The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-11-16

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sent course. the gentlep.en who com.
pose the oflcehoIding machine in
West Virginia or those who are at
lacking them? II the Republican par
~ goes cut of power temporarily wac
who viii. be to blame.-.the ofiicehold.
ers who viii not yield an inch or the
people who are attacking them? II
patriotism and love OF party are to
prevail why should not those who
hold positions have some of 1t as well
as those who do not? These are of
course questions that the Fairmont
West yirginian will not answer in
any direct way but Will simply eyade
the Issue by stating that what is, Is
right and must go on forever.-Par.
kersburg State Journal.
As to the first question we answer
without hesitation that those who are
attacking the "offlcenolding machine"
have always been wrong. They were
against the government and the PEG.
pie at the outset. being wholly and
solely for the corporations. Failing
to win in the Wheeling convention
they tried to defeat Governor Dawson
and tax reform in the election
which followed. and again failing
they threw every obstacle in the way
OF tax reform legislation. They
crippled this to some extent but we
trust not permanently. 1t is to be
hoped that 1t may be cured by the
next Legislature.
AS to the second question: II the
Republican party should go out OF
power either temporarily or perma.
nently It Is easy to tell who would be
to blame. Any child ought to know
that. It will be the Stalnaker-Teter
gang-the same gang that tried to
defeat the party and tax reform at
the last election and that would still
destroy the force of the latter IL II
could and as 1t will with Democratic
aid whenever the Republican party
loaes control of the Legislature.
AS to the third question we see
nothing in 1t. II those who hold po-
sitions are not possessed with pa.
triotism and love of party we would
not expect to find such with the gang
referred to. How could Ran Stalna-
ker be expected to love the Republi-
can party. anyhow?
Now If we have failed to answer
the State Journal in direct way we
want to assure it that we did not
come when everybody should speak
out. The Teterites and anti-tax re
formers generally are bent on dis.
rupting our party. and we are sorry
to see that others who should know
better. including the. State Journal,
are giving them aid and encourage.
ment.
We suppose that the officeholders
who will not yield an inch" referred
to by the State Journal, are those
who hold positions on the Republic.
can State Committee. The West
Virginian is regarded as being pref.
ty sound in its Republication, but If
we were the "ofilceholders" in ques.
ion before we would yield an inch"
10 the gang that is pursuing them we
would see the party sink. The State
Committee is all right. 1t was as
fairly and legally chosen as any of
its predecessors. 1t consists of fif-
teen members. three of whom were
fortunate enough to obtain good of
fices-one by election, the other two
by appointment. The three referred
to are Secretary of State Swisher.
District Attorney Northcott and In
ternal Revenue Collector Glasscock.
Mr.. Swisher fully earned the office he
has and the other two worthy gentle.
men performed services in the last
campaign that entitled them to all
the consideration they have received.
Mr.. Swisher only recently became
member of the committee. He was
made its chairman following the res.
ignation of MIR. Northcott as such.
The fact that they are referred to as
bosses or machine is meaningless as
well as ridiculous and that such talk
is heard is because the gang has no