Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-11
THE KIDD CASE.


tons organ. the Bar, edited by a
Democrat. published strong editor.
ial on the Kidd case from which we
quote:
UNLESS the newspaper reports are
Enthusiastically and misleading, the
unseating OF Mr. Kidd by the State
Senate was deliberate and defiant
disregard of all the forms of law with
out any pretense OF justification other
than to secure political partisan ad.
vantage. ***
This journal has nothing to do
with factional contests between politi-
cal parties. This journa. does not
know any political party in this con
nection. but it does have to do, as
standing for the supremacy of law and
the maintenance Of popular govern
ment, with this disgraceful and indie.
fensible exhibition of lawlessness and
anarchy in the Legislative body OF gu,
State. And we maintain it to be the
duty Of every patriotic journal of
every party to cry out and make
solemn protest---to denounce and dis
avow any part in or palliation for this
deliberate and open assault upon Re
publican government +"
All this may be very good, so far as
t goes. but it does not 60 far enough
The Republicans had the Legislature
ny seven majority as the returns Of
the commissioners Of election in all
the counties showed. The Democrats
appealed one case (via. of Logan) to
the supreme court. after he had been
awarded certificate OF election and
then refused to let the case be heard
until long after the Legislature will
have adjourned Was not this "a
disregard of all the forms of law with
out any pretense OF justification other
than to secure political partisan adj
vantagef" Why dodge the Via casel
Then there is the Brohard case
from Taylor, where the Republican
candidate had 81 majority and where,
after the ballots had been returned to
the court house they were feloniously
marked and changed, so that even the
most partisan OF partisans must hang
his head in shame; where some oil
the felouiously marked ballots were
changed as to the candidate for Legis-
lature with a blue, indelible pencil,
and the rest of the ballot marked in
ink, and the commissioners OF election
testified that no tickets whatever
were voted or counted at the pre-
ciuct marked other than with ink!
The supreme court passing on a
mandamus to compel certificate to
be issued to the Democratic candidate
refused the same and declared that
the Republican was entitled to the
certificate of election! Has the Bar
read that decision? Does it think that
the unseating OF Brohard was right
eous act or one that was "a deliberate
and defiant disregard OF all the forms
OF law without any pretense OF Jus
LITIGATION other than to secure politi-
cal partisan ADVANTAGE" Why not
say something about the action of
Democrats, or is the Bar partisan
organ2
AS to Mr.. Kidd's case, it is not
yet decided. He was suspended and
so was Mr.. Morris until hearing on
the merits of the case could be had
February 7. We have no fears but
that justice will be done Mr.. Kidd;
but how about Brohard and Via? AS
they are Republicans, justice is not
to be expected for them. Why is the
Bar silent as to thein2
One other question: Were the laws
and constitution complied with in
1850, when the vote on Governor
was not opened. declared or published
by the proper officer? The Bar editor
was here then, and a Democrat.
What has he to say of that steal1-
State Journal.