West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-09-06
MORE LIGHT WANTED.
A Citizen and Taxpayer Calls for a
Financial Statement.

those presenting themselves for
office. il would seem that the voter,
before casting his ballot, should
know something about the history
of the men TO be voted for.
As all candidates and all public
officers are subjects OF criticism, no
one can object TO proper criticism
on their official acts and their abili-
ty to properly administer the affairs
of the Office they seek.
Ii is to be supposed that no good
Republican or Democrat will feel
like admitting that they will vote for
man who has been tried and
found wanting, or one who they
may consider incompetent, for no
other reason than that they appear
on the Republican or Democratic
ticket, as the case may be. While
the writer is a Republican, and one
who has never bolted the ticket put
up by Primary election nor conven-
ton, he has always reserved the
right to strike off those that he
could not conscientiously vote for,
in local matters, believing that the
man who aids and fosters corruption
to advance party interests is cor
rupt himself.
When you hear man in either
party publicly announcing that he
would vote for the devil if he APP
peared on the ticket, you can set
that man down as not only fraud
on society, but his party as we'll.
There is only one source for reform
and purity in the body polite, and
that is brought about through the
honest, intelligent voters of all
parties.
With this preface, | desire to pre-
sent to the voters of Kingwood dis
trict, and the town of Kingwood, a
little history as regards their affairs,
and to touch on county matters,
hoping thereby to draw from those
who have had, and now have, charge
of the peoples money a satisfactory
explanation as to the state of our
finances.
1t is charged that the ex-Town
Council of Kingwood has failed to
make and publish such report of
their business as the law directs. 1t
is charged that the same Council,
as well as the one now in office, has
not annually provided for and main.
tanned the Sinking Fund of s33,H.
which was stipulated in and made
part of the conditions upon which
the bonds were voted 1t is further
claimed that the present Council
has contracted debt upon the Cor.
poration without providing for same
by levy, as the law requires.
1t is charged that the Board of
Education of Kingwood district,
after levying from 90 to 65 cents on
the 500 valuation for several years.
in defiance of the law, have recently
contracted a debt on the district of
$500, running two or more years,
upon which orders have been issued
unlawfully.
1t is charged that at least some of
the members of the County Court
have been doing business outside of
that which comes to them officially.
That they have, to some extent at
least, been acting as Road Survey
ors and certifying such claims to
their own body for adjudication,
against the peace and dignity of
the State.
In justice to the officers con.
nected with the matters treated on,
the writer will say that they have a
perfect right to show to the public
that the aforesaid charges are un-
true, and in the event they do so,
they will be entitled to an apology
upon the part of the writer.
1t is to be hoped that satisfac-
tory showing can be made on all
matters complained of before our
November election, as men who fail
to show up will be regarded as
guilty of wrong doing.
1t is further charged that leaders
in both parties are connected with
the town matters complained of,
and that certain big Democrats have
been aiding and abetting the Re-
publican government in rash pro-
ceedings, and that the motto is
"You tickle me and ] will tickle
YOU" The latter comes from a
Democratic source largely, and
Democrats are not supposed to lie.
Respectfully,
A REPUBLICAN.
kingwood, Sept 3, 1900.
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