West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-07-20
DANGEROUS ADVICE.

~
the advice which the State Journal
is giving to the Republican brethren
was carried out to its ultimate con.
clusion that il wo' "a destroy the
usefulness of the Press. The State
Journal can hardly be excused for
protesting that it has no knowledge
OF the corruption which has domi
mated the Republican politics of
West Virginia for the past ten years
10y what is known as the estate
Machine" The ARGUS has always
admired the independent spirit of
the State Journal in politics, and
considered it one of The best edited
papers in the state, but its advice
to its Republican contemporaries to
'1et by-gones be by-gones" is
dangerous thing. 1t is only through
the exposure of political corruption
and the men who are responsible
Tor 1t that we can hope to purify the
political atmosphere. Because men
have been elected to the highest
Offices within the gift of the people
by political corruption is no reason
that they are free from exposure
and honest criticism while they are
enjoying their illgotten spois. They
should be exposed and branded in
the pillory of disgrace by the press
as a warning to others who may at
tempt to folloy In their foot steps.
Suppose the Republican press
would adopt the suggestions Of the
State Journal. What would be the
resulta II could mean nothing more
or less than the retention of the
Machine in power. 1t would be
impossible for il to be otherwise.
Is the State Journal so innocent as
to imagine that the gang of Re-
publican politicians who have con
troll of the State of West Virginia
are going to relinquish that hold
without a desperate strugglep AS
one whom THE ARGUS respects il
would like to ask the State Journal
If it thinks il possible to make the
people believe in the heat of a polit-
ical campaign that their party can
didates are not worthy of supportp
Is it not fact that such exposures
OF corruption and campaign deals
are largely discounted by the people
when the campaign is at white heatp
This has been the observations of
The Argus and il fancies the State
Journal will agree with it.
How then are we to correct such
evils in politics If we do not educate
the people when they will listeu to
reason and common sense2 Is It
not the duty of the press to tell the
people how these political statesmen
secured their nomination and cleo
tion1 If they we're secured by fraud
and corrupt methods is 1t not duty
the press owe the people to keep
the name Of such men fresh in the
memory Of the people less they for
get them, regardless of what gfneir
politics may be or the Office they
may hold2
The ARGUS esteems the State
Journal too highly to characterize
it as a political "organ", for it yer.
lily believes that its contemporary
wears the collar of no clique or
machine, but it must be frank and
say that the advice which the State
Journal is giving to its Republican
brethren, who cannot forget or for
give the iniquities Of the Machine,
is far more helpful to the Machine
than all the ranting Of the Machine
organs. 1t would do more to per.
petuate machine politics in this
state than any other agency.
s------
The appointment OF Elihu Root,
the great corporation lawyer, to be
Secretary Of State in President
Rooseyelrs Cabinet is another vic.
tory for the trusts and is considera.
bly, at variance with the Presidents
pretended views on railway rate leg
islation. Mr.. Root is an able law
yer and doubtless he is one Of the
most capable Of the men prominent
in the Republican party More.
over, il will be a source Of rejoicing
to the railroads to have Mr.. Root
selected for a seat at the Presidents
cabinet table, for they have not for
gotten that the first case Mr.. Root
took when he went out Of the cabi-
net was that Of the Northern Secu.
rites Company when he became,
f.r o. rnw~g.fn-.ata..