The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-12-14


class, and the rank and file of the
Republican party VIII rally strongly
to his support because his party
record shows him to be man whose
loyalty to the party is SO strong as
to prevent him from seeking any
personal advantage or gain at the
expense of the party.
The third element Il strength
behind the Swisher campaign is the
fact that the state administration
and that great majority of the party
standing behind the policies OF the
present progressive governor. as
well as the governor himself. are
supporting Swisher in his candi-
dacy. Governor Dawson is not an
migrate. It Is ridiculous to claim.
and impossible to believe, that he is
not favorable to Mr.. Swisher. IN
order to know where the state ad-
ministration stands, it is only nee
essary to recall the course pursued
by Mr.. Swisher after his election as
secretary OF state, in connection
with the policies and the adminstra-
tion of Governor Dawson.
At the time that Mr.. swisher was
elected to his present Office he was
member OF the state senate. He
was elected in November, as secre-
tary of state, to take Office the fol-
lowing March, at which time his
term as state senator expired. There
was at that time, a considerable ele-
ment of the Republican party OPP
posed to the progressive policies
championed by that party in its
state platform, and represented by
the governor-elect The opposition
was well organized and AGGRESSIVE
1t started out with a discrimination
to prevent any substantial change
in the tax system OF the state, and
to neutralize, If possible. Govern
or Dawson's victory. 1t selected a
candidate for president of the ser
ate known to be hostile to Govern
or Dawson and his policies, and
such was the energy displayed by
Ms faction. and the strength mar
lsfed by it, that but one vote in
| ,.,e senate would have been required
70 elect this opposition candidate.
Had he been elected it would have
been impossible to secure the pas
sage of single tax reform meas
ure. Governor Dawson's hands
would have been tied, and his en-
tire administration discredited.
Senator Swisher had vote at that
time. and his vote, cast either for
or against the opposition candidate
would have elected or defeated him.
Senator Swisher had then been
elected secretary of state, but
had not yet entered upon the duties
of the Office, the term commencing
the fourth of March following. At
that time the secretary of state, not
Mr.. Swisher, was paid for his serv-
ices in certain fees allowed by law.
| These fees amounted to from TWEEN
ty-fve thousand to forty thousand
dollars a year. When Mr.. Swisher
was elected to that office. under the
| law as it then stood he was entitled
to enjoy the receipts of these fees
upon taking charge of the office.
This would have meant moderate
fortune to a man in Mr.. Swisher's
circumstances. The opposition to
Governor Dawson approached Mr..
Swisher and tried to induce him
to vote for the opposition candidate
for president of the senate He de-
clined to do this, stating that he
was elected upon a platform pIedg-
ing the party to carry out the re-
forms for which Governor Dawson
stood. and that he intended TO re-
main faithful to the platform on
which he was elected. He was then
told that IL he did not vote for tho
opposition candidate, the opposition
forces would unite with the Demo-
Gratis in the state senate. and they
would pass a measure taking from
him the fees of his office as secre-
tary of state. and make the office
practically worthless to him. put
ting him upon salary that would
barely suffice to support him, and
compel him either to resign the Of
fee of secretary Of state or hold Il
at a personal sacrifice. Mr.. SWISH
err replied that they might deprive
him of the fees to which he was
entitled. and make his salary so
low that he would have to work on
the public streets to pay his board |
during his term of office. but never
theless he would hold that office
for the term of four years; and he
N.nml1l vote fnr thn ndministrnti...