Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-03
WHITE DEFENDS DAWSON
Sases S'Fong Reply to the
Charges Of Iohn J cOrnwelI.
scosEs the LATTER SHARPLY
says FhAt cornwsil lie Actuated BY
an unwcgthy Partisan Spirit In
Attacking tha Chief Executive.

Attacking ths Chief Executive.
A sewsrsper man called upon for.
mef ssaseFnor A. b. White at Parkar~.
borg. on Friday sna asked nim IL he
cared - reply % ans Of the statements
coptainsd ia tbe CoFnweu letter re-.
esafly pabiisbed Hs seemed willing.
shoneh a very busy man H. salk on
fhaf sahieet, and ths following ure.
sention q bis views was given bv
Gov White
In reply 20 senator Casnwell's
statements / would say
TIE governors If West Virginia
have uat failed 20 enforce the laws.
Including those regulating railroads.
Whenever their attention has been
called 20 matters. where they had
power 30 act A. 20 many matters,
notably lynchinss. criminal prosecu-
ton for same. etc. the governor has
no powers. He has never been clothed
by the Legislature with necessary
power 10 enforce any laws. He. has
absolutely no power over any elective
county officials lie has no power
over judicial proceedings. The COVER
nor cannot act heween private par
ties or corporations in iigitation unla
less advised and appealed 20 for help
and then only Ia limited way.
While governor ! acted every time l
could do 40 ia controversies between
railroads and shippers. when advised
OF the facts. was able to do effec-
tive service in some important mat
tiers As an intermediary, and such
able democratic attorneys a. Paynes.
of Charleston, and such railroad
counsel as Il. w. knight. ESQ. Of
Charleston can testify to THESE mat
ters, IL Mr.. Cornwell or others think
did not do my dutv. Honest efforts
have been made repeatedly to enforce
the existing railroad laws and expen
sive litigation has been had. Bat IL is
lamentably true that our present rail-
road regulating laws are ineffective
in remedy aud therefore practically
dead letters. TO say nothing Of great
delays and enormous expense involved
in the litigation. The railroads are
practically masters of the field and the
governors are practically powerless.
Additional legislation is imperatively
needed and has been recommended
and urged repeatedly. To say that mo
honest efforts to enforce existing laws
have been made by the governor of our
state is not true and cont rary to
facts.
Governor Dawson letter TO Sena
tor Tillman was true in its statement
of conditions in this state. Repeat.
cd efforts have been made in our state
and United States courts to correct
the abuses complained of and our state
laws and national laws have proved
miserably inadequate. Not line of
advanced railroad legislation, which
would help the shipper or protect
him, has been permitted to be made
q law in our state in many years.
The railroads have absolutely con-
trolled the situation. This is his.
torical and regrettsble fact.
IF Mr.. Cornwell's article means
any thing, 1T means that he ia opposed
to any remedial railroad legislation
which would give republican COVER
nor any powers or enable him to do
anything. Cornwell Is so PARTISAN
he can see nothing but politics in any
legislation which the railroads would
oppose. He would rather let the rail-
roads go undisturbsd than trust a re-
publican governor or even admit that
a republican governor has done or
will do his duty The railroads will
all be pleased with Mr.. Oornwell's
views. They ought to be. But the
issne is greater than narrow partisan
ship. The evils are here and should
be cured at any cost
i. "A railroad commission with ads-
quate powers to enforce the laws and
/ protect tho shippers Is imperatively
J demanded and needed in this state
, The man who would make pa tisan-
ship and uDfouuded Attacks on the
nop6r Of the hi 4 executive OF tile
Estate an excuse to oppose such leg' e.
lation Is to be It'll d.: but, worse than
thas. he is an CT envy In bis state, I'M
der mean aud O. ntemptihle disguise.
Tue business interests Of this STATE
J know that Governor Dawson stated
the facts in HE letter to Senator Till.
man. as TO the nerd of national lesis-
iation. as we'll as the necessity for
adequate state regulation in West vir
ginia Of or railroads Mr. Cornweil
may seek TO cloud the Issue and to
rallv the democratic party to the de.
Tense Of the railroads because Cover.
nor Dawson is republican and the
q. sent occupant of the governor q
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