1
the accomplishment of the greatest good
to the greatest number.
The masses of the people are honest,
and can at most be but temporarily mis-
led by selfish political leaders, or design
ing politicians.
The great question of the day is which
party will better administer the govern
ment. state and federal We have had
both Democratic and Republican ad-
ministrations in West Virginia and at
Washington In the settlement of this
question we may, therefore, properly
challenge comparison and appeal to the
records.
State Matters.
desire in the time may consume to
dwell chiefly upon state matters and
propose to discuss the issues raised by
Republican and Democratic adminlstra-
tions and platforms in this state. l sup
pose most Of You have read that peculiar
creature of the late Republican conven-
ton at Huntington, known as the Re
publican platform. | would like 10
know whose handiwork it is, whose
audacity penned that vulnerable docu-
ment. Truly, whom the gods would
destroy they first make mad" Having
no record in this state to which they
dare refer at length, the managers of
the Republican party content themselves
with attacks upon their opponents, and
behind their attacks, as behind their
favorite word protection is clearly
evident only an attempt to deceive the
people. 1t was the great Abraham Lin
coin who said, you may fool all the
people part of the time or part Of the
people ali the time, but you can not
fool all the people all the time" Now,
my fellow citizens, we do not propose
that this Republican platform shall, so
far as state issues are concerned, fool
any person.
About PinkertOnism.
Let us first consider its declaration on
the subject of "Pinkertonism.' Fright
ened at the way 1.-The Mckinley act
talks" at Homestead and accused by
their own consciences, the Republicans
in this remarkable platform of theirs,
gravely informed the people that the
tariff, and wages under the tariff, are
not in any way involved in the unhappy
controversy, and declare themselves
guiltless of all responsibility IN the
premises. They then solemnly resolve
in favor of a law ''that shall prevent the
invasion of West Virginia by an armed
force such as that which the Democratic
governor of West Virginia recently per-
mitted to invade this state TO interfere
between the West Virginia miners and
employers" Here you will note there Is
a frank, if indirect, admission that the
Governor could not act without such
law, and as this happens to be true, he
is not call upon to make defense or ex-
cuse for permitting nOn-residents Of the
the state to be sworn in as special con-
stables and acting as guards on the
private property of the Marmet Mining
company at Raymond City. But let me
tell You something about this Raymond
City matter, and you may then deter
mine for yourselves whether your
Democratic governor or members of the
Republican party should be charged
with responsibility for the things that
occurred there. The Marlnet company
is an Ohio corporation, every stock
holder and officer of which is a Republi-
can and an advocate of protection to
labor under the broad shield of Ameri-
can law" On the 1st of January, 1891,
the miners in the employ Of this corpor-
alton struck for higher wages. Their
demand was denied although the rate Of
wages asked for was paid at every other
colliery, believe, in the Kanawha Val
lev. AS a result the mines closed down
until the following September, when the
owners imported about 200 negroes to
take the places of the white striking
miners. Armed guards to protect these
negroes We're furnished from the con-
stitutency Of the Republican owners of
the mine, who sent them there, paid
them, had them sworn in as special con-
stables and put in charge Of the sheriff
and a justic, Of the peace, and thus the
Raymond City mines We're again put in
operation and another step In the Re-
publican scheme of co.oniZing West
Virginia with negro voters was success
fully taken. 1t is expected that every
one of these 200 or more negroes will
cast a Republican vote this fall, of
course in the interest OF protection to
white labor Now, fellow citizens, how
much sincerity is there IN this plank of
the Republican PLATFORM
About Negro Colonization.
Their scheme has so far succeeded, and
now they hope by rejecting upon
Democratic governor, who did not
sympathize With and could not under
the law prevent this supplanting of
white with foreign colored labor, to at
tract attention from their Ie-sy,s co.