West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-10
Vote the Ticket Straight.


West Virginia the "royal office
holding family" and all must
agree that Interpretation fits them
most becomingly.
Let us take retrospective view
ofthe "royaloffic family"
and see if the Grafton correspond
ent is not within the bounds of
accuracy when he declares that
the "royal office-holding family
and its connections have grown
fat at the public crib"
How long has Gov. William
Meekins Owens Dawson held
office? He served a term or two
as state senator; Two terms as sec
rotary of state, and will have four
years of the governorship, which
will make twenty years in which
he has fed at the public crib. Is
Gov. Dawson satisfied? No, in
deed. He is now laying his plans
to succeed Senator Nathan Bay
Scott as United States senator,
which, if successful, and he lives,
would make twenty-six years in
which he would draw salary
from the state and national treas
uries, and all for the "good of the
party"
Next comes Senators Elkins and
Scott. The former has served
twelve years and has entered upon
six years more. The junior sem
ator is serving his second term and
has no idea of relinquishing his
job if the people do not decree
otherwise, or the Dawson machine
don't sandbag him.
Then come Charles w. Swisher
and Arnold G. Scherr. Swisher
served four years as state senator
when George G. Sturgiss was an
applicant for the position. He is
now secretary of state, which will
give him four years more of feast
ing at the public crib. Mr.. Scherr
is serving his second term as state
auditor, which will make eight
years in which he did not have TO
worry about union or scab wages.
The scale of wages paid public
officials looks so inviting that both
Swisher and Scherr have an
nounced that they are willing to
serve four years as governor.
1t is further stated on good au-
thority that the "royal ofiice-hold-
ing family" has provided hand
somely for their connections. This
is to be expected, as blood is said
to be thicker than water.
We might localize and show
that in most of the counties the
"royal blood" has held the reins
for years and crowded the "com-
mon herd" from the public crib,
but it would take up too much
space. We have kept a close tab
on the "royal family" and pride
ourself on the missionary work we
have done to expose its rottenness.
But suffice it TO mention the name
of one gentleman whose chief dis
tinction is his weak defense of the
statehouse machine.
III. S. Whetsell served four years
as county superintendent of free
schools and is serving his second
term as postmaster, which will
make twelve years in which he
has been gamboling in the clover,
and unless the common herd"
intervenes he has no thought of
voluntarily handing the pie over
to his next door neighbor who has
never tasted the pastry. Not much.
But Bro. Whetsell will, in the most
lovable and brotherly spirit, adj
monish his next door neighbor to
"vote the ticket straight to show
his loyalty to the party" that has
done so much to make him "happy
and prosperous"
How many Republicans in Pres
ton have taken the time to look
over the list Of the "royal office
holding families?" To the Repub-
lican who has been voting the
ticket straight while the "royal
family" has been basking in the
sunshine Of the heshpots Of Egypt
we would kindly ask him 10 stop
and think over this matter. 1t
may be the means Of opening his
eyes to the stern fact that it is the
"royal family" that is meant when