The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-06-12

tion to be more desired than rs infiu-
ence- c. W. WATSON.
Relative to the above It will be
noticed that Mr.. watson's qualiica,
lions OF his assertion limits his news
paper investments to the purchase OF
editorial influence" Possibly he
makes a distinction between editor
ial influence" and some other kinds
OF publication, for which he was will
ing to pay a very liberal price. Here
are the facts:
On the occasion OF one OF c. w.
Watson's visits to the city OF Wheel
ing. before his nomination by the
Democratic caucus. Mr.. Watson him
self called the manager OF the In
telligencer on the telephone. stated
that he wished TO come down 70 see
him. but had not time. but that he
would send a friend. A few minutes
later Mr.. Charles Powell. one OF the
attorneys OF the Fairmont Coal com
pany. appeared IN the office OF the
Wheeling Intelligeccer. and stated to
its manager that he desired, for Mr..
Watson. to make with the Intelli-
gencer an arrangement similar to the
one that had been made with the
Wheeling Register. for the publication
OF matter favorable 10 the election OF
c. w. Watson. and stated that they
would pay q liberal price for said pub
hcations. In reply he was told that
the Intelligencer did not care to enter
into such an arrangement
A few days later two gentlemen rep
recenting Mr.. Watson went 10 the Of
fee OF the Parkersburg Sentinel in
Parkersburg. and made a proposition
to the manager OF the Parkersburg
Sentinel almost identical to that made
to the Intelligencer. and were told In
substance that the Parkersburg Sen
tinel did not care 70 make such an ar
rangement In that office the name OF
the Wheeling Register was again men,
toned as one OF the papers which had
agreed 10 publish matter favorable TO
the candidacy OF Mr.. Watson for a
compensation.
On or about the same time repre-
sentatives of Mr.. Watson appeared in
the office OF the Huntington Adver-
tiser. and made proposition 10 the
manager Of that paper that he pub
Hsh matter favorable 10 the candidacy
OF Mr.. Watson for a liberal compen-
sation. the party making the PROPOSE
ton in behalf OF Mr. Watson again
referred 70 the Wheeling Register as
having accepted the proposition. but
the editor OF the Huntington Adyer-
tiser also informed Mr.. Watsou's rep
resentative that its columns we're not
for sale.
The lntelligencer does not believe
that Mr. Powell will deny the state
ment made above So far as the In
teligencer is concerned. it has no
particular desire to reveal what might
be considered a private business trans
action. and would not have done so
had II not been practically forced
TO do so by the absolutely unwarrant-
ed vilifcations INDUCED in by Mr.
Watson's purchased sheets. So far
as the editors Of the Parkersb burg Sen.
tinel and the Huntington Advertiser
are concerned, they are known 10 be
gentlemen OF integrity. and the Inteln-
gencer has not the least doubt that
they will confirm the statements made
above.
So much for the allegations as 10
the purchase Of editorial influence
or newspaper support Now a few
words as 20 the last paragraph OF Mr.
Watson's Telegram. Whatever may be.
Mr.. Watsons estimate OF the value
OF the support or tho opposition
lof the Inteiligencer his anxiety
TO secure that support bellies his
utterances above. since tho ad
I journment Of the legislature one OF
Mr. Watson's agents in the town OF
Falrmont has used threats and made
promises 10 persons closely allied TO
the management OF the Intellieencer
With view ~ securing some more
favorable confederation ~ Mr. Wat
sons political aspirations Ia tho
columns OF this paper
Il would De uak.nd. not 70 say cruel
20 delve into tho past and dig I'D the
( personal record 81 Mr. Watson. n the
inteliigencer wished 70 be cruel 10
him. 81 need only 20 go back 20 the
records of ten or fifteen years azo and
expose 10 tho world a short sketch of
his conduct and character as ~ then
known and understood ~ AN mon in
Tho city ~ Fairmont and vicinity
Time has drawn n friendly vou over