The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-08-31
Just a Little History.

: orratic members thereof, believing
that tRelr oath OF Office and their
; pledges to their constituency impose
a duty superior to that Of any caucus
obligation, declined to be bound by
certain caucus uction until charges
OF fraud had been investigated; of
that number, the writer was one.
! On that day We We're informed by a
member OF the House OF Delegates
that certain individuals whose dis
pleasure we had incurred would &C
compltsh our ruin, political ana
financial: and he spoke as one who
knew Of the existence OF determl,
nation to accomplish our ruin. We
accepted the challenge and returned
our defiance in no ambiguous Ian
guaGc. And then were Matched thu
stories which you, by interrSgatorN
and innuendo repeat in the Review
| After the joint assembly Of tho
| TWO Houses had first met and "elect-
ed' Senators Watson and Chiffon.
Senator Watson went to Washing-
ton, only toxfind that on account or
| thte failur|of the Republican men,
bcrs Of the State Senate to attcno
and assist in the organization of that
body, Senator Watson's credentials
would not be recognized in the Uni
ted States Senate; and negotiations
were opened with the Republican
senator's then sojourning in Cincin-
natl to Induce" them to return t.
Charleston. They returned. Propo-
<lon and counter proposition were
sent and received until finally Gov
enor MacCorkle expressed himself
to the Democratic members of the
Senate in these words: Watson
has been down TO Washington with
his credentials and the Democratic
members Of the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections there say tney
are not worth a - The election
OF these United States senators
means more to me than anything
else. l am willing to sacrifice every
thing that we have promised to &C
compllsh their ELECTION" The writ
er and others protested, saying that
So far as they We're individually con-
cerned those Republican senators
could come in or stay out as they
pleased; that the Democrats we're in
their places and that if the Rcpub-
Leans stayed on: and defeated legis~
latlon, theirs would be the blam.
and theirs the penalty; but Governor
MacCorkle's idea prevailed, and all
but five Of the fifteen Democratic
senator's voted to sustain the propo,
rlnce their party, we shall protest,
yea, resist to the uttermost.
These Democrats CD whose dis
pleasure we incurred because We
stood for common honesty and al
decent regard for platform pledges
have given wide circulation to these
falsehoods. They were varied as oc-
casion required, and told always In
such form as woIld be most likely to
work greatest injury to the one at
whom their infamy was directed.
Soon were started also the stories
that the Senate was composed or
h1tecn Republicans, fourteen Demo
Gratis and Bland, who would not be
bound by caucus, conference or plat
form pledge and that he was resDon-
aible for the failure of the Legisia
ture to enact many Of the reforms
10 which the Dem ocrats stood piedg-
ed. These false reports were circu-
lated not only By the press but were
passed from lip 10 lip and over tn.
signatures Of those who would de-
stroy. And, Mr.. CornweIl, were not
sittion that they be invited in on
practically the terms which the Gov
ernor had expressed himself as will
ing to cOncede. OF the reforms
which the people demanded and
which the Democrats had promised,
We, under the terms of this agree
ment, got nothing save the abolition
ground when much Of this trans
law. Mr. Cornwell, you were on the
pired, and you know the truth Of 1t
all, else you are not SO CRAFTY as
You are reputed.
You complain Of the Record at
lacking Governor MacCorkJe and
say that we should not criticise a
Democrat. We desire peace and
harmony as much as you do, but W.
are unwilling to purchase peace at
the cost Of honor and freedom; when
we see men whom the people have
konored betray their trust and sac
ton to these reports? And yet you
say that some people doubt our sin
CT the State road commissioner
Office and an evi5ceratcd registration
you yourself one who gave cirCuIa-
der they do.
You read these stories scores or
times in such papers 40 the Gazette,
the Register and the Times, and
doubtless in papers whose editors
did not know 40 frtfb for {,