The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-11-05
Ward P. O., November 3, 1908
The Editor Of the Mail,

Ward P. O., November 3, 1908.
The Editor Of the Mail,
Charleston, w. Va.
Dear Sir:-k hand you. herewith
above clipping from the Charleston
Gazette under date Of November Bird,
which, ann proud of. During the
many years of my residence In West
Virginia, the Gazette has continued
toS1A9wl doodle" and Coercion on
the part Of the publican party land
pretended to favor fair and impair
tiai elections without coercion ano
Doodle | have always favored that
policy, and in line with the aggres-
sive action of the leaders of both par
ties in this particular election, I was
determined, if possible, to prevent
any coercion or the use of boodle4 or
influence of any kind at this voting
precinct. H.
The Gazette's correspondent harps
upon the fact that l objected even to
the discussion OF politics on election
day, which is true. Any man with
one grain of sense will know that at
IA works as large as these officers,
foremen and even Influential en-
D1oyes, can coerce other employees
more with arguments and intima-
tons than they could with the use Of
a pint of liquor or dollar.
Now, what in the. above article
does the Gazette criticise or object to.
The Republican party did not, as did
The Democratic party, have repre-
sentative come son to these works,
Sunday, for the purpose of laying
their plans to corrupt the election at
this place; neither did The Republi-
can party, as did the Democratic par
IS. send a representative here from
distant town (Who, is whisky ped
lar on the sideJ to influence our vo-
! ters 'unduly. They both, however,
promptly left this locality and I have
stated in public remarks to the citi-
zens' Of this locality on three differ
ent occasions, November 3rd, that 1T
was my wish for every man connect
! ed With this company to vote his SEM
timents as he pleased, and that re-
gardIess Of how he voted or to what
Tparty he was allied. 1t would not in
"oS way dHSCb lib SCduulHS Win the
company. There are hundreds of
i Democrats and Republicans both
! ~ho heard these remarks and will
substantiate my statements. IT,
| ] have said to Republicans and
Democrats alike that no influence of
any kind will be allowed around this
precinct on election day. II the Dem
| ocrats would pursue the same policy,
instead Of buying Charleston at each
election at price Of between $780,
900 and $4,000, we would have less
| corruption.
| Now, as to the article itself and
the expressions of the Gazette. The
| author of that article, whether he be
correspondent of the editor of. the
! Gazette, is an unmitigated cowardly
! liar, whose strongest forte Is to SLAM
der under an assumed name good
citizen, and tried to place an improp7
er construction upon his acts, which
were intended to enforce the law and
assure to everyone absolute freedom
| In the use Of their ballot: The paper
or individual who asserts that | am
a member Of, or allied with, the So
called hog combine or any other POI
litical ring or clique other than the
straight Republican party, is an ut,a
mitigated liar, and 4 believe he
knows IT, 'ea...,.22 O. e.. ISIS. .
The entire statement itslef, on it's
H "A