West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-05-20
Just walloWing.

pubhc think that the Democratic party il
responsible for the defeat of the prohibit
ton amendment. This is entirely wrong.
The Republican party is wholly and solely
to blame for the defeat OF this measure.
The Republicans, as n political party,
and not as individuals, pledged them
selves that il entrusted with the power
once more they would submit the amend
ment to the people to vote on, although
they defeated the amendment nj a preyi-
Gus session of the legislature
The managers of the Republican cam
paign and those conducting the campaign
for the anti-saloon league charged that
the Democratic party was in league with
the whisky interests and the saloon men
were financing the Democratic campaign,
which, Of course, was campaign canard
pure and simple. The Journal published
this fabricated story and seemed to ex-
tract considerable glory from it. Thus
the prohibition people were urged to sup
port the Republican state and legislative
tickets which were pledged to the SUBJ
mission of the amendment, while they
alleged that the Democratic state and
Legislative tickets were opposed TO the
submission OF the amendment. So, after
the Republicans had caught the anti
saloon league in their prohibition web,
they wanted to use the Democratic party
as their cats paw to rake their chestnuts
ont OF the fire. But the Democratic feline
refused TO rake. That's the whole truth
in a nut shell.
The ARGUS is charitable enouph TO think
that the Journal has rs much knowledge
OF the people who inhabit Mars MS it has
of how the Republican leaders manage
the Republican party in West Virginia.
1t is never consulted by the managers,
but simply directed what TO do. The
truth OF the matter is that the leaders de-
eide in caucus, behind bolted doors, Just
what kind of legislation is TO be passed.
Every bill that comes before the legisla-
ture, which is approved in caucus, is
passed, and every bill that is marked
''disapproved' is defeated. Had the lead
ers decreed that the prohibition amend
ment should pass it would have gone
through smoothly and without jar. But
the leaders decreed otherwise. and the
Journal, i'll the simplicity OF its ignorance
OF the methods employed, wants to blame
the Democratic members who refused 10
allow themselves TO be made the cat
paws for the Republican party when il
was caught with the stolen goods.
If the Journal has an original idea above
| lobster it must be plain to it that the
Republican party-the party which il
champions and supports in the hope that
it may be permitted to retain its public
ofiice-is responsible for the defeat of the
| amendment. And il it is sincere and
honest in its advocacy of prohibition il
cannot consistently support the Republi.
can party any longer. To retain its self
respect it must, with the amount OF brain
which the good Lord has provided, de.
nounce the Republican party for its
treachery to the people.
1t may not be amiss to inquire OF the
Journal who is responsible for the defeat
OF the state primary law which the Re.
publican party pledged itself to enact into
law? IL was agreed among the Republi.
cans seeking the enactment of this law
that 1t would prevent the Republican ma.
chine from nominating the Republican
tickets by wholesale debauchery and cor.
ruption. They alleged, and they pro
duced afiidavits TO sustain their allega
tons, that for the past twelve years the
rank and file had no voice in the selection
OF their tickets. The machine promised
the insurgents that if they would "com
promise" at the next session of the legis
lature they would pass the state primar,
law. How we'll the machine kept IT.
promise the Journal may explain.
THE ARGUS must enter protest against
the Journal measuring its corn in TN,
Journal half bushel. II the Journal is NJ
longer looked upon as representative o
the Republicans of Preston county it will
not have to search far until It finds tn,
cause. Not content with denouncing tn,
members Of its party for not meekly bow
ing 10 the dictates Of the ring and ma
chine it must throw open its columns Il
the ignorant and irresponsible 10 person
ally abuse Republicans who attend strict
to their own business and are an honor
to the community in which they reside
shame on you, Bro. Whetsel. The code
Of journalistic ethics does not permit this.
u you have not the brains 10 meet your
| opponents in manly and gentlemanly
argument, you should employ talent that
would at least reflect responsibility upon
The Journal
When they get through tinkering with
the tariff the trusts will BE- satisfied. But
how about the people?
-
We are advised from Washington tina,
Senator Nathan Bay Scott has saved the
glass industry Bully for scotty
u II reported that all our battlcsbipa
will have % be remodelcd The trust.
must be getting short on contracts
We suppose the reason The income tax
10 the tariff bill was cut out by Aldrich
was due 20 the fact that the millionaire
wanted protection
"
The steel and iron trust only cleared
81, 900, 90 last year 10 divide amongst its
stockholders. Here is another infant
industry that viii be driven out Of bus,-
ness by the foreigners II they are NOT