Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-15

| ~ tht toHNtutloH
of the Adkins district which was
held at Gary, Mcdowell county. last
April. Edward O'Toole. the genera
manager OF the United States Coal
and Coke Company. which is the
property OF the United States Steel
Corporation was chairman OF the
convention. He had made out a
slate a few days previous to the
holding of the convention, which
consisted of himself as member of
the board or education, c. c. Froe,
a negro. for justice OF the peace
and one, Pennington, for constable.
Some OF the white men from the
upper end OF the district attempted
to nominate other candidates where
upon Mr.. O'Toole, the chairman. ad-
dressed them in substance as fol-
lows:
I'VE have marshals here to pre-
serve order and II any OF you fell
lows are looking for trouble you
can get it,"
The only trouble in evidence was
the attempt of some of the old cit
izens of the county to nominate
white candidate for justice of the
peace. 1t also appeared that the
negroes wanted a man for member
of the board OF eduction or consta-
BILE, and the ruling of Mr.. O'Toole
| ca I'm ftt ri "a ~
ened an open revolt. Here is the
way the politicians have attempted
to satisfy the disgruntled negroes.
When Mr.. Esser. the man appointed
county TO register voters, became
Ill with typhoid fever the same
county court. through the influence
OF some unknown party, or on its
Moon. a negro lawyer and school
teacher, to nll the vacancy caused
by the illness of Mr.. Ess r.
Think OF it! A negro registrar
before whom white men must APP
pear and register! How would Mer-
Ger citizens like to have a sample?
This was evidently done to terror
ize and humillate the white voters
OF the county, the idea being that
white man had rather let his vote
go by default than to be reg Stored
by a negro. Never, The white
men OF Mcdowell county will pre-
sent solid front at the polls next
November and bury forever any set
OF politicians who stoop to such
methods.
Where is DR.. Hatfield, the presi
dent of the county court OF Nc
Dowell county, that he will allow
such gross insult to be heapei
upon the white men OF his county?
Did he acquiesce in the appoint
ment? or did he appoint negro
registrar? If So shame on him;
and our previous opinion Of him. II
he consented TO or aided in the ap-
pointment Of a negro registrar, is
correct.
AS to Edward (ColoneD O'Tool.
He came to Mcdowell county less
than four years ago a red-hot Irish
Democrat. but did not have the
courage of his convictions to line
with the minority party in Mellow
Ell county, or perhaps he was
threatened as so many men have
been that II they didn't "fal1 jn"
they would be "knocke J." This is
evidently the idea that w. w.
Hughes had when he wrote to the
DAILY Telegraph a few days ago,
that when men suggested that
things were not going right in Nc
Dowell county politically and NOR
ally they we're knocked in business
and every other way" Perhaps Mr.
O'Toole thinks more Of the interests
Of the United States steel Corpora
ton than he thinks OF his personal
integrity
The case OF Mr.. O'TOole Is not
the only example of where men in
Mcdowell county have had to
change politics TO hold their posi-
ton. Tn this ring-ridden county no
labor organization has voice, with
the exception OF the employees Of
the Norfolk and Western railway
company. Men who toll day By day
and clerks and statesmen who work
through the long hours Of the night,
as we'll as the day. are afraid to
raise their voice in protest For
instance. II it becomes known to
certain leaders in the Republican
party who are close TO the county
court that a saloon keeper has
clerk in his employ who will vote
any other than the Republican tick
ct these leaders go TO the owner Of
the saloon and inform him that he
/ will either have to DISCHARGE or CON