West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-04-23

An Honest Appeal to the Republicans
Voters OF This County TO
TARA Him Down.


Primary Election. If ever there
was an official in this county who
richly deserved impeachment and
who should be relieved from office,
that man is Gabo Pulliam, who
pretends to be tho Assessor on the
East Side and whose Incompetence
has become notorious. We have
called attention heretofore to his
neglect of the very important du-
ties of his Office, and last year il
became so apparent that he was
summoned before the County Court
for investigation and tire Sheriff
made serious charges against him
all of which was easily proven by
the books. The Court scared him
pretty badly. bat let him off, part.
ly because they thought his time
would soon be up and tina. he would
surely not have cheek enough to
run again, and partly because they
were all Republican officials and
solidly in favor OF Protection and
therefore bound to stick together.
But perhaps the main reason was
that Page II. McCrum, one of the
most influential mem bers of the
Court, stood behind the old man.
and patted him on the back and
held the rest of the Court back,
promising to straighten Gabe out
and see that he done better there
after, etc. 1t Is generally under
| stood that McNrun, oo..;o Drli:
to pretty heavy extent, and gets
most, and perhaps all, his salary.
80 1t was impossible to get the
Court to take any special action,
although several mem bers admitted
to us that his business was In
rotten condition and that he was
totally incompetent to fill the effice.
In fact, it is generally agreed
that he does most of his assessing
for each year from the last years
books. In this way he carries PEG
pie along from year to year who
have been dead for years, and 9th
ers who have moved out of the
county and State years ago. Then
again, quite number of women
are assessed with Poll Tax, and have
To pay 1T and either lose it or be to
considerable trouble to present the
matter to the County Court and
get refunding order, ana thus
make lots OF extra trouble through
the neglect of a man to discharge
his sworn duty, and for which he is
we'll paid by the tax payers. THEN
again, quite number Of the most
prominent citizens in his assess
ment district are missed overy year
and not assessed at all. Some one
year and some another, and so on.
so that in the aggregate it amounts
to big sum and makes the taxes
of the rest of our people, and spec.
tally on this side of the river, that
much higher, because certain
amount has to be raised every wear.
and if part escape, it leaves the bur.
den that much higher for the others.
We are not making idle asser-
tions and statements that cannot be
proven, for the Sheriff's books and
the Assessors books and county
records generally will bear us out
In what we say, and furnish ample
evidence of the best kind 60 prove
every word of it. This proof can
be gotten at by any one, and we
ask and insist that all who doubt
what we have said make an inyesti
CATION for himself. and if not salts.
led of the truth of our charges, we
agree to pay for all the time and
expense consumed in this matter.
Neither is it worth wlnle for any
one to CLAIM that it is all Demo-
cratic lie and pu blished for partisan
purposes. For in the first place.
the proof all comes through Repub
llcan sources, and we are no more
interested in this matter than any
other tax payer of the county, and
we concede the Office to the Repub.
licans, and if Mr.. Pulliam is turned
out, as be ought to, some other and
better Republican will get the Office.
But we consider it our duty on be-
half OF the people to give them the
facts about these matters. The
people look to THE ARGUS to do
this, and we are just fearless and
Independent enough to do it. No
other paper IN the county dares TO
publish the truth about the candi
dates. In fact, the Journal and
Oracle are both paid TO lie for them,
and they are expected to earn their
money. Both gave Pulliam's an
nouncement big send of last
week and deliberately lied abont
his faithful discharge Of tho duties
Of the Office" etc.
Mr.. Puliam has had the Office
three terms. or twelve years Ia all,
and that Is long enough, if he was
the best Assessor the county ever
had. IL is time now to give some
other and better man chance.
The trouble about II heretofore has
been that the people Of this, the
West Side, nominated Pulliam.
thinking that it made no difference
to them, and the old man being a