West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-09-09
THE DEBT SUIT
First Of Series Of Articles by ]. N.
Mason.
WALL STREET FEARS COMMISSION
Attorneys and Machine Have Con-
eealed Figures -Newspaper.
Corrupted.
THE DEBT SUIT
WALL STREET FEARS COMMISSION
NrMnrR l.

NJ MINK T.
Sin million bonds payable in thirty.thr,,c
years means seventeen millions taken from
taxpayers. lie who reads theSn arti-
cles will know that a proper commission
would save the state that much He will
also know that less than s., 600 applied as
presently suggested would ensure such "A
commission. The debt syndicate expects
to keep voters deceived tin the cas-, has
been submitted and then confront them
with the fact that they must pay any
Judgment rendered.
When suit was brought four years ago
| thosc thinking of the states safety pro-
posed that this matter bc managed Low n
| commission OF our five best Republicans
and five best Democrats-men indcpcnd-
ent OF graiters, politicians, and political
machines; men not asking money ont III
the states distress; honorable men COM
mahding the confidence of taxpayers and
of the Wall street parties who own the
certificates 1t was explained then, and
viii bc again, why such commission
could and would prevent the debt from
exceeding four millions. This commission
was and is the only thing which attor-
ncys for the Wall street syndicate fear.
Those asking information should rcmcm-
her that this debt suit scheme when il
started was based ON calculation that
the Elkins-Dawson machine, with it,
Democratic partners, would deceive voters
till too late TO rescue the state.
When gigantic and corrupt influence
has enlisted venality and intimidatcd hon
est but scrvile brains il is difficult, unless
some fearless man makes speeches. To
make the average citizen comprehend that
mon, entrusted with the sacred duty of
scntinels on the watch-tower-men elected
to high office and drawing large salary
from the state treasury; men dressed i'm
broadcloth and practicing intense rcspccta-
bility-should lie awake at night schem-
ing to evade personal public utterance
while dcceiving voters into believing that
they expect the court to bring Virginia i'm
debt 20 West Virginia for 81, I0S, los. 80.
Those watching this conspiracy well
know that when the case is submitted TO
the court everything will be dropped cx-
cept fixing the value of the property trans
icrrcd 10y the act Of 1863, and stating the
ordinance account. Stating the account
has nothing TO do with said property.
Property Transferred. The writer un-
derstands Virginia claims exceeding three
millions on this account. In 1871 the
school fund had some one and half mil |
lion obtained by selling part of this prop
erty
The Ordinance Account. The court ap- |
pointed LittleGcld TO ascertain the figures
To state this account. The ordinance
charges West Virginia with all state cx-
penditures within her limits and with n |
just proportion Of the ordinary expenses
OF the state government since any part of |
the debt was contracted, and credits the |
money paid from her counties. Both
states have had accountants i'm Richmond
Tor two years compiling figures for Little |
field. They reported last November The |
figures filed with Littlcfeld stand AZ any
paper filed with circuit clerk. II pub |
lishcd no one would dare insult intelli- |
gcncc 10y protesting 10 think it possible |
Tor the court 30 bring this state i'm debt
Tor less than nine millions. If they are
published the demand for an honest COM
mission would be too turbulent 10 resist. |
The Virginia attorneys and the Elkins-
Dawson machine have so managed as 10
conceal these figures Let thinking men
reflect on the corrupt influence keeping
our so-called leading newspapers silent
IL will be explained presently why many
newspapers avoid such matter az this.
In this connection it il instructive 10
consider a specimen publication distract
ing attention from the fact that Conley,
Dawson, etc, do not publish figures filed
with Littlefeld, and which, il published,
would confront taxpayers with the GER
tainty Of a decision bringing the state in
debt exceeding nine and probably thirteen
millions. This specimen publication is
given in next article. Meanwhile. let
thoughtful citizens observe that recently
every place-holdcr under the Elkins-
Dawson machine has been prattling as
follows:
"Gov. Dawson is now managing the
matter, and il the contentious Of West
Virginia are sustained, the court will
bring Virginia in debt 81, 4OS, 100 49,"
But carefully observe that, il these con-
tenti1ns were published, even the free
school children would laugh.
J. VI. mason.
Charles Town, Sept D.
The five articles promised by Mr.. Ma
son will b. mailed 10 any one sending
Tug Apgrq 25 coufs