The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-11-26
A Vote for FRANCIS
is "a vote for Catholicism.
DO .Nou want TO Put $4,000, 900 OF
Harrison County's Money in the.
HANDS OF THE POPE?

This poster appeared in various
parts OF the county and especially at
precincts where there was a good
sized Catholic vote. Furthermore, It'll
appeared in the hands of Democraticl
politicians and ward Aeelers who
used 1t largely in a secret manner to
influence voters. both Catholic and
Protestant. So far as known. SUCH
handbill was not exhibited by Repub-I
licans.
The first public mention of this
hand-bill, SO far us the newspapers
of the city are concerned, appeared
in a modest manner in the Clarks-
burg Daily News, the Democratic
paper, the morning after the election.
under the headline "a DIRTY
TRICK" and the brief article in
question undertook to impute the re-
sponsibility for this high-handed at
tack and aspersion upon the Catholic
religion and integrity to the Repub-
lican party, and through other ave-
|nues the Telegram was charged with
the publication and circulation of
the said hand-bill.
False Charge Made.
Some time later, one of these same
Ilibelous illusions to the Catholic
religion fell into the hands of the
editors OF this newspaper and It'll
came to their ears that they were
charged with its publication and cir
culation, although the fact of its ex-I
ristence was unknown to them. They
were amazed that they should be
confronted with such charge and
startled that any one should so dis
regard the. we'll accepted American
principle that church and state
should be separate and apart as to
promulgate such a mean, contempt
able un-American idea as stated onI
he hand-bill referred to-.
The question as to where this
despicable insinuation and libel
against the Catholic church of this
city came from and who was its
author arose not only in the minds
of the editors of the Telegram, but
also in the minds of all fair-minded
men, politicians and others who make
no distinctions OF religion when I'll
comes to the public service. This
question not only in Justice to them
selves bit also for truth and right.
the editors of this paper set out to
answer by placing the blame where
they believe it properly belongs and
to clear the Republican party of
Harrison county of the calumny in
tended to be heaped upon it by the
circulation of the infamous hand-bill
herein mentioned.
Exposure is Made.
This paper firmly believes that i'll
has accomplished this task and takes
pride In presenting that achievement
to the public In the present issue.
thus dispelling the cloud of stigma
that enemies of both the Republican
party and religion would have hang
about them.
Investigation. carefully made, has
brought to light that these hand
bills. which sought to inflame those
of Catholic faith. were printed with
the self-same type used by the
Clarksburg Daily News in printing
its own headlines. There can he
no question as to thu identity of the
type used, and there is prima facie
case in this particular against the
Clarksburg Daily News. as will be
observed from the reproductions
presented on this page OF the Tele-
gram. Only a casual study of the
same is necessary to convince even
the ordinary reader. and all familiar
with local newspapers and the type
used readily see that the type used
in the handsbill is of the same kind
and character that has been used by
the Clarksburg Daily News in It's
ffsontintaa nm mage A1