Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-03-03
Scores Party Leaders.

The legislative committee which
has been investigating the Elliott let
ter and matters connected Herewith
SEEMS to he through. The old. old
inquiry naturally forces itself TO the
front: IF so soon it was to be done
Tor what was it begun for?" The tact
is that il the press reports are at all
reliable there has really been no inves-
tigation at all. We MAX this asser-
ton after reading the Parkersburg
News report and Major ElliUtt prom
ised to give it all Our orthodoxy
may again be questioned for talking
this way but we are willing to take
the risk. We do not deem il any more
damaging to the party TO speak the
truth than it is for the. committee to
make sham and farce of the in
vest1gation, We take the broad
ground that it is not necessary for
political party and its leaders to prac.
tice fraud and deception upon the
public 10 order to accomplish its wor-
thy and legitimate ends. We hold
that 1t is not only possible but posi-
lively easy for party to merit and
hold the confidence aud sincere sun.
port OF the public by an honest, open
honorable course. We hold that this
is the only safe foundation upon
which any party can build its hopes
OF gaining and holding power. The
republican party Of West Virginia has
been placed in false position by GER
tain OF its leaders during the last two
years. Rank and open deception has
been practiced upon the party and
the people in order to secure pows +
and position for certain leaders. These
leaders evidently look upon their con-
nection with the party and consider
their interest in it IS cold blooied
personal proposition They are not
party men nor statesman, but profess
sionai politicians for personal gain.
The republican party of the state is
not in sympathy with such prac tees
and principles or rather lack of prilc
pies. 1t would be disastrous indeed if
the republican party N West Virginia
is hurled from power on account of
unp~incipled leaders that have fasten-
ed themselves upon it. We know we
throw ourselves liable to tn, charge
OF Opening old sores'' and all that
by referring to the contest for tn.
nomination for governor last summer
tut We Will remind the people that
make the charge that those old or new
sores are not OF our making. They
know who are responsible for those
sores and that is why they howl so
about having them opened up. Those
'old sores should be torn open and
Kept open in their rankest d most
hideous form until certain Republican
leaders learn some sense. II is noto-
r'cus that the Republican nomination
Tor governor was secured last July by
a demagogic howl against corpora
ton and populistic appeal to "the
common people" which was SO mis-.
leading as to cause the farmers and
others to believe that if certain Re
publican was nominated for and elect
ed governor they would be entirely
rec from paying taxes. 1t is equally
as notorious that after thus securing
the nomination, by demogogic, pop
ullstic appeal to the common PEG
| pie" the same candidate gave or caus-
ed to be given OF assented to the Civ
ing by wink, nod. gesture or other
wise the assurance to those same cor
poratious that their interests and al
fairs would, be safe if be were elected
governor. Thus the common peo-
pie were, so to speak, traded to the
corporations to secure the election in
November. These matters are stated
oluntiy but there must be plenty OF
blunt, open, frank talk if the party is
saved from its friends, West. Virginia
is Republican state because the in.
terests of her people are bound up to
Republican principles. II is not nee
essary to practice fraud AMI deception
to keep her Republican.
Moundsville Herald.
BEWARE OF OINTMFNTS FOR
CATARRH THAT CONTAIN
MERCURY,
as mercury will surely destroy the