West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-12-31
RS0n'S tier 10 Republican Friend
I'd Petersburg
Why HE STOPPED FIGHTING SCHEME
Wall Street Clients Promptly Advised
as 10 Progress OF SHIT.
Our Danger.

1Ou asked why i stopped ngbting the
debt scheme?' stopped because those
now prominent in both parties seem un-
willing to antagonize the influence which
is decciving the public and especially
honest editors. Every speaker heard of
during the campaign who referred TO the
subject courted public confidence by pub
fishing that he was so utterly uncon-
cerncd about the states welfare that he
had not taken trouble To inform himself
about the most important matter ever
before our people. Hence the popular
disgust as TO party leaders and hence
Benefits defeat. Undoubtedly the grand
jury class arc disguised as never before,
and you may rely upon it that the honest
part of the intelligent class will rally to
any aggressive brainy man who says that,
having studied this subject, he feels pre-
pared 10 express views.
My hope was that Scherr's rebellion,
representing as it did the best element in
your party, would educate some brainy
and manly Republicans in the legislature
to appreciate the opportunity which Of
icrs to destroy the machine which now
has their party in its clutch, and to de-
stroy it by forcing a hearing for the fact
that appointing proper commission, to
give the legislature the truth about this
debt suit scheme, will make the state
safe. If any such Republican offered
this proposition, and thereby defcd the
machine, he would be instantly hailed
everywhere as the Roosevelt of West Nir-
ginia and be far too strong with the peo-
pie for any machine 10 resist. OF course
men of scrvile nature will seek such
prefGrmcnt as may be obtained by truck
ling to machine which they dcnounce
in private, but a manly man, if brainy,
must know that he has no political future
so long as his party is in the clutch of a
corrupt oligarchy which excludes who
ever refuses blind submission.
Our friend - says he can excuse him
sell by leaving it to the court. Senator
- is quoted as saying that having con-
suited Spooner and Carlisle, he thinks
the state safe. / guarantee neither will
90 on record as giving that opinion. Look
at the situation. The court would not
have unanimously overruled the de-
murrer unless it had decided to take jur-
sdiction. 1t would not have appointed
Littlefeld to report the facts, required to
state the account, ii the answer offered
any defense The Virginia attorneys,
working for contingent fee and supplied
with money by Wall street, and also
West Virginia have had accountants in
Richmond eighteen months collecting the
figures to state the account. Virginia
gave Littefeld her figures last month.
West Virginia is to give her figures Feb
ruary %. 1t is safe to assume that the
Virginia attorneys promptly advised Wall
street clients as to the minimum for
which the court must bring us in debt.
Brown Brothers receipts Immediately
jumped TO 30 per cent. This necessarily
means that Wall street calculates on our
issuing not less than $9,650,0 600 of bonds
on account of the debt, and OF course this
does not include the value of property
transferred by the act Of 1868. See Mays
reprint, page l4I. | understand Virginia
attorneys put this property at five mil
lions as the minimum. In truth, the
certificates would go to over G6 per cent
except for the fear that our Legislature
will appoint n proper commission.
1t matters not how it came about, it
has come about that the machine, con-
trolling your party, has staked its per-
manency on preventing such n commits
sion as would inform the legislature and
the public Of the truth about this matter
Hence, the opposition to such a COM
mission. Hence, also, the carefully manu-
featured popular delusion, which some
in our party are cultivating, that we are
safe with the court But if any strong
man in your party, having informed
himself before the legislature met, de-
handed such action a. would give the
legislature the facts, then every one
would instantly see the absurdity Of
dealing with any phase Of this business
until such a commission had reported.
But better yet, every one would sec that
opposition % appointing such commits
sion originates with corrupt purpose.
The paper you refer 30 was prepared
because informed that our friend -
would be in the house. n any such Re-
publican had been elected hc would have
forced a hearing and become too strong
for any machine.
You ask what propose doingf Moth
Ing When a man IL my age and with |
out need for more than be- has, then he |
viii not, ii sensible, torture himself UNI |
Jess Do secs opportunity 10 render great
public service But when % scheme is ON |
foot Offering such gigantic profit a- the
difference between what the roads cost
and the amount for which the court will |
bring us in debt then opportunity does
not offer except To- a member o. the lcgi-
latura Our danger lies solely in the
TACT That yraitcr- have managed -o
shrewdIy az 90 bctray such honest men
as-- and .---i into making public utter
anre that in their opinion, there was mo |
danger Both spoke without reflection |
and both disgustcd the intelligent class
But such inspired utterances have de- /
eeIvod our people and they viii presently |
have rude awakening TN MAs0v.
Charlie Town vs.. Va.
DR. T..rrry.e .rorft..rg l.rt.. ,,rf,,,.s