Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-10-09
MUCH CORRUPTION
IS SAID TO EXIST
OWING TO THE PERNICIOUS ACTIv-
ITY OF FEDERAL OFFICEHOLD-
ERS IN POLITICS.

ITY OF FEDERAL 0FFICEH0LD-
ERS IN POLITICS.
The following, published in the
Wheeling Register October s. has Great
ed almost universal comment. Mr..
Sutton is man of high character. He
is civil war veteran, and stands high
in the Republican party. Mr.. Sutton's
letter is of particular interest In the
present campaign, as enlightening the
people with reference to the part fed
eral and state officeholders have played
in making The state and national nomi-
nations of the Republican party.
ESPECIAL TO THE REGISTER j
HARRISBURG, w. Va, Oct The
Register correspondent has been fur
nished with copy Of letter sent by
John ID. Sutton, of Braxton county, a
former attache of the internal revenue
service in West Virginia, to President
Roosevelt, in which, besides detailing
the train of evils following the perni-
cicus activity of federal officeholders in
West Virginia Republican politics, he
asks that the President demand the res
ignation of William E. Glasscock as
collector. This letter bears date Sep
TENDER 80, and as 1t was on that day
that Mr.. Glasscock rendered his resig-
nation (Which, however. has not yet
gone into effect), it is not to be sup
posed that the letter reached the Presi-
dent before Mr.. tslasscock's action was
taken. The letter follows:
Sutton, W. Va, Sept. 80, 1908.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President Ut
the United States, Washington, d. c.:
Dear Sir:-The people of West Vir-
ginia, irrespective of party, believe that
the candidacy of Hon. w. E. Glass
cock, for governor, should disquaiify
him from further holding the office Of
internal revenue collector. Mr.. Glass
cock has, since his appointment to the
position he now holds, been an active
and pernicious partisan, violating civil
service rules of which you have been
an earnest advocate. Many, II not all
the troubles politically in West Vir-
ginia, have grown out of federal inter-
ference. A few officeholders controll-
ing the appointment Of the federal Of
fees of the state, hence making them
subservient and ready tools, have been
intolerant and corrupt.
Shortly after Mr.. GlasscOcks appoint
ment to this district in 1905 he left the
Office at Parkersburg in charge of his
chief deputy and went to Terra Alta,
in the Second West Virginia congress
sional district, and established political
headquarters, and spent several weeks
of his time in the interest OF James r.
Lakin, who was running on the Repub-
lican ticket for congress against Thos.
e. Davis. Mr.. Glasscock was then, and
until very recently, secretary OF the
state executive committee. recall that
at that time quite number of his sub
ordinates in the revenue service We're
active in the campaign. For the time
Mr.. Glasscock spent in this campaign
he presumably drew his pay from the
government, TO which he had rendered
no service, and shortly before the next
congressional campaign he made trip
through the Second congressional dis
trict advocating the claims of Mr.. Stir
giss for congress.
The revenue forces were instructed in
the matter and all lined up for Mr.
Sturgiss. H. E. Henshaw. stamp depu-
ty. who was a member of the state
executive committee, and who fire.
quently left his Office in charge of an
assistant, spent much of his time In
the interest of his party. James Sites,
field deputy; Jasper Day, gauger. to-
gether with Mr.. Henshaw, attended the
congressional convention that nomi-
mated Mr.. Sturgiss. H. v. Daniels, a
revenue storekeeper, attended the
convention at Wheeling that nominated
Governor Dawson. and was given
transportation and promised immunity
being urged. as he stated by Governor
White, to attend in Mr.. Dawson's inter-
est.
A few weeks since, H. e. Reeder,
field deputy, came to Braxton county,
and, in conversation with several per-
sons advocated William H. Taft for
President, and H. C. woodward for con-
gress, and explained Woodyard's vote,
who was chairman of the state commit
tee, against the endorsement of Secre-
tary Taft, saying that he, woodward,
was under obligations to Speaker
Cannon.
A few days before the municipal cleo
ton at Parkersburg an interview of
Collector Glasscock's appeared in the
Dispatch-News, of March 90, 1907, and
in same issue letter Of William E.
White, ,hief deputy collector, both
written in the interest of the Republic
can party, and the following is copy
If Mr.. Whites letter:
President Editor Dispatch-News:
Dear Sir:-In answer to the Ques-
ton, what should Roosevelt do on
March 4th, 1897 would give 1t as my
opinion that he should keep his word
to the American people and retire
from the office of the presidency with
out being candidate for reelection.
He has openly stated to the people
that he considers this his second term,
and I do not believe in third terms for
American Presidents. It Is not good
policy to establish In our republican
form of government. The Republican