The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-11-24
A DiahoIical Plot.

The exposure OF the lIaDolicaT plot
to prejudice thu members of the
Catholic faith on the day OF the re-
cent election In this county is of
more than passing interest The
conspirators had a double object in
view One was to keep many Cath
olics from voting the Republican
ticket and the other. as 1t developed
later, was to injure the Telegram, as
we'll as TO discredft the Republican
party, and, II possible, drive all Cath
olics back into the Democratic fold.
The history OF the Democratic at
titude in this county toward the
Catholics is worthy of note, as it
presents some interesting Information.
Years ago there were but few of that
faith who voted the Republican tick
ct. Their political allegiance was
Democratic, an allegiance they had
a perfect right to have, with the be-
lief that that political party and its
principles were best for themselves
and the country.
During all that period with few
exceptions they were loyal to the
Democratic party and its principles,
though from the standpoint of couD-
ty affairs they were not given even
slight recognition. Accurate review
shows that Democracy gladly accept
ed their aid and support but gave
them no recognition in return. al
though it was mainly through this
aid and support that Democracy
managed to thrive.
In more recent years as the Re
publican party developed and it's
freedom of political. religious and
civic thought became better under
stood, members of the Catholic
church. and, especially the. rising
generation.~ recognized in that party
one of merit and power and con-
temproaneously there sprang up a
large Republican vote from the
Catholic people. This Republican
sentiment among the Catholics grew
until within a few years thereafter
it became an important part in tho
Repu blican. party of county, state
and nation.
This sentiment and political belief
among the Catholics were duly recog-
nized by the Republican party and
Catholicism has been represented in
the councils of the party, in its con
ventions and in its lists OF nominees
and in its triumphs. Such recogni
tIon, such acceptance of the Repub-
lfcan faith, angered the Democratic
leaders of this county and there de-
veloped an antipathy on their part
against a large part of the Catholic
citizenship of the county, which for
many years caused them to continue
their course of non-recognition of the
Catholics in county affairs and in
party councils 1t is no longer Il
secret that n few years ago promin-
ent men in the Democratic party
foiled the plans of n Democratic
nominee for sheriff, when 1t became
known that he favored a certain
Catholic for deputy and it is no
secret, that he was compelled to
abandon such plan.
At the recent Democratic primar-
les and county convention 1t became
evident that a Catholic candidate for,
the nomination for sherlff-not al
candidate as Catholic but as a.
citizen-would be successfully nomi-l
mated and opposition to him on the
part OF Democratic leaders collapsed
through inability of theirs to defeat
him.
Next it became apparent to them
that there was a possibility OF elect |
ing the Proestants on the Democratic !,
ticket, if they could but work uD
certain prejudices, and they then &C
quiesced in the nomination of "a.
Catholic citizen and started on a |
campaign OF connivance. scheming. (
trlckery and falsehood, with the dfa-
bolical plot just unearthed as the
browning work of their deeds of
darkness.
A man wont homo 1o+e tho otba,.l,