Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-04-29
THE MAILER NAILED.

emphasized The trutns SUBSTANTIALLY Vi 0'
cry essential allegation of THE FREE PRESS
We admit we erred in saying be had receiy-
ed check for $500 from the State Exeeu-
tive Committee. II appears, upon his ad-
mission, that be received a vulgar fraction
of a hundred dollars more than the $500
to-wit, S545.
The above by way of preface
The beginning Of the present controversy
WAS the Advocates offensive references TO
the use BY THE FREE Press Of sound cur
rency matter supplied in plate by the
Sound Currency Committee, and our re-
Spouse was as follows:
There is no more improperly IN the SOUND
Currency Committee supplying the country
press with its publications. than 20. tug 49,
Democratic Committee % place az the 0sposal
of a publisher campaign matter-not near so
much as for a Democratic Committee. Tor IN
.tance. supplying a check 20 enable a puohsh-
or not fully in accord 10 persuade lt may De-
his readers-nOt as a Democrat, out rs lhe Or
gan or Advocate Of q Farmers Alliance as an
nlsstration-to vote the Democratic ucSet
Such things, by common report nave oeeh
done
It will be observed that we referred to the
propriety and Improperly of the action Of
two committees-the one supplying The
FREE Press with articles along the line OF
the principles it had been and was advocat-
ing; the other engaged, not exactly as we
said 10 persuade his readers to vote the
Democratic ticket, but 70 assume the atti-
tude "of discOuragiDg the Alliance from
taking a part as an organization in the cam
paign, and especially as being tackled on as
the tail to the Peoples party organization"
This latter being the service to be rendered,
the chairman Of the State Executive Com
mittee subscribed for FIVE hundred and forty
five dollars worth of Advocates.
The Advocate had, up to within three
weeks of this arrangement, been the organ
of the Alliance. So late as May 18th Of
that year it had used Populistic plate
matter So late as July 2Oth-a month, less
two days, after Mr. Clevelauds nomination
at ChicagO-THE FREE PRESS was con-
strained to say
''Ths Farmers Advocate hesitates about
putting presidential ticket at the top of IT'S
columns. It has labored diligently 20 erect a
fence between the Democratic party and the
farmers and is new sitting on It, We would
like 10 help 10 out of its Quandary by suggest
ing as a compromise. that No might ruu up the
Bidwell and Cranhu standard representing
most Of the forms of mental alteration 10
which the Advocate is subject.
Along early in August the Alliance de-
termined to dispense with organs. The
Advocate tells why, as follows:
THAT as no official organ could advocate
the Third, OF Peoples party, that the meeting
did not want 20 handicap the papers taNorus
the cause by the official clog. Hence the ALI
ance Of West Virginia is without am organ,
and all the Reform papers are at liberty 90 adj
vOcate whom they please. ANY po-
sitiOn the Advocate may take Will be the re-
suit Of careful and deliberate consideration,
with the best interests Of the farmers always
in view.
See? The Advocate was out of job
But the Alliance says the Advocate want
ed all the Reform papers mot Democratic
papers, to go unhandicapped-to be able to
support the Populist, or Peoples, party If
they desired to do so. The Advocate, so
late as August 10Th, nearly six weeks after
the nomination Of the Democratic National
Ticket, had no, determined its course. 1t
said then ANY position the Advocate Nay
take, etc. Ten days before that ;he editor
Of the Advocate had about concluded to be
with us"-and would refrain from saying
harsh and condemnatory words Of Demo-
cratic leaders aud about the 26,h of that
month he penned an article on The Ali
auce in West Virgins" in which he said
Misunderstanding the matter gently to his
brethren Of the Alliance g.
eve with great hesitation are forced TO adj
init that the very existence Of the Alliance I'm
this State is very seriously threatened and un-
less the conservative element within the or
ganization a. once does something 20 counter
act the disintegrating tendency, there will not
be leit nucleus around which TO rally.
Chsirmen Of executive committees are
sometimes wise as serpents, but not always
Harmless as doves" Chairman Chiffon Is
no novice in political strategy He saw his
opportunity to employ decoy duck, aud he
wrote to Editor Morrow on the Sofia few
days later:
81 also note that your paper is adopting
what seems to me TO De the proper attitude in
this campaign, the policy Of disCouraging the
Alliance from taking part as an organization
ia this campaign, and especially from being
tackled on as the toll tO the Peoples party or
ganizatiOn. If this be the policy of your pa
per, I am satisfied thatit will DO good there
fore write 20 ask YOU If such is the Case2 10 so.
what per copy viii YOU furnish me one thou
sand copies % be mailed t0 the different ale
dresses which I will send 20 YOU throughout
the campaign until after the election.
Brother Morrow responded TO the above
by telegram. The dicker was consummated
the check for S54j received aud receip,ed
for; and the files Of THE FREE Press from
that time until the election of Mr. Cleye-
land fail to furnish a single paragraph re-
mOnstrating with the Advocate for refec-
tons upon the Democratic party or Demo
cratic leaders.
AS we said in the beginning, the editor Of
the Advocate, in his attempted vindication
Of himself has emphasized the truth, sub
stsntially, Of every essential allegation Of
THE FREE Press, hence his charge OF INA.
liciOus and lying insinuatious" eyokes COM
miseration rather than resentment, aud we