The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-04-21
WHAT HE-4RsT tjs.s.
s. MOVEMENT MEANS
trying to Buy His Way TO the Presi-s
dency-A Timely Article

indianapolis NcWs.) ~
For the first time in the history of
this country there is an open and
Shameless effort to buy the presidency,
of the United States. And one of&the.
Oldest States in the union, the State
that, in the early days OF the. country,
stood for religious freedom, has sue
cumbed to the Infamous TEN patton.
One year ago no one could have mag
ined that this disgrace could have
come to the nation. But it is mere.
and it must be dealt with. We have
had much corruption in our politics.
Men have been almost openly charged
buying seats in the United States Sen
ate Voters have. been purchased IN
droves Legislation has been bought.
and paid for. Rich men, members of
churches. lawyers respectable So
called merchants, have engaged in
this traffic. But up to the present
the presidency has not thus been as
sailed. The would-be purchaser OF
this high office is not to blame, be-
cause he knows no better. But there
are men supporting him and lending
him aid and comfort, who know bet
ter, and they should be made to feel
the disgrace which the association
with this corrupt campaign brings up
on them. But more important than
all this is the fact that it is the lack
Of sensitiveness to the dictates OF ga
high political morality on the part
of the people generally that has
brought us to this pit of infamy.
Such phrases as money talks, the
sinews of war;" campaigns cannot
be run without money, nothing sue
ceeds like success" and many other
such wicked lies, indicate sufficient fly
low tone in our political and bust
ness life. There are many men, 9th
erwise above reproach. who seem to
feel that a man is entitled to what
ever he can buy. So we have graft
on every hand. A United States Sen
ator has just been convicted Of selling
his services for illegal purposes.
Banks are wrecked by methods which
differ from those of the burglar only
in that they are worked from the in
side Giant corpora tons are fraudu-
lently organized and criminally wreck
name for stealing-in the necessares
of life is legitimate businesses far
as public opinion is concerned Fran
chises are boldly bought and sold
Tariff laws are paid for with contribu
lions to campaign funds to be corrupt
ly used. And the jingling Of the
guinea helps the hurt that Honor
feels. This base and impudent
campaign is a symptom Of conditions
that are serious. The fact should be
recognized. Is not there an issue
here with which the pulpit may prop
erly concern itself? When Simon the
Sorcerer sought to purchase from the
apostles the power TO confer the gift
of the Holy Ghost. ST. Peter said:
THY money perish with thee be-
cause thou hast thought that the gift
of God may be purchased with
money This is the answer which
the American people will give to the
man who is trying TO buy the presi-
dency. They will also soberly pom
der the conditions that have made
such brides possibe.-"Thy money
perish with thee'-that is the reply
that should be made to every man
that seeks to corrupt the political
life of this great people. 1t ought
man to buy what ought not to be
bought as it is for a camel to pass
through the eye of a, needle.