Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-09-27
CANDIDATES GET
ROYAL WELCOME
ON INITIAL TRIP
STATE QUESTIONS
ABLY DISCUSSED
Extravaganza Of Republican Admini-
STATIONS and DR.. Hatfields Record
Laid 5sre-PeopIe Turn Out By
Thousands to Hear Them Discuss
State Questions.


Stdte QuSSflOnH.
Parkersbure, Sept, "a William r.
Thompson, Democratic nominee for
Governor and Thomas A. 9ledsoe,
Democratic nominee for Attorney
General began their second weeks
work at Pennshoro Monday, speaking
there at a night netting During last
week they spoke at Summeryilie, Web
ster Springs Sutton, Glenville. Grants
vile and Elizabeth. They travelled
by rail, on steamboats, in automobiles
on horseback and even part of the way
on foot to fulfill their engagements
and everywhere the greatest interest
was manifested in what they had to
say to their audiences
At Elizabeth Saturday the beautiful
new court house of Writ county was
vel filed fully one-half of those pre-
sent being members OF either the Pro
gressiye or the Republican party.
These men listened with interest to
the speakers and after the speaking
assurances were given by many Re-
publicans and Progressives that they
would vote the Democratic ticket
straight in November
In their speeches last week, Mr.
Thompson and MI. Bledsoc discussed
he extravaganza OF Republican ad
ministrations in West Virginia, con
trasting the cost of running the State
government under Democratic and Re
publican administrations and showing
that while the population has only in
creased about 40 per cent since the
last Democratic administration in the
State, tho expense of running the State
government has increased nearly 200
per cent while the expense Tor clerk
hire at the capitol has increased about
400 per cent They discussed the en-
treaties Of the present Governor for
more money with which 10 still fur
Their increase the expenditures; the
building up of a big political machine
through the creation of appointive of
fees responsive to the appointive
power They discussed the neglience
Of the State officials who are seeking
reelection, as shown by their having
$4,000 on deposit with worthless Sc
curity when the Fidelity bank failed
at Bluefeld.
They discussed the manner in which
the Virginia debt case had been
handled by the Republican admins
tration and the hundreds of thousands
of dollars the case has cost the state
Tor extra lawyers, including w. M. o.
Dawson at $1,000 a year, with the re-
suit that a verdict has been given
against West Virginia, which may
reach S2S0000J0. They quoted the
unanimous report of Republicans and
Democrats alike on the elections com
mittce of Congress to the effect that
there was strong presumption that
the election in Mcdowell county two
years ago in the management OF which
Or. Hatfield was very active was
not intended to be either fair or hon
est"
They deplored the bringing of the
State Board of Control into politics
by the selection of James S. Lakin
for Republican State chairman. They
called the attention of the voters to
the statement Of Mr. Roosevelt that
The new party was made necessary by
the corruption and bossism which
dominated the old Republican party
ana inquired how the Progressiyes
were getting away from that with
Dawson running theiI party and hand
ing them over TO the Republicans
again. leaving the same old crowd Of