Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-08
MONEY DEFEATED DENT
So Says the Judge In a Letter
to Supporters.
EXPENSES LESS THAN $1,000
Defeated Candidate In the Secon'
District Says Elkins Used Enor-
nous Sum.

those who so nobly stood by him and
supported him with their influence
and their votes, has been issued by
Judge nj. III. Dent, late candidate Tor
congress in the Second district:
To My Supporters in the Late 'Elec'
ton:
Eentlemen:-You have my undying
gratitude for having so unfinchingly
stood by me without money and with
out price when you could have so cas-
ily disposed of your votes and services
for valuable consideration.
When | was nominated | announced
publicly that had neither money nor
the inclination to buy the Office
throughout the whole campaign II
faithfully adhered to this declara-
ton, although continually informed
by members of both parties that with
out money there was no possible show
of my election.
The echoes of the convention had
hardly died away until demands fol
money began to roll in upon me from
all parts of the district and did not
cease until the polls closed. Nor were
they confined to election expenses, but
christian people wanted money TO
build churches, erect memorial win
dows, pay preachers, purchase flowers
for decoration purposes and suits OF
clothes for themselves. My expenses
were too heavy for me to answer all
of these requests favorsbly as | would
like to have done. Everywhere | went
the same cry for money, money,
money" rang in my ears. Up In the
beautiful Moorefield valley. where all
things seemed to be peaceable and so
near to natures God, wealthy dwell
er thereof stopped me by the roadside
and said:
81 am for you. But no man can now
be elected on your platform of honest
and pure politics. The people are
generally corrupt. They have become
worshippers of Mammon and will not
20 to the polls unless raid for their
trouble. The Offices are fast becom-
ing the property of rich men and their
hirelings Many ministers OF the
Gospel are mere parasitic sycophants
of the rascally hypocrites who pay
their salaries and instead OF advanc-
ing the Kingdom of God are engaged
In promoting the works of Mammon.
Church members spend the Sabbath
trying to deceive the Lord and the
rest of the week deceiving their
neighbors. They are Mammon mad.
Through whisky, prejudice and money
the voters are binding themselves TO
the iron car of a plutocracy engaged
In bribing them with one hand with
a small portion of the plumber that
ii takes from them with the other
Therefore, listen to what | say, you
cannot be elected. Whisky, prejudice
and money are arrayed against you,
and whiskey, prejudice and money are
nothing for the Ten Commandments
and the Golden Rule
Nor was | long in the field until |
learned that my real contest was nol
with its Morgantown dependency, but
was with the moneybund which cen
tiers at Ell1ins and has its habitatiou
along the West Virginia Central ana
Coal & Coke railroads, that bargain
had been made with he railroad au-
thorities, and that the district was be-
ing flooded with corporate money and
other influences. Against such odds
| had nothing upon which to rely but
an abiding confidence in the integrity
of the people.
The result is with you
Az
were much less than 81 10000, which
went 20 newspapers, bands, halls and
travelling expenses. Some few of the
wealthy democrats of the district, for
the purpose of keeping themselves ap,
parently in line, made small contribu-
tions to the campaign, all told amount
ing to less than S1,0000C, which was
used in sending out letters and cam
a
the voters to go to the polls. SO the
whole expense of my campaign was
less than the amount of money sent
by the opposition into the county or
Taylor alone, and have the satisfac
ton of knowing that | neither involv-
ed myself nor any of my friends.
While on the other hand the Honor
able Stephen b. Elkins furnished not
less than 100000 directly or indi-
rectly to nominate a candidate of his
choice and carry the district. Of
course, $50 10000 with his facilities
for making money is 40 more TO him
than $4,000 is to me. and If the office
was to be disposed of 10 the highest
bidder he is certainly ertttled to it as
not only having been the highest but |
the only bidder for it, If had possess |
ed sufficient funds ! might have OUT |
bid him and purchased the office. 1
Though were | many times a million |
aire | would enter into no such con- |
test To do so is crime against free
government which in time will bring |
it's own certain and fearful retribu- I
ton. The justice of public opinion |
moves slowly. but it strikes with an !
iron hand,
Cardinal Gibbons says that man /
who buys an Office is virtually a thief !
and to this strong sentiment outraged I
public opinion will some, day say /
Amen"
A poor man who buys an office in !
stead of holding ii as a matter Of I
trust will sell 1t, while a rich man who |
buys an Office will use II for his own !
selfish ends, although he publicly /
pray
Lord OF hosts be with us yet,
Lest we forget lest we forget
Abe ten commandments and the golden (
rule thou hast established through all